| Show perverting the gospel by REV JOHN C PAGE teacher of 0 bible doctrine moody bible institute chic chicago go TEXT I 1 marvel that yo ye are so BO soon re removed m 0 ved from him that called you into th the e grace of 0 christ unto another gos BO pel which la Is not another but there be some bome that trouble you ou and would pervert the gospel of 0 christ gal 16 1 67 6 7 when dan crawford craw ford missionary from africa made his last visit to america Ani erica he referred t to 0 one of his african converts and preachers who w ho interpreted the in re ke el atlon 21 22 1719 17 19 in nn an original and most interesting te resting g way ay the interpretation re tation was submitted by mr crawford craw ford to an english bishop b I 1 a P and received ed hla his hearty approval the passage referred to reads leads lit in this way whosoever will lot him take the water of life freely freeli for I 1 testify unto every nian that li enroth the words of the prophecy of this book it if any an man shall ad add unto these ti lings god shall add unto hint him tho the plagues that lint are written lit in tills book an and if tiny un man annn shall take away aw a from the words wolds of the book of this prophecy god shall take aa away lits ills part out of tile book of life water sold said the alie negro pr prea eapher cher Is that to which nothing can bo be added and from which nothing can be taken away awn it ls Is a fitting symbol of the word woid of god to which nothing must be added and from which nothing must bo be taken away aw a it Is so complete in itself that to add to it or to take away from it spoils it and brings down judgment from god A perverted pen cited gospel gopel go pel is the gospel in it 11 modified form the gospel to which home mtanious matter Is added or from vh ich ome vital altal element Is sub ti tr acted in either case such a gospel becomes pm erless to sue save there them ard aiu those thoe wh win would remove some vital element from tile gospel such buch as the deity deit or humanity of our lord loid or his cross and resurrection as the instruments of a perfect redemption when these are omitted the gospel i 1 li deprived lf it its saving hang strength it ceases aies to inspire and enthuse the hearts of men and becomes lifeless tind hit pol powei verless lebs tile the other method of attack Is to add something to the finished work of christ na its a means of salvation this was the method followed in pauls lay day against which lit lie wrought and fought so vigorously the to the ga lg Is a protest against any additions to the gospel which deprive it of its power to save sae thereby making void old the grace of god tile the apostle lint had som conr things in common with those who lie perverted pen ei led the gospel of grace iloth both parties billeted believed that jesus was the messiah and the son of god both believed that lie he lind died and had been malsed from the dead noth both bell belleni eved that it was necessary no cesar to put falth faith in ulm him but at tills this point they parted company paul preached that faith in christ crucified fur for our sins and malsed for our justl justi Il cation was sufficient to sue save a sl sinner inner and give him blin a place of acceptance be fore foie god the doss cross of christ answered back tu to every elii claim ut f tile the broken law the virtue and value alue of christs Chrls its ts saving work was reckoned lecko ned over oer to tile the account of the sinner who put falth faith in him to this t Is tho lie false teachers touch eia objected assorting asserting that in addition to falth faith In Chilst the religious rite of circumcision was necessary and the law keeping of which circumcision was the beginning hence the conflict of that early day da to some people this difference may scein to be small or trivial but it Is not so it was and Is tremendous and vital it marks the difference between a religion of grace and a religion lell glon of merit in the conflict paul was the conqueror because lie was on the side of god und and truth those who preach faith plus something else preach a per arted dospel a gospel powerless to save they make the grace of god that grace which provides a perfect salvation without any additional merit obtained or attal attained ned by use of ordinances sacraments or observances the question of circumcision tins has no interest tor for us but that which it represented a system of works whereby salvation hatlon si was to be secured Is still a 0 burning question there are today those who preach salvation through falth faith plus law keeping especially the alie fourth commandment or through baptism or membership in some religious communion these things have their cisper r place a ce in tile the lives of those who P ave aias sned I 1 b faith in jesus christ but tomake in any an sense essential to justification I 1 Is t to 0 pervert tile the gospel of christ und anito to mislead the souls of men inen the liberty to which the apostle refers in tills epistle la Is obtained only by h those who stand fast in the truth of the cospa gospel it to Is the ilbe liberty arty christ lias has made us fret free it Is thy liberty of th als sons af of god it Is the alb er erff that leads eads a soul into the place of joy strength find and triumph alke alk nil other forms ot of liberty it needs to be guarded and directed in its activities provision Is made tor for this in the verse of the fifth chapter in the w walk in the spirit the highest place to which a christian can come Is indicated in this chapter find in these words stand copt ajit in the liberty albert therewith herewith christ hats hath made us free aed them walli walk in the spirit |
