“It is not a minor variation, you know; it is completely other, an alien message,
a no-message, a lie about God.
Those who are provoking this agitation among you are turning the Message of Christ on its head.”
(Gal 1:7, MSG)
The previous manna revealed an unexpected link between rebellion and religiosity (driven by an obsession with the law). Today our focus lies in further expounding on the implications of this correspondence. As Christ has a particular gospel (Gal 1:6), so Satan has one too, and the two gospels bear a remarkable resemblance. On account of this great resemblance the two gospels are often not differentiated, and are seen as the same. The gospel of Satan is primarily defined by its concept of spiritual functioning through works. In this way the believer feeds off the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. On the surface it proclaims all that the true gospel stands for, but its underlying foundation is that man is granted righteousness on account of doing good deeds and shunning bad deeds. The branding of this gospel can easily be defined as Be good and do good.
Obviously this gospel would place Christ at the centre, which also serves to deceive those without spiritual discernment in accepting that which is offered to them. Christ is presented as the best person who ever lived, a man with a beautiful character, and of beautiful words, his love an example to all, his grace abounding to humanity, his teachings never losing relevancy. Arthur Pink observes – “It is a bloodless gospel, and presents a crossless Christ, who is received not as God manifest in the flesh, but merely as the Ideal Man.”
If Satan, as the seducer of the whole world (Rev 12:9), can succeed in seducing Christians into believing a gospel which sounds beautiful, he will manage to lead them to a life which is ordinary and accepted, never rocking the boat, a safe life in spiritual unreality. Thus he manages to lead many well-meaning Christians to perdition. In Matt 7:21-23 Christ clearly states the harshness of this terrible truth – “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” If you are restrained by the law (and thus not by the Father) rebellion will haunt you, and you will always feel the need to legitimize your faith through works. Legitimize means “lawfully begotten” (Websters). The only legitimacy of faith is obedience, and your works are the fruit of your love relationship with Christ. Then the law is no longer your restraint, but a delight. (John 14:15; Ps 119:16, 24, 35 & 47; Ps 40:8). You are then a legitimate son .
- Sela: Ask God to test your works on his altar (see below).
- Read: 1 Kings 20; Jer 4; 1 Cor 3
- Memorise: 1 Cor 3:13-15 (very relevant for today’s teaching)
- For a deeper understanding: Read Arthur Pink’s The gospel of Satan.
