The Law, the Christ, the Promise With R. L. SolbergSample

The most insidious false teachings are those that closely resemble the truth. Absurd theology sticks out like Monopoly money in a pile of U.S. currency. Conversely, teachings only off by a few degrees are much less likely to trip an alarm. These kinds of doctrines lead the most Christians astray. This is as true today as it was in first-century Galatia. It is why we need to regularly read and study our Bibles. You don’t need to be a professional theologian to detect when something isn’t quite right. If you’re familiar enough with the genuine article, counterfeit gospels will catch your eye.

The teachings of the Judaizers in Galatia were a convincing counterfeit bill. This is why their theology was accepted as plausible by many believers in Galatians who had been discipled by the apostle Paul himself. This is the “danger from within” he was contending against. Early Christians were especially susceptible to plausible heresies since they did not have the advantage of a NT. They were living the NT. Remember, the Galatians were trying to work out their faith in the theological aftermath of Jesus’s resurrection. They found themselves in a “he said / they said” situation: Paul said one thing, the false teachers said another. Whom should they believe? . . .

Because Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles, the Judaizers accused him of watering down the Torah to make his gospel more appealing and win their approval. He flatly denies this charge. In fact, Paul will later reveal that his commitment to the purity of the gospel of Jesus is the source of persecution in his life (5:11). If his goal was to please men, he would certainly not be a servant of Christ. The Greek word is doulos, which literally means “slave.” This term foreshadows a central theme that will soon emerge.

Prayer

Father, help me to see the truth and identify false teachings in the world around me, and give me the strength to serve You even when it isn’t easy. Amen.