Bewitching deception ∙∙
You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you? – Galatians 3:1
Galatians 5:1-13
1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.
4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.
5 But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us.
6 For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.
7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth?
8 It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom.
9 This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough!
10 I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has confused you.
13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
Have You Ever Believed a Lie?
Have you ever passionately embraced a falsehood only to uncover the truth later? If you have, you understand the destructive power of deception. It can shatter friendships, dismantle reputations, and inflict enduring consequences. When deception is intended to disrupt faith and trust in God’s grace, the consequences can be especially horrific, potentially determining the course of your eternal destiny.
The Battle of Spiritual Deception
Stanley writes, “It would be nice to think that once we’re saved, we could never again be spiritually deceived, but that’s not the case. Satan is always looking for ways to lead us astray so he can ruin our testimony and hinder our spiritual growth. That’s why it’s so important for Christians to be discerning – and this ability will be developed in us only as we grow in our knowledge of scriptural truth.”
When the Truth Is Twisted
The apostle Paul penned a letter to the believers in Galatia, who were falling prey to deceitful schemes. They were being scammed. Consequently, they were gradually losing their grip on the truth. The matter at stake was not trivial but of utmost importance. It revolved around the authenticity and reliability of the gospel message itself.
Was the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ sufficient to provide salvation by grace alone, or is something more required? Soon after Paul departed from Galatia, false teachers arrived and began spreading misinformation among the nascent believers. Consequently, some of the Galatians were abandoning the true gospel for a “different gospel.” This “different gospel” was no gospel at all but rather an egregious distortion.
Paul’s Shocked Response
“Paul appears to have been genuinely shocked at the news he received from Galatia. The shock was further deepened because the slippage occurred ‘so quickly’” (Timothy George).
Paul writes in Galatians 1:6-7: “I am shocked that you are turning away from God so quickly, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News, but it is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.
The Greek word translated as “shocked” or “astonished” is thaumazo. Thaumazo has the sense of “astonished, marveled, astounded, or surprised. The expression, “‘I am astonished that,’ was a literary device commonly used in Hellenistic letters to “express irritation and irony as well as surprise” (Timothy George).
The Allure of a False Gospel
The Galatians were actively turning away from the Lord Jesus Christ. They were deserting Him and the message of the gospel. In its place, they were realigning their commitment to “another gospel,” which is not an authentic gospel. Instead, it is no more than a bewitching deception. At best, the Galatians were like silly, naive, gullible children. False teachers persuaded them that the truth was not the truth after all. At worst, they were poised to become deserters, traitors, and apostates. As Paul writes the letter, the Galatians were shifting their allegiance. It was not too late to persuade them to abandon their pursuit of this alluring and convincing scam.
Why Is This a Big Deal?
Someone had come into the assembly distorting the gospel of grace. The Galatians were being told that salvation did not come by faith alone. But instead, the law of Moses must be kept, and circumcision was necessary for salvation (Galatians 5:3-4).
REFLECT & PRAY
It is all too easy to become beguiled and accept falsehood in place of truth.
Father, keep us faithful to the truth of the gospel. Help us stand firm in the grace we have received, and give us discernment to avoid the traps of bewitching deception.
INSIGHT
The Subtle Lies We Still Face
While the 21st century is a far cry from the days when circumcision or following the law of Moses sparked theological debates. They are no longer hot-button issues. However, the temptation to believe that good works or outward performance can earn salvation persists. Even today, the children of God are at risk of being beguiled by this age-old lie.
But Paul’s words leave no room for confusion when it comes to the truth about salvation by grace. Paul could not be clearer. He wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9:
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”
Salvation is God’s gift, not a performance-based achievement. Our good works are the fruit of grace, not the root of salvation.
Deceivers Among Us
The Lord Jesus Christ warned us about the danger of deception. He made it clear that as His return draws nearer, the world will face an increasing number of deceivers who will attempt to lead people astray.
In Matthew 24:4-5, 24, Jesus told the disciples, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many… For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.”
This sobering warning from Christ reminds us that no one is immune to deception. Even children of the King, God’s chosen ones, could be targets of false teachers and their schemes.
Defending Against Deception
How can we defend ourselves against these beguiling lies? The answer is simple but profound: by knowing the Truth.
Spending time in God’s Word and anchoring our lives in His truth is the ultimate protection against being misled by misinformation. Scripture equips us with spiritual discernment, allowing us to recognize what aligns with the gospel and what doesn’t. Paul declares in 2 Timothy 3:14, “Continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it.”
Scripture is not simply a set of guidelines; it is God’s revealed truth and our lifeline in the battle against spiritual deception.
Beware of “New” Gospels
Charles Stanley offers wise counsel on this matter. He said, “Whenever someone promotes a ‘restored’ gospel or a ‘secret’ gospel or a ‘fresh’ gospel or any other ‘gospel’ that deviates from what the Bible clearly teaches, run for your life. That person promotes death, not life.”
This warning is vital in an age where new interpretations, “hidden revelations,” or so-called progressive gospels often emerge. Anything that veers from the clear teaching of God’s Word is not the gospel at all; it’s a counterfeit that endangers souls.
Faithful and Immovable
The constant battle against deception requires us to remain rooted in unwavering faith. Paul encouraged the church in Corinth with these words of strength and purpose: 1 Corinthians 15:58 “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”
When we cling to the truth of Scripture and live out our faith with steadfastness, we not only guard against deception but also honor God in all we do.
Stand Firm in the Truth
Deception can be subtle, but the truth is unmistakable. By grounding yourself in God’s Word, you will gain the discernment needed to reject false teachings and the strength to stand firm in His grace. With a solid foundation in God’s truth, we can remain steadfast and unwavering, confident that He is faithful and that our salvation, through His grace, is complete.
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© Dr. H 2025
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