Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.
If I went to a cancer doctor last year who told me I did not have cancer so I liked what I heard and made him my doctor, I would be in serious trouble right now. The truth is, I had cancer, and a competent doctor removed it surgically by cutting me 6 times. The truth hurt but saved my life. Paul wrote to the churches of Galatia that there were those who would tell them lies so they would follow them and speak highly of them. Their motives were selfish and a million miles away from the best interests of the Christians there. They were proclaiming a different gospel and thus a different God. These agitators turned the people against Paul and gained power over the people.
Too many cults and wayward church leaders operate under the same banner of untruth. They preach a different gospel, that God wants everyone to be happy and rich, that you are basically good, that you can attain salvation through works, or worse, giving all you have to a ministry. Paul called foul on these false teachers and hurt the Christians there with the truth of the gospel, that we are in need of a Savior and nothing we do will save us. We need Jesus, the one true God. The truth hurts but the truth also saves.
Dear Lord, thank you for the truth of Scripture that tells us of our need for Jesus. May we obey him and proclaim in truth to those who need a Savior. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church