No Other Gospel
Are we allowed to preach a different Gospel?
No!
Punishment?
“Anathema” which means under a “curse”, specifically here, “God’s Curse”.
Verse:
“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” – apostle Paul (Galatians 1:8, NASB)
Context: Gospel here refers to the “Gospel to the Gentile believers as apostle Paul was ordained to preach”.
Please note that even “angels” are NOT allowed to change the Gospel given to apostle Paul. How can man change it in any small way even (as evidenced in some denominations of Christianity), right?
P/S:
Conclusion
No other Gospel than what was divinely given to apostle Paul for the Gentiles:
“But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised [Gentiles], just as Peter had been to the circumcised [Jews]
(for He [God, Lord Jesus Christ] Who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles),
and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.” – apostle Paul (Galatians 2:7 – 10, NASB)
[emphasis mine]
So, we are correct to the point when we preach the same as apostle Paul and wrong otherwise as we, and the whole Gentile nations will be judged according to “my Gospel” (please note this phrase in verse below which refers to apostle Paul’s Gospel “only”) as “it is written” in verses below:
“For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.” – apostle Paul (Romans 2:14 – 16, NASB)
Please note that the Gentiles are only “defended” when their acts (knowingly or unknowingly, “instinctively”) agree to the “Law” or “the Gospel delivered to apostle Paul only” as mentioned in verses above.
This is because one is judged based on right vs wrong as per the Law & Gospel as God ordained it which is “not” subject to any man’s opinions for God created the World, none other.
Hence, let us be “wise & mature” to ‘realize’ this as the verses below ‘makes sense under the Biblical Logic’ above (“verses based”):
“For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,
dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
These will pay the penalty of eternal [age-during] destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.” – apostle Paul (2 Thessalonians 1:6 – 10, NASB)
Can we understand it?
“By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;
and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.
We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” – apostle John (1 John 4:2 – 3, 5 – 6, NASB)
“The one who keeps [obeys] His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” – apostle John (1 John 3:24, NASB)
How much do we “Love God”?
“For this is the love of God, that we keep [obey] His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” – apostle John (1 John 5:3, NASB)
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” – Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:15, NASB)
Are we “His Friends”? Are we really “a friend of God”?
“You are My friends if you do what I command you.” – Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:14, NASB)
Are we “quick” to “obey His Commandments”?
“I hastened and did not delay To keep Your commandments.” (Psalm 119:60, NASB)
Are we “chosen” to “obey” Him?
“through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake,” – apostle Paul (Romans 1:5, NASB)
“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;” – apostle Paul (Philippians 2:12, NASB)
“but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal [age-during] God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;” – apostle Paul (Romans 16:26, NASB)
“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep [obey] My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:23, NASB)
Or will we offer “fake obedience” (God knows ‘all hearts’)?
“Those who hate the LORD would pretend obedience to Him, And their time of punishment would be forever [to the age, age-during].” (Psalm 81:15, NASB)
“I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:10, NASB)
“but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.” – Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:42, NASB)
“and a sword will pierce even your own soul– to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:35, NASB)
No greater joy?
“I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” – apostle John (3 John 1:4, NASB)
Do we need to speak the “same” thing, e. g. Doctrine?
Is it written that all believers are required to preach the “same” thing with apostle Paul with regards to the Gospel?
Yes! It is commanded in verse below ignoring which we get “divisions” (e. g. Various denominations in Christianity):
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” – apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 1:10, KJV)
Context: Gospel here refers to the “Gospel to the Gentile believers as apostle Paul was ordained to preach”.
We cause the “confusion” each time we preach a different Gospel from apostle Paul:
“for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” – apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 14:33, NASB)
Angel of Satan
To “torment me”, apostle Paul said. Why? To keep him from “pride”.
* The Greek word here is “angelos” (often translated as “messenger” in this verse) from which we get our English word “angel”.
“Lest I be lifted up by the abundance of revelations, a thorn for my flesh was handed over to me, an Angel of Satan to buffet me, lest I be lifted up.” – apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 12:7, Aramaic Bible in plain English)
