When Change Is Bad

Newspaper Articles

Paul Adams
01/25/15 - Newspaper Articles

Change can be good and is even necessary. However, when Paul wrote to the Galatians, he spoke about some bad changes. When is change bad? What does the Bible say?

Changing The Word of God. “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9) Modification of the truth of the Bible makes the gospel no longer good news.

Changing Hope To Condemnation. “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.” (Galatians 5:4) Those who were changing the truth, and obeying man made creeds, would no longer benefit from God’s amazing grace.

Changing Your Reception Of Truth. “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.” (Galatians 3:1) These Christians had readily received the gospel. Now they are NOT receptive to Paul’s attempts to correct them through that same true teaching of God’s word. He asks them, “Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16)

We must always change to be what God says we should be. To change the Gospel will cause us to be lost. We must always have a receptive attitude toward hearing and obeying the truth.