1) It is an exclusive gospel — "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed" (Gal. 1:8-9).
2) It is a revealed gospel (Gal. 1:11-12) — The gospel Paul preached, was not a social gospel, nor the product of man's wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:4; 2 Peter 1:16). It's essence had been sent from heaven, by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:1-5).
3) It is an uncompromising gospel — When its principle (one truth for all) was at stake, Paul tells us, "we did not yield submission even for an hour" (Gal. 2:3-5). When the apostle Peter, through human weakness, "was not straightforward about the truth of the gospel," Paul "withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed" (Gal. 2:11-14).
4) It is a gospel based on a system of faith — As opposed to justification by the law of Moses. In Galations 3:10, Paul explains what is meant by "justification by the law": "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them" (cf. Deuteronomy 27:26). The law could justify only when its demands were perfectly complied with, but no mortal man ever lived so perfectly, thus justification by the law placed man under a curse.
5) It is a gospel of Spirit versus flesh — The gospel calls on us to put to death the fleshly desires that war against the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-17; cf. Colossians 3:1-10). It names specific works of the flesh, and says, "those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:21). It encourages us to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-26).
Dear reader, if we haven't already, let us seriously consider obeying the kind of gospel that Paul preached (Romans 6:17).
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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