Warning Against “Another Gospel”

The other day, I noticed a comment on one of my posts on Facebook. A man quoted to me a few verses from the first chapter of Galatians in the New Testament:

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Before getting into my original post, let me mention the writer of the above scripture.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ as Taught by the Apostle Paul

What was the gospel taught by Paul the apostle in the New Testament times? It was the same gospel taught by Peter and the other apostles of the Lord: the good news that the Messiah had come to the earth and fulfilled prophesy and was resurrected and still lives.

Consider how Jesus concluded many days of teaching his disciples (beginning of the first chapter of Acts in the New Testament):

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God . . . And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

This was not a God who left his friends by evaporating into an ether, never again to be seen in the form of a man. This was not a Savior who would never again send an angel to minister to Christians. This was not a Messiah who would never again inspire any mortal to write scripture. This was Jesus Christ, a glorified personage who appeared to his disciples after his resurrection, and that appearance was in his true form: a glorified man.

Let’s now look at the beginning of the second chapter of Galatians:

Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles . . .

Revelation From God

So the Lord communicated with Paul the apostle. Is that a new doctrine or “another gospel?” No, it’s the same way that Peter the apostle lived after his conversion: a life led by revelation.

So what would cause Paul to write the following? “I marvel that ye are so soon removed . . . [from Christ] unto another gospel . . .” It was a system of long-standing traditions that lacked that essential ingredient of spiritual life: our need for a Redeemer, even Jesus Christ. So how do we know Christ and know about him and know about his great works? It’s by revelation from God, both personal communication with God and by revelations from true apostles and other truly authorized messengers from God, including angels.

Like at the time of Paul the apostle, angels still minister to people in modern times

What was my original comment on Facebook, that caused a man to quote to me a few verses from the first chapter of Galatians? It was my testimony of the Book of Mormon a glorious book that has led thousands of persons, if not millions, to search the Bible. The Book of Mormon is a revelation from God. It is filled with exhortations to believe in Jesus Christ and follow him, listening and reading of his eternal gospel. Outside of the Bible itself, what book, other than the Book of Mormon, has done more in turning people to read and believe in the Bible?

Beware of old Christian traditions that include dogmas about God never again giving us any new scriptures and never again sending angels. That was not the gospel preached by Paul.

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Reading the Bible and the Book of Mormon