For a very good reason, Paul was concerned about the first Christians in Galatia. They were losing their faith in Jesus. They had begun to believe that, in order to be saved, they also needed to fulfill the obligations of the law. Thus, the message Apostle Paul had proclaimed to them had become something else.

However, it seems the transition was so subtle that the Galatians themselves still called their 'gospel' the Good News. Most of them were not even aware of a change of any sort.

What might Apostle Paul think of us modern-day Christians, should he be with us today?

The gospel he'd preach would still be the same, for sure: Jesus died for all of us on the cross, and through His blood our sins have been forgiven, once and for all. Therefore, the salvation is now available to anyone who receives Him. Still, how many of us today would actually believe his words?

Well, that sounds all right, doesn't it? There is just one problem: the forgiveness of sins has been moved from Calvary to the present time. We claim that God forgives us "because of Jesus", but in reality the forgiveness depends on us, our own deeds, and our faith. In that view, the true significance of Jesus lies in the fact that there is no need for additional sacrifice. The lambs and goats are eternally safe! But eventually, this kind of a doctrine is "good news" for goats alone because it leaves us humans under the law anyway. The forgiveness is now up to us.

How simple and unconditional was the Good News that Paul proclaimed! Jesus' death on the cross was a historical event, and so was the full redemption in Christ. It happened in the past. The sacrifice on Calvary was not even dependent on anyone's faith, for "while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6). He gave his life and redeemed the whole mankind with one perfect sacrifice. There is nothing anyone can ever add to that.

Of course, this complete, full forgiveness did not mean everyone would be saved. Our salvation depends on how we deal with Jesus now that he has risen. We are saved by faith in Jesus — that is, as we agree to receive him in our life through the Holy Spirit.

Still, there can be no foundation for our faith other than the pure, genuine Good News. The present day "gospel" may look very much like the original, but it lacks its power. Only through the message of the complete atonement on the cross we can be set free.