“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:” (Galatians 1:6 KJV)
“…so soon removed…” The ESV uses the term “deserting”. Interestingly enough, the identified gap is not due to a lack of discipline. It’s because of too much discipline. The wrong kind of discipline. Discipline that he later calls “weak and beggarly elements” (see Galatians 4:9). It’s a clever scam that has been pulled. You think that you are getting back to “the basics”, the wrong “basics” are pointed out, and then you are so devoted to the wrong basics that you find yourself on a very different hill. This book is interesting to me because it shows that there is a faith worth contending for and it’s worth contending for in those who have already believed. These are not first time converts. Growing correctly is important. Is there any Christian who does not have Galatians 5:16-26 bookmarked, highlighted, and often as not memorized? Paul can’t start there though. Paul gets there after refreshing and realigning some core things that they have believed. It is quite powerful when you look at chapter 6 again. The restoration needed with this particular audience is one of recollecting what their core faith is as opposed to someone who has indulged in a lust or fallen again to an addiction. Though one tends to follow the other. The “fault” is more like a “fault line”. How important continued growth in the Lord is! How great is the need to listen to His Spirit every step of the way!
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1 KJV)