KEY VERSE:
“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 1:8).

The ancient Roman Empire punished those guilty of heretical beliefs and actions with exile or execution. On their part, the Jews punished heretics with excommunication and public humiliation. They made the culprit stand openly in the congregation during service, wearing special regalia that signified his shame and removal from the community.

The Christians in Galatia were conscious of the severity of heresy and the grave punishment to be visited upon a guilty person. Against that backdrop, Apostle Paul used strong language against those who preached a corrupted gospel. After we have received the pure gospel of salvation by grace, anyone who brings a so-called “another gospel”, which adds or removes from God’s simple plan of salvation is a heretic and such would be “accursed”. Accursed in this context means excommunicate, be placed under a ban or be doomed for destruction.

Today, there are some add-ons that people try to place along with faith in Christ as conditions for salvation. For some, it is baptism, confirmation, religious washings, fasting or pilgrimage rituals. But the Scripture affirms that we are saved by grace only. All a sinner needs to be saved is to repent and believe in Jesus Christ as Saviour.

Salvation is by grace – a gift, not earned, not based on merit. To preach anything otherwise is to be a heretic who risks being cut off from God forever. By all means, we must resist all such teachers and reject their heresies. We must also be careful that we do not become heretical ourselves by placing unnecessary dogmas and denominational demands not recognised in Scriptures. Rather, we must contend earnestly for the truth.

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