Mingling

Yesterday we looked at how quickly a person could stray away from Jesus. Today, we will focus in on the idea of mingling. Galatians 1:6-7 says this: “I am shocked over how quickly you have strayed away from the One who called you in the grace of Christ. I’m astounded that you now embrace a distorted gospel! That is a fake ‘gospel’ that is simply not true. There is only one gospel—the good news of Christ! Yet you have allowed those who mingle law with grace to confuse you” (TPT). This is what we call a “Jesus and gospel.” It means that we believe and share the Gospel, but we add something else to it. That’s the mingling.

Mingling is mixing together. Imagine if I made a bowl of cereal. My favorite cereal is LIFE cereal, the cinnamon kind. I love that cereal. But what if I added more than just milk to the cereal? What if I added some hot sauce? The cereal would be noticeable different. It would be changed because of the hot sauce. I would not want to eat it. I would not like it. I would possibly get nauseated from the taste of milk mixed with hot sauce. The thought of it alone disgusts me. 

Now let us move away from food and get back to the Good News. God is very clear about the Good News. We are all sinners (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23). While we were sinners, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8). All who believe in Jesus Christ are saved (Romans 10:9). If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us (1 John 1:9). 

Now imagine if we take this truth and we mingle it with something else. For example, we confess our sins but also we tithe half our income, and only then we will be forgiven. Or maybe, all who believe in Jesus are saved, so long as they do A, B, and C. You may say this doesn’t happen, but if you look around in the faith community, you will too often see otherwise. Mingling happens, even with the ones causing the mingling do not notice what they are doing. For some, it is a matter of tradition or something they were taught at home. It may be all they know. Perhaps they accept all of the Scripture as truth for others, but when it comes to themselves, they add ridiculous things that become stumbling blocks. What we must do again and again is to make sure we are hearing and receiving the pure Gospel, the straight Truth, with no added MSG (mingled skewed goop). Remember it’s a free gift. Free means free. No strings attached. No mingling.

Thank You Jesus for Your Good News! We know that the wages of sin is death, but You God have offered us life everlasting through Christ Jesus! We hold tight to Your Truth. Open our eyes to see Your Truth and to spot any lies that may try to intermingle. Lord, You are so good. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!