Interlopers

It thus emerges that the interlopers were sham Christians precisely because they had not really grasped the fundamental principle of the Gospel-justification by faith apart from the works of law. NICNT

I was both angered and saddened reading this text and the above quote. Angered that people would want to keep the Gospel from being spread to the salvation of those who desperately needed. I was also saddened for the same reason. To know the Gospel and be a part of Christ should continually remind us of the Grace we have been granted. We should continually fall to our knees in gratitude for this gift and be filled with the desire to see others experience the same grace. To want to keep it to ourselves is a perversion of this precious gift and should be countered at ever opportunity. We also need to be careful to check our own motives carefully to make sure we do not fall into the same trap as well. May God strengthen us to rise above our own selfish desires and serve God with all our hearts.