Perverting the True Gospel

Galatians 1:6-7: I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. Notice the word another (allos = the same of a different kind) in this verse as compared to the word another (heteros = another of a different kind) in verse 6 (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:4). In other words, they are not the same. 

The trouble that Paul was referring to here was the perverting of the true gospel of grace and it was troubling to those who heard it because it was contradicting what they had already learned from him. I believe that is exactly the same problem in the church today. There are still many who trouble you, by mingling the kingdom gospel of works with the and grace gospel of faith only to the point that there is confusion and misunderstanding. 

On one hand, they tell them they have to repent, be baptized, and keep the law in order to be saved; and then on the other hand, they tell them that it is not a salvation of works, but faith alone. Seriously? Isn't this exactly the issue that Paul was addressing in these verses? Paul refers to those who did the same thing in his day as false brethren in Galatians 2:4. He also refers to them in Galatians 5:10 as those who will be judged, and in Galatians 5:12 as those that he wishes would be cut off. Strong words for sure. 

I think today we underestimate the seriousness of purposefully or un-purposefully causing division in the church by not rightly dividing the Word of God. Admittedly, I did the same thing for years, so I try to be patient with those who haven't "seen it" yet, because once they do, they can never "unsee it" like me and so many others.

Spearman, H. Dwayne. The Books of Galatians and Ephesians Rightly Divided (pp. 13-14). Directional Bible Ministries. Kindle Edition.