A Study on Galatians 1:6–7 (Part 3)
Paul refers to God as "He who called you in the grace of Christ." What a profound statement.
Every believer today is saved because of the call of God — and this call is not based on your righteousness or goodness.
Point 2: There Is Only One True Gospel
It is entirely based on the grace of Christ Jesus.
But what does it mean to be called? In Paul's own testimony later in this chapter (verses 14–17), he describes God as the one who set him apart before he was born and called him by His grace. Romans 8:28–30 puts it plainly:
"For those who are called according to His purpose... those whom He predestined, He also called. And those whom He called, He also justified. And those whom He justified, He also glorified."
Before anyone is saved, God must first touch that person's heart. We call that touch regeneration — a transformation by the Holy Spirit, turning a hardened sinner who hates God into someone who is sorrowful over sin, repents, and turns to Christ for salvation.
This call unto salvation is an act of God alone. It is by grace alone. Not by our works, not because we deserve it — simply by the grace of God.
Paul says the churches were turning to "a different gospel" — and then immediately adds: "not that there is another one."
If we reflect on those words carefully, Paul is saying something very serious: if you change the gospel, you are not simply believing a different version of it. You have no gospel at all. Every other message leaves us under the weight of our sins and under condemnation. No matter how good it makes you feel, it only subjects you to judgement. Apart from the true gospel, we have no hope.
It doesn't matter how appealing or comforting a different message may sound — only the true gospel can save us. This is why the most important thing for every believer is to know the gospel and grow in that knowledge.
Two Ways the Gospel Gets Corrupted
1. By denying an essential truth of the gospel. When a core truth — such as the resurrection, the atonement, or the exclusivity of Christ — is removed or reinterpreted, the result is no longer the gospel.
2. By adding to the gospel. There are those who wrestle with the exclusivity of the gospel's claims. The gospel declares that we are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. But those who add to the gospel will say something like: "We are justified by grace through faith — plus our works."
This was the exact problem the Galatian church faced. They were being taught that circumcision needed to be added to their faith before they could be truly saved. The moment that addition entered the gospel they believed, they had no gospel at all — and their souls were in danger of being cut off from Christ entirely.
The gospel is not merely information. Your eternal destiny hangs on understanding and believing the true gospel.
May God help us to know it, guard it, and never depart from it.