Why Moralism Is Not the Gospel -- And Why So Many Christians Think It Is

Albert Mohler writes:

One of the most amazing statements by the Apostle Paul is his indictment of the Galatian Christians for abandoning the Gospel. "I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel," Paul declared. As he stated so emphatically, the Galatians had failed in the crucial test of discerning the authentic Gospel from its counterfeits.

His words could not be more clear: "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you have received, he is to be accursed!" [Gal. 1:6-7]

This warning from the Apostle Paul, expressed in the language of the Apostle's shock and grief, is addressed not only to the church in Galatia, but to every congregation in every age. In our own day -- and in our own churches -- we desperately need to hear and to heed this warning. In our own time, we face false gospels no less subversive and seductive than those encountered and embraced by the Galatians.

Read the rest of this very thought provoking post on Albert Mohler's blog.

This topic is one I ponder on quite often. I fall into the moralistic train of thought and need to remind myself that I can not make myself pleasing to God, for He is only pleased with His Son. When God looks at me, He sees me through the filter of Christ's righteousness for Jesus redeemed me by shedding His blood for my sins. That is the only reason why He is pleased with me.

Big thoughts for so early in the morning...

Albert Mohler writes:

One of the most amazing statements by the Apostle Paul is his indictment of the Galatian Christians for abandoning the Gospel. "I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel," Paul declared. As he stated so emphatically, the Galatians had failed in the crucial test of discerning the authentic Gospel from its counterfeits.

His words could not be more clear: "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you have received, he is to be accursed!" [Gal. 1:6-7]

This warning from the Apostle Paul, expressed in the language of the Apostle's shock and grief, is addressed not only to the church in Galatia, but to every congregation in every age. In our own day -- and in our own churches -- we desperately need to hear and to heed this warning. In our own time, we face false gospels no less subversive and seductive than those encountered and embraced by the Galatians.

Read the rest of this very thought provoking post on Albert Mohler's blog.

This topic is one I ponder on quite often. I fall into the moralistic train of thought and need to remind myself that I can not make myself pleasing to God, for He is only pleased with His Son. When God looks at me, He sees me through the filter of Christ's righteousness for Jesus redeemed me by shedding His blood for my sins. That is the only reason why He is pleased with me.

Big thoughts for so early in the morning...