The impact of distorted teachings devastated the early Church. Christians in Galatia turned from the teachings of the apostle Paul to a corrupted, cunningly devised but counterfeit gospel promoted by these false apostles. Paul described the approach they used and the effect the false teachers had on Christians in Galatia: " I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ " (Galatians 1:6-7)...
The brethren in that area were being swept into one of the many sects making up the emerging false Christianity. Paul had to contend with religious strife from the Jewish and gentile in the Galatian congregations.
These cunning pretenders did not reject outright the gospel Paul taught. They simply perverted aspects of it. then they seduced the Galatian Christians into accepting their gospel---a deadly mixture of truth and error. It contained enough error to prevent anyone who would accept it from recieving salvation.
Notice Paul's condemnation of that "different" gospel: "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached, let him be accursed". As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have recieved, let him be accursed" (vs, 8-9)... Jesus warned His apostles this would happened: " Then many false prophets will arise up and decieve many. And because (lawlessness) will abound, the love of many will grow cold" (Matt 24). Jesus explained that lawlessness, the key element in the message of the false teachers, would finally become the foundation of a popular and successful counterfeit christianity...
The false prophets devised their message and doctrines by verbally acknowledging Jesus as "Lord" while refusing to obey Him (Luke 6:46). Jesus Himself warned of their decietful, cunning approach: " Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but (inwardly) they are ravenous wolves" (Matt 7:15). Jesus made it clear that teachers of lawlessness, who outwardly appear as innocent sheep performing religious acts, are not His apostles or servants: "For 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!"...
~Church Of God~
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