The apostle Paul was a straightforward preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and here he asked the people of Galatia who had bewitched them:
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:1-3)
The Greek word baskaino is used there to translate that word bewitched and it is defined as follows: to malign, to fascinate (by false representations), bewitch.
The apostle Paul was dealing with the issue of false gospels, and you can tell by the ‘sound’ of his letter that he was not happy with what had been going on with the church at Galatia. Listen to Paul again:
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)
One thing that you must notice here is that Paul spoke in a way that is so uncommon in our own day. Paul told the people straight out that there was a curse upon a false Gospel. He made his point by saying it twice. Paul was warning them that there was a chance of them being deceived by false teachers. Paul also told them how he had to get in Peter’s face because of his hypocrisy in succumbing to the pressure from the Judaizing “Christians”.’ (Galatians 2:11-16)
This is absolutely incredible because Peter was one of the original disciples of Jesus Christ. Peter saw many miracles, including the dead being raised and a raging storm being stopped by Jesus Christ. Peter saw Jesus walk on water, and he actually walked on water himself. Peter was there when they came for Jesus in the garden, and he even denied Christ three times. Peter was aware that Christ was crucified and killed on the cross, but he also saw the risen Jesus Christ! And yet Peter had a demonic fear overtake his heart, when he pulled away from eating with the Gentiles for fear of offending the Judaizing ‘Christians” of his time. One would not think it possible that a man such as Peter would do such a thing, especially after being restored by Jesus Christ after denying Him three different times. Peter was one of the choice few who walked side by side with the creator of all things, but the Satanic pressure was too much for him there!
The apostle Paul stressed the fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross and that was enough. That should be enough for anybody in our day also. Away with the false Gospels of our time such as the Gospel of Roman Catholicism which adds a lot more to the Gospel than the Judaizers did in Galatia. The false gospel of Roman Catholicism has stolen the souls of billions of precious souls over many centuries. I thank God that the Lord opened my eyes to the deception of that demonic system. One would think that the great idolatry of Catholicism would be easily seen by most Christian believers, but unfortunately that is not the case. If the apostle Paul was so upset about the bondage that was upon the church at Galatia, what would he have said about the Roman Church of today? What would Paul have said about the Roman Catholic Priesthood and the teaching that the little wafer is the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ? What would he have said about the prayers and worship of Mary and the Catholic saints? What would Paul have said about the teaching of Purgatory, and the saying of Masses to deliver the souls who are presently in Purgatory, a place that does not even exist? Plain and simple Paul would have asked the same question today that he asked back then, Who hath bewitched you?
Another false gospel that has come along recently is the false Gospel of Zionism. I believe the apostle Paul would have flipped out if he heard what was being taught today in relation to the people of Israel. Can you imagine the apostle Paul telling people that they were under a curse if they did not bless the people of Israel who rejected Jesus Christ? Can you imagine the apostle Paul restraining himself as people like David Brog and Senator Joe Lieberman were speaking to hundreds of Christian believers about their obligation to earthly Israel? Can you imagine the apostle Paul being in that meeting, without preaching the Gospel to them, and warning them that they are on their way to Hell, unless they repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Paul was all about souls, and he knew that those who died without Jesus Christ would be lost for eternity. That was the heart of Paul and it must be the heart of every true believer in Jesus Christ.
I am beyond amazed at the false unity that is so apparent in the modern day church, and at how little is said about what is going on. The major compromisers of our day such as Billy Graham, Pat Robertson, John Hagee and countless others have played a great part in the seduction of souls in our time. People have been bewitched by the mixture of truth with error. If you throw in a few Christian Hymns, some colorful graphics on a huge screen, add a few sentimental stories then you can easily manipulate a crowd in no time. The modern day church has bowed their knee to a Satanic spirit of fear, which gets deep inside the hearts of leaders who are petrified of offending the Politicians, and Politial Pastors of our day. That fear will move them away from being a true servant of Christ. It was that same Satanic spirit of fear which sought to totally devour Peter, before Paul got in his face and asked him what on earth he was doing. If the apostle Peter, who was one of the original disciples and a witness of incredible miracles was in danger of being bewitched, then what makes you think WE (me or you) are exempt? Peter was attempting to please man and God at the same time but Paul saw right through it all. The apostle Paul declared that a person cannot please man and God at the same time, and he said that after he warned about a curse being upon the false Gospel.
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)
The leaders of the present day church such as Hagee, Robertson and Graham should be asked the very same question: Who hath bewitched you?
