Wherever the truth of the gospel is taught, there is opposition. Satan seeks to undermine, subvert, and confuse the message because the greatest threat to him is that people will hear, accept, and submit to the true gospel. This acceptance frees them from the bondage of sin and Satan's grasp.
Jesus warned about this opposition in Matthew 13:24-28, where He shared the parable of the wheat and the weeds. In this parable, a man sowed good seed in his field, but while his servants slept, an enemy sowed weeds among the wheat. When the plants grew, the weeds appeared alongside the wheat. The servants asked if they should remove the weeds, but the master said to let both grow until the harvest to avoid uprooting the wheat. At harvest, the weeds would be gathered and burned, and the wheat gathered into the barn.
This parable illustrates how, wherever the gospel is sown, evil will also appear, sowing seeds of deception that intermingle with the truth.
The true gospel is unique and accomplishes salvation by faith alone. False gospels threaten this truth by adding works or legalistic requirements.
Paul’s letter to the Galatians reminds believers to be vigilant against false teachings and to hold fast to the gospel of grace.
This passage reveals the challenges the early church faced in preserving the gospel message. Paul’s journey to Jerusalem, his defense of his apostolic authority, and his confrontation with Peter underscore the importance of maintaining the purity of the gospel.
Believers today can learn from Paul’s example to discern truth from falsehood and to stand firm in the gospel of faith and grace. The preservation of the true gospel is essential for freedom from sin and for living in the grace of Jesus Christ.
