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By Neal Griffin
The Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation, is the foundation of Christianity and Jesus is its cornerstone. The cornerstone is the most important stone in the buildings foundation for, in addition to all the buildings parts being squared from it, it usually specifies the name of its owner. And so it is with Christianity. The Gospel is the dynamic of God and Jesus is the dynamo, the rightful owner.
Much is written in the New Testament letters about this foundation, the significance of obeying it (1'st Peter 4:l7 and 2'nd Thessalonians l:8), the truth of it (Galatians 2:5), the faith of it (Philippians l:27), the fellowship in it (Philippians l:5), the peace of it (Ephesians 6:l5), the salvation in it (Ephesians l:l3), and the dire consequences of changing it (Galatians l:6-8). It is to the last category that I invite your attention.
There are foundation builders who teach that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation BUT, IN ADDITION, one must understand that only one cup may be used in the Lords Supper observance if he is to be saved.
There are foundation builders who teach that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation BUT, IN ADDITION, one must understand that only fermented grape juice (wine) must be used in the Lords Supper if he is to be saved.
There are foundation builders who teach that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation BUT, IN ADDITION, one must understand that separate classes cannot be used for Bible study during the "corporate worship service" assembly if he is to be saved.
There are foundation builders who teach that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation BUT, IN ADDITION, one must understand the truth about the thousand year reign of Jesus on earth if he is to be saved. Other foundation builders in the past added such requirements to the Gospel as kneeling to pray, assembling in "upper chambers", only cups with handles, the offering must be brought to the Lords table and placed at the apostles feet, and the bread must be broken before it is blessed. There are other absurd requirements,besides these, which men have added to the Gospel.
And so it was long ago in Galatia. The foundation builders there knew that the Gospel was the power of God unto salvation BUT, IN ADDITION, some of them insisted that circumcision was necessary if men were to be saved. They were adding to the foundation. They were preaching "another" Gospel.
What was Paul trying to say in Galatians chapter five? Did he need to list every possible addition to the Gospel that Satan could plant in the minds of men? Or should we be able, as a God fearing people, to understand that ANY addition to the Gospel is heresy and results in "falling from grace"? Now, having answered these questions, do we dare make personal application of them? Could they have any bearing on the issues of our day? Adding provisions to the Gospel and forming exclusive parties around them is divisive heresy and, without laboring the point, divisiveness is condemned of God. It is listed in the same category as debauchery, idolatry, orgies, and drunkenness, all of which result in our being excluded from the kingdom of God. This is Bible talk. You can trust it. I beg you to read Galatians 5:l9-2l. Could we have, inadvertently, added our own provisions to the Gospel? Brethren, by the tender mercies of Jesus, I beg you to seriously consider whether or not we have added our own provisions to the Good News of salvation and formed exclusive parties around them. If we have we need to repent. This is a very serious question, for what will happen to us if we don't inherit the kingdom of heaven?
Please consider these thoughts. I believe them to be true to the Word.
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