Let us read Galatians 1:6–8.

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6–8)

There are many gospels in the world that differ from the gospel of Jesus Christ revealed in Scripture. It is practically impossible to identify and refute every false gospel one by one. However, it is not so difficult to discern whether the gospel someone preaches is the true gospel or another gospel. We simply need to know accurately the true gospel taught in Scripture.

I once heard a story about a young man who began working at an antique shop. From his very first day, however, the owner gave him no other work to do. Instead, he handed him an antique and told him to clean it carefully. One day passed, then two, then three, yet every day the young man continued polishing the same antique.

Then one day, the owner asked him to assist a customer. At first, the young man was bewildered because he did not think he had enough knowledge to determine whether an antique was genuine or counterfeit.

To his surprise, however, he was able to recognize quite easily whether the object brought in by the customer was genuine or fake. The antique he had been polishing every day was authentic. By handling and examining the genuine article day after day, he had unknowingly become familiar with its characteristics. Therefore, whenever an object differed even slightly from the genuine antique he knew so well, he could quickly recognize it as a counterfeit.

I do not know whether this story actually happened, but the principle makes sense. Doctors can recognize abnormalities in an X-ray because they know what normal anatomy should look like. When something differs from what is normal, they recognize that something is wrong.

The same principle applies to the gospel. Rather than searching out every false gospel and studying why each one is wrong, it is far more important to know accurately the true gospel revealed in Scripture.

Another Gospel Entered the Galatian Churches

What was the “other gospel” against which Paul warned in Galatians?

The false teaching that entered the Galatian churches taught that faith in Jesus Christ alone was not enough, but that works of the law must also be added in order for a person to be justified. In other words, human works were being added to the merit of Christ.

Suppose a student asks his Bible teacher, “Teacher, can I go to heaven simply by believing in Jesus?”

The teacher replies, “Wouldn’t believing in Jesus alone be insufficient? Shouldn’t we also live a good life?”

At first, the teacher’s answer may sound reasonable, but it is actually another gospel.

Of course, many passages of Scripture teach that believers should live according to the will of God and become His people who are zealous for good works. But if good works are taught as a condition for salvation, the gospel has been corrupted.

Good works are the fruit produced in the lives of those who have been saved, and they are evidence that they are children of God. But good works cannot become the condition of salvation.

If a person could be justified by his own works, there would have been no reason for Jesus to die on the cross. The cross of Christ would have been unnecessary. This is why the apostle Paul said:

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Galatians 2:21)

By Faith Alone

In the early church, there was controversy over circumcision, but religious works such as circumcision could never become the basis of salvation. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, the apostle Paul clearly said:

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” (Galatians 5:6)

This is why many people regard John 3:16 as one of the central verses of the Bible:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

This verse clearly shows that the basis upon which a person receives eternal life is not human works. God gave His only begotten Son, and whoever believes in Him receives everlasting life.

Jesus also connected the lifting up of the brass serpent by Moses in the wilderness with His own death on the cross:

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:14–15)

When the Israelites were bitten by the fiery serpents, God caused everyone who looked upon the brass serpent to live. They did not survive because they treated their own wounds, nor did they survive because they proved their own righteousness. They lived because, according to the Word of God, they looked upon the brass serpent lifted up on the pole.

In the same way, we are not saved because of our works. We are saved through faith in Jesus Christ, who died in our place and made us righteous.

This is the gospel.

What Must Not Be Mixed with the Gospel

If human works are added as a condition of salvation, the gospel is no longer the gospel taught in Scripture. The moment something is added to the merit of Christ, the gospel is corrupted and becomes another gospel.

Leviticus 19:19 says:

“Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.” (Leviticus 19:19)

This command contains a spiritual lesson that reminds us not to mix our own works with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must not add human merit to the merit of Christ, nor human righteousness to the grace of God.

God allowed the Israelites who had been bitten by the fiery serpents to live simply by looking at the brass serpent. In the same way, God saves us, though we are sinners, when we believe in Jesus Christ. Both reveal the grace God has given us because He loves us.

Therefore, Paul gives this solemn warning:

“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5:4)