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Pleaser of Men

Pleaser of Men

Words of Faith 5-8-19

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2019

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Galatians 1

        [8] But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! [9] As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!  [10] Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

 

        Of course, there were those even within the circle of the believing churches who might have questioned what Paul was saying.  After all, they might have argued that what Paul called the only Gospel might just be Paul's gospel.  What about that?  Similar accusations are made even today. 

        Paul's answer was to consider the source of this Gospel carefully.  It was readily recognized that Paul was by no means a "pleaser of men."  This was not a popular campaign for him.  So if the Gospel of salvation through Jesus alone, by grace through faith, was in question, consider the source.  Some would have argued that the legalists were official representatives of the Jerusalem Apostles while Paul was not.  But Paul's answer was compelling and direct.

        Paul argued that the human source does not matter and would not matter even if it were an angelic source.  We know that Satan can disguise himself as "an angel of light" (2 Cor. 11:14, 15).  The core of evaluating any preacher, teacher or traveling commenter was based in the truth of the Gospel itself.  Therefore any attempt to alter the true gospel or teach another gospel will be condemned.

         What is striking is the strength of this conviction.  Paul did not "agree to disagree" in this situation.  The intensity with which Paul denounces those who teach another gospel is startling to some.  Literally, he says, "Let them be damned."  And in case you missed it, he repeats it.  Harsh?  Perhaps.  But we see clearly how important the truth of the Gospel was to Paul.

          The word translated "eternally condemned" is anathema. It is related to the Hebrew word herem which mean "devoted to God" usually for destruction.  In spiritual terms it means damnation. This was not just an angry outburst.  It was a statement of fact that he directed even toward himself.  The truth of the Gospel is from God and is non-negotiable.

         The deeper issue is that if the gospel Paul preaches is true, then both the glory of Jesus Christ and the salvation of men are at stake. If men can be saved by works, Christ has died in vain, and the cross is emptied of meaning.   If a false gospel is taught, people are led away from the one thing that can save them and are being turned toward destruction.  

         There was another point here.  Apparently, the legalists had charged Paul with being a people pleaser.  They accused Paul of softening the Law to accommodate Gentile customs and sensibilities as a "pleaser of men."  But the tone of these statements and the harsh language used could hardly be considered an effort to win the approval of men.  A pleaser of men would not proclaim damnation upon people.

         As Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, "On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts" (1 Thess 2:4). 

         If there was one thing Paul was sure of it was that he was not trying to please men!  He had taken too many rejections and beatings for the Gospel for that to be the case.  He was approved by God and the testing of the heart by God.

         So here are a few questions for us. 

         Am I committed to the Gospel of grace?  Absolutely?  Or do I sometimes slip back into legalism, judging my own righteousness or that of others based upon works?  Am I committed to the salvation offered by God in Christ that is received only by faith?  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

         Am I a pleaser of men?  Do I crave the approval of people so profoundly that I would abandon the truth of the Gospel even for a time?  Do I stick to the truth of salvation in Jesus no matter what or do I switch with the crowd I run with?

 

          Father God, keep me close to Your heart.  Keep me close to the truth of the Gospel of grace.  Keep me walking by faith in Christ alone.  Set me free from the approval of people.  Cause me to look only to You for my approval and assurance.  In Jesus' Name.

 

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, and our website, and our church app excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.  

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