Saturday after the Ninth Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Scripture: Galatians 1:1-24 (NKJV)

1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)

21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23 But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God in me.

Devotion

The holy Gospel is a very different teaching from the law. The law which was written on the heart of man can be known apart from the Holy Scriptures. Even the Gentiles know that God requires certain behavior and forbids other behavior. But the Holy Gospel “is not according to man.” St. Paul says, “For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” The Gospel is not made known apart from God’s revelation in the Holy Scriptures.

It pleased our heavenly Father to reveal to us His plan of salvation. Our Lord Jesus Christ “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.” This message of forgiveness through faith in Christ is the only Gospel message. It is God’s will that we come to faith in His Son for salvation.

Should another message of good news with the addition of human understanding be preached, it would not be God’s revelation, but a perversion of the gospel of Christ. A different Gospel will not save.

We pray: Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank You for the revelation of Your good news in Jesus Christ. Amen.