So Soon Removed

Galatians 1:6

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

One thing I have learned from reading God’s Word and books from the past is that every generation struggles with the same struggles that we have today. Paul marveled that the believers in Galatia were so soon removed from what they had trusted to save them. These people became enamored with other preachers who brought works into salvation, and because these preachers sounded “smart,” they left the doctrine that had saved them from their sins for another gospel.

Any church that is a soul winning church has seen this same narrative happen in their congregation. You lead someone to Christ, and they come to church and get baptized, but a few months later, they drop out of church and avoid anyone who tries to get them back into church. Some may ask if these people were truly saved; my answer is they are saved if they trusted Christ. Salvation is eternal, and just because they dropped out of church does not mean they were never saved. For those of us who reached these people, we wonder how they could be so soon removed. Let me share five reasons people are so soon removed from following the Lord after they get saved.

First, they forget who loved them more. I am always amazed how someone went to a church for years and NEVER shared with them how to be saved, but after they get saved and baptized, they go back to the church that didn't love them enough to tell them how to be saved. If a church loved you enough to share the Gospel with you, don't you think you should stay with the one who reached you rather than the one who never told you how to be saved? Stay with the one who loved you enough to share the Gospel with you so that you could be saved.

Second, they don't quickly become a soul winner. The first thing a believer is supposed to do after salvation is to be baptized, but after that, they are to be a soul winner. Andrew immediately gave the Gospel to Peter after being saved, which is what you should do. To keep from being so soon removed, become a soul winner. Soul winners are more likely to stay than those who never share the Gospel.

Third, they don't walk with God. You will quickly go back to the world if you don't walk with God daily. God’s Word and prayer will keep you from sin, but sin will keep you from God’s Word and prayer. Staying in God’s Word and praying daily keeps you from being so soon removed.

Fourth, they don't put a guard around the spiritual leaders they listen to. Many who preach false doctrine may sound “smart,” but if they were so smart they would not preach false doctrine. Don't listen to just any preacher or teacher; listen to those who believe right. Your best guard in this area is to listen to the preacher whose church helped bring you to Christ.

Fifth, they don't separate from their old friends. You cannot continue to run with the wrong crowd and stay with the right crowd. You become like the weakest crowd you run with. You will soon be removed from the right crowd if you don't separate from the old crowd. Many young believers have gone back to the world because they did not separate from their old friends. Create new friends in your church and run with them, and this will run the old friends away from you.