Do not follow the title ‘Another Jesus’
Galatians (2) Do not follow ‘another Jesus’ (Galatians 1:6-7)
< Do not follow other gospels >
In verses 6 to 9 of the text, the word that appears the most is ‘another gospel’, which appears four times, once in every verse. Why does the Apostle Paul keep referring to other gospels? In the early church, the following controversies continued. “Is it important to keep the law? Or is it important to live in grace?” Which one is important? Saints today take it for granted that grace is important, but that was not the case back then.
When Paul first preached the gospel of grace, the Galatians gladly accepted it. However, many of them converted from Judaism to Christianity. Because they had been sons of the law for a long time, that inertia remained and added ‘works’ to grace. The Apostle Paul realized that such an attitude was a serious attitude that distorts the essence of the gospel, and called such a distorted gospel “another gospel” and told them to avoid it.
There are four theories of salvation. First, it is graciousism. Human beings are completely saved by the grace of God. This is the true gospel. Second, legalism. This means that you will be saved when you keep the law. This is a false gospel. Third, syncretism. This means that we can be saved by God's grace, but we must also do human works to be saved. This is another gospel.
Fourth, anti-legalism. This means that you can do whatever you want because you are saved by God's grace. This is another gospel that ignores the essence of the gospel. It is wrong to think lightly of breaking the law just because we are saved by grace and not saved by the law. There are quite a few people today who are in this anti-legalist position because they don't know what grace is. Likewise, “other gospels” are a problem, but it is also a big problem that many believers are following “a different Jesus” today.
<Do not follow ‘another Jesus’>
The other gospels Paul speaks of in the text mean the insistence on ‘circumcision and the law’, but many church members today are following ‘a different gospel after another Jesus’. After the Roman Emperor Constantine, who recognized Christianity, Christianity took on a privileged position. From then on, I did not have to risk my life to believe in Jesus, but rather boasted of my strength and power, so I felt uncomfortable with Jesus, who risked his life for the gospel. Still, they could not get rid of Jesus, so the medieval church made him religious.
Jesus taught the change of life, but the powerful megachurches of the Middle Ages abandoned the life and spirit of Jesus by stuffing him in their worship services. The theologians who jumped on that atmosphere created a 'refined, noble and philosophical Jesus' different from the 'Jesus in the Gospels' and broke the taboo to associate with lowly people. It made life irrelevant.
What Jesus wants is not a 'new religion' by the power of the majority, but a 'new life' that unfolds within you. But now, how sad that many saints are laying the groundwork for returning to the medieval mega-church by pursuing the majority and power. How ironic is it that they don't agree with each other because they regret that "the Korean church has lost its original form and has fallen" while forgetting such a self-image?
Now restore the vivid and fierce life of Jesus that the Gospels testify. Embrace the pain and sorrow that comes from the field of life, and do not escape from injustice or confront injustice with violence. Jesus had a hot blood and heart for transformation, but he did not use violence. So face the evil powers of the world, but with the power of the mind and the power of love. After all, the love of the cross is the power to change the world.
Show the world the faith of the cross, which does not stand against power with force, but does not hesitate in the face of any power. Jesus was quiet even before Pilate, who had the right to escape from life or death. Raise the sign of life before such a quietly powerful world. So, infuse warmth into people's hearts and give them water and manure so that the hidden image of God sprouts in the depths of their hearts. By allowing Jesus to stay in the center of your heart and life like that, become blessed souls who prepare for blessings.