The gospel is not a world view or an ethics or a program for a happier life or a purpose to give drive to your life. All those things have their own larger file cabinet and have their place (like the longevity of Martin Luther King, Jr.), but the gospel sounds from outside that cabinet. It is the news that the future is not in the cabinet, that the cabinet is fine, but it will not save anyone, that the war between “life and death” of the file cabinet has nothing to do with good news. That is why Paul was so upset with the Galatians and why he shouted at them, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!
“Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”