Preserving the Gospel

“But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in-- who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery-- to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.”

 (Galatians 2:3-5 ESV)

There are times in life when we can be flexible. There are situations in life in which we should bend. There are circumstances when it’s proper to allow the preferences of others to take priority over our own.



Our tendency is to be stubborn in all things. Our tendency is to insist on our own way. However, when the issue is not one of truth, when it’s not a matter of right and wrong, when it’s a matter of personal taste and preference, it’s then that we can and should give priority to the preferences of others.



However, there are times when we should not bend. In fact, there are circumstances in which we must not bend. There are situations in which it would be harmful to do so.



This is what Paul is addressing in the above passage. Some were insisting that the Gentiles, who were coming to faith in Christ, must be circumcised. And Paul saw this for what it was: a perversion of the gospel.



We are saved only by the grace of God through faith in Jesus. And to allow anything to be added to the gospel is to pervert it. Allowing anything to be added to the gospel would lead people to trust in something other than Christ for this blessing that we so desperately need.



This would hinder the salvation of the lost. It would prevent them from hearing and receiving the gospel, by which we are saved. It was truly a life or death matter.



For this reason, Paul stood firm. He did not yield in submission to these people for even a moment. He would not do so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved.



In the same way, there are times we cannot bend. There are circumstances where we must not bend. And this is especially true when the salvation of souls is at stake.



We must not alter the truth of God’s Word. We must not amend the gospel of Christ. To do so would mean abandoning the call given to us by God. To do so would mean denying salvation to the lost. To do so would mean leading astray the souls for which Jesus died.