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"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ." (Galatians 1.6-7).

A small word in the text cited can escape the reader's attention if great care is not exercised. Notice that Paul spoke of those who "… want to pervert the gospel of Christ." (emphasis mine; jb). Some might pervert the teachings of the scriptures inadvertently, but those who are spoken of here did so with the intentions of doing it. They were not of honest and good hearts; they were such that they willingly taught error by perverting the gospel! Think about such character - or lack thereof!

One significant thing that should be noted from this passage in Galatians is the fact that the gospel can be perverted by one person and result in harm to others. The intentions of the people who were perverting the truth in this text are clear – they wanted to pervert. However, there is no indication that the intentions of those who were following their perverted gospel were anything but honorable. Those who believed and followed the error espoused by evil men in Galatia were "…turning away… from Him [Christ]." Even though their intentions might have been honorable, their fate was not changed by the fact of their intent.

Error is error regardless of what one thinks about it! Black does not become blue because I think it is blue. If that were the case I would not have been embarrassed by unmatched socks on not a few occasions. A perverted gospel is perverted regardless of the intent of the one who believes it. That was the entire substance behind the Galatian epistle. Had it been the case that those who followed this perverted gospel would have been all right in God's sight in spite of their erroneous beliefs, it is doubtful that the book of Galatians would even be in our Bibles. However, Paul knew that the fate of those who followed the troublers in Galatia was in the balance – hence the need for the book of Galatians.

In His earthly ministry Jesus spoke sternly about anyone who would cause little ones who believe in Him to sin (see Matthew 18.6). In fact, He said it would be better if a millstone were hung about his neck and he were drowned in the middle of the sea. Those are drastic words! Yet, one can see why they were spoken once the fact that we are examining here in Galatians 1 is realized. Now notice what Paul says concerning these troublers: "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1.8-9).

Those who hear a perverted gospel sin and are in jeopardy of losing their souls; that fact prompted the Galatian epistle. Those who teach a perverted gospel are accursed of God and would have been better off to have met an untimely death. Error is error regardless of the intent of the teacher or the learner! Be discerning! Love truth! Test the spirits! (1 John 4.1).

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

"As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man." Prov. 27:19