One thing is clear in reading the Bible, God loves his son; he enjoys him, he delights in him, he glorifies him, and he means to continue to seem him glorified. One of the primary ways of demonstrating this to humanity is through the gospel. For it is in the gospel that we see the Son’s unyielding devotion and resolve to exalt his Father, even through his own death. God is pleased with this gospel, for it is his gospel that exalts his son.
Therefore we have warnings in Scripture about ‘messing’ with what God has approved and remains an unending source of delight to him. In the first chapter of Galatians the apostle Paul exhorts his readers to exercise commitment, resolve, and discernment when dealing with the gospel. In fact, he warns them that any editing to this gospel, either by addition or subtraction, will bring about damnation: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” (Gal. 1.8).
The Apostle Paul pleads for commitment and discernment from his hearers. He even includes himself as one who needs to have his message examined. Incidentally, Paul was one specifically commissioned by God for the defense and proclamation of the gospel. He also includes angels (from heaven no less) as those with whom we must be discerning. In other words, when it comes to the gospel, know what it is, hold fast to it, and be a fanatic about defending its purity…regardless of the messenger discern the message!
The issue in the Galatian church was not reinventing Jesus or worshiping a different deity, it was adding to the gospel. Therefore Paul defends the gospel of justification by faith alone (plus or minus nothing!). When, regardless of motives, folks add to or subtract from the gospel they undermine the agenda of God in getting pure glory for Jesus. To array the cross with religious works is to smudge its glory, insulting and devaluing the perfect work of the perfect Savior.
The gospel is the primary means by which Jesus is exalted. When we understand that no one may improve upon its perfection, we would agree that in terms of the gospel, addition equals subtraction. So therefore, in effort to keep in step with God in ascribing glory to Jesus, let us know the gospel, love the gospel, and hold fast, with white knuckles, to the gospel, for it is in the gospel that God exalts the Savior.