What Condemns Angels

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the Gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed (Gal. 1:6-9).

If there were an award for the most frequently cited lines in Galatians, these would be the front-runner. They are a clear, concise reminder the Gospel is not to be tampered with. It is not “open to interpretation.” Whatever it says, it says the same thing to you and me alike. It needs neither update nor revision. Changing a medication’s dosage—just a little—can turn something life-saving into something deadly. The doctor’s instructions aren’t suggestions; they’re precise. So is the Gospel. Any attempt to add to it, subtract from it, or reshape it—no matter how noble it may appear—falls under the curse spoken here.

The Gospel Paul preached is “the power of God for salvation” (Rom. 1:16). Its saving purpose was planned “before the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8), though revealed in its fullness in Christ (Col. 1:26). Revelation calls it “an eternal Gospel” (Rev. 14:6): its truth is enduring, its authority unchanging, and its promises indestructible. Men did not create it, men cannot improve it, and men have no right to adjust it.

Yet many men then (and now) ignore these words. Blinded by their greed and lust for power, the Gospel becomes just another tool with which to dominate others—to rob and manipulate them (2 Pet. 2:1-3, 12-19). Churches of Galatia had lowered the drawbridge for such individuals, and they needed to repent of their own negligence, and then deal with false-teachers in their midst. By accepting teachers who twisted the Gospel for their own gain, they endangered the very salvation God had given them.

Paul follows this warning with a declaration of motive: “For am I now seeking the favor of people, or of God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10).

Paul is not competing for influence. He is not playing a game of thrones. His loyalty is fixed on Christ alone. Since Christ entrusted him with the Gospel directly (Gal. 1:11–12), he did not need human approval—not even from apostles (Gal. 2:6). As a servant of Christ, only Christ’s approval mattered. That freed him to speak with boldness rarely seen today. He could apply the Gospel without fear of rank, reputation, or retaliation.

Yes, the same man taught, “Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—as I also try to please everyone in all I do” (1 Cor. 10:32-33), but he would never do this at the expense of Truth. That is his point here: the Gospel must be preserved regardless of how others think or feel about you. Isn’t that liberating as a follower of Christ? Knowing that if you are pleasing to the Lord, standing on the side of Truth, you can speak with all boldness—to anyone! It doesn’t matter who they are—your children, your boss, your spouse, or your closest friend. You can be unfiltered with the eternal, impartial message of Jesus.

The Gospel has many enemies—foreign and domestic (Acts 20:30-31). It must be upheld by God’s people—sometimes against those whom we least expect. Paul encountered false-teachers in Jerusalem: “we did not yield in subjection to them, even for an hour, so that the truth of the Gospel would remain with you” (Gal. 2:5).

But the greater shock came later. When certain men came from James, Peter withdrew from eating with Gentile Christians “fearing the party of the circumcision” (Gal. 2:12). His influence swept others away—including Barnabas, socially stiff-arming non-Jewish brethren and refusing to eat with them. This was not an “oversight.” Fear-driven compromise spreads. One Christian’s slip can lead others into sin. Paul says Peter “stood condemned” and “was not straightforward about the truth of the Gospel” (Gal. 2:11, 14).

Why retell this painful episode? Because Galatia was doing the same thing—shrinking back instead of standing firm. If Paul would oppose even an apostle who acted contrary to the Gospel, the churches of Galatia could not excuse their own silence.

Paul meant exactly what he said in the opening curse: not even an angel, not even an apostle, has the right to alter the Gospel. Truth is not subject to personality or prestige. Loyalty to Christ demands courage even when those closest to us waver.

Jesus said: “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matt. 10:37).

Satan knows the power of relational pressure. Many have abandoned obedience out of fear of losing family, friends, or influence. The opening of Galatians exposes this fear and demands its death. If you find yourself bending under pressure, the issue is not merely courage—it is allegiance.

The warning is unmistakable: the Gospel is worth any cost. If we belong to Christ, we must be ready to stand for Truth even when others fall—even when those we love most turn aside. A disciple must be prepared to lose everything but the Gospel itself.

Paul had already settled the question of loyalty long before he ever confronted Peter or warned the Galatians. He said:

“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.” (Phil. 3:7–8)

Paul’s allegiance was not fragile. It was not negotiable. And it was not for sale.

He had already weighed the cost, and he had already made the trade: knowing Christ instead of everything the world offers. Every spiritual blessing is found in Him, and Him alone (Eph. 1:3). He is the exclusive way to Heaven and fellowship with the Father of us all (Jn. 14:6).

That is why the Gospel could not be changed. That is why Truth could not be compromised. That is why no angel, no apostle, no friend, no fear, and no pressure could move Paul an inch from the message Christ gave him. Too much is at stake.

And that is the question Galatians still presses on us today:

What are you willing to lose to gain Christ?

What are you holding onto that keeps you from obeying Him?

What fear stops you from standing with Him?

What relationship demands more loyalty than the Lord who died for you?

Paul didn’t invite people to a cost-free Christ. He invited them to a Christ who is worth any cost.

If you are not a Christian, this is what Jesus calls you to — to believe His gospel, to repent of your sins, to confess Him as Lord, and to be buried with Him in baptism so you may rise to walk in newness of life (Jn. 8:24; Lk. 13:3; Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:4).

And if you are a Christian who has drifted or compromised — you can return, to stand again with the truth of the Gospel, and to remember the surpassing value of knowing Christ.

To lose everything in this world and gain Christ is no loss at all.

To gain the world and lose Christ is the greatest loss imaginable.