Three Accursed Gospels: Frontload, Backload, and the Galatian Error
Orientation
Many are taught that God's acceptance depends on their performance, leading to a loss of peace and assurance.
- The false assumption that salvation is earned by works or moral reform.
- The resulting anxiety of never knowing if you have done enough to be accepted by God.
- The subtle redefinition of faith as an inward work that must prove itself.
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
— Romans 4:5
Clarification
Justification is God's declaration of His own righteousness in accepting those who believe in Jesus, apart from any law or work.
- It is not a declaration of our righteousness, but of God's justice in freely justifying the ungodly.
- It secures both our eternal destiny and our present standing of peace and grace before God.
- The Holy Spirit is given as the 'blessing of the gospel,' not as a reward for our performance.
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
— Romans 3:26
Structure
Paul identifies three primary distortions that subvert the true gospel by either denying or redefining justification by faith.
- The Frontloaded Works Gospel denies justification by faith, insisting salvation is earned by works.
- The Backloaded Works Gospel redefines faith as a work, requiring law-keeping fruit for assurance.
- The Galatian Error redefines justification as only for eternity, requiring law-keeping for God's present favor.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
— Galatians 1:8-9
Weight-Bearing Prose
The true gospel is justification by faith apart from works. This is God’s righteous answer to the moralist accusation, vindicating His justice in reconciling sinners. The Frontloaded Works Gospel (e.g., Hebrew Roots, certain Arminianism) outright denies this, making salvation a wage. The Backloaded Works Gospel (e.g., Calvinist ‘heart faith’, Catholicism) nullifies it by redefining faith as an inward work evidenced by law-keeping, destroying assurance. The Galatian Error, perhaps most insidious for believers, severs justification from present life, teaching that while heaven is by faith, God’s daily favor requires law-keeping. This bewitches saints, causing them to persecute Spirit-led living and fail to live in the ’Not I, but Christ’ reality. All three errors misuse James 2 to overturn Paul, accusing the true gospel of promoting license. Their root is a refusal to fully judge the flesh—including religious zeal—and embrace the cross.
Integration
Your standing before God is not in question. Being justified by faith, you have peace with God and stand in grace. The Spirit has been given to you; He is the blessing of the gospel. Christ is your life, your righteousness, and your reward. There is no pressure to advance or perform to secure what is already yours in Him. This assurance is your anchor, your resting place. The work is finished, and you are accepted in the Beloved. Let this truth settle you, not challenge you. Your fellowship with God is based on Christ’s work alone, a present reality to be enjoyed in faith.