Consider the apostle Peter, who transgressed a most elementary principle of the gospel when he stopped eating with the Gentiles at Antioch. What made this especially inexcusable was that God himself told him in a vision, “Do not call anything unclean that God has made clean.” Right is right, wrong is wrong, and Peter was wrong. Therefore, Paul publicly rebuked him and withstood him to his face.

Thus we see the gospel of Jesus Christ possesses higher authority than even an apostle of Jesus Christ. God indeed attested to the gospel through the apostles after the Lord first declared it, but when they transgressed this standard — and it was possible, as Peter demonstrated — they were censured by this same standard.

Paul said that if “we” — anyone who brought the gospel to the people in the first place — if anyone, including himself, preached a different gospel than the one he delivered, then let him be accursed. In fact, he said that even if an angel “from heaven” — not a demonic impostor — preached a different gospel, let him also be accursed. He said this indiscriminately to the Galatians, to a group of unstable and ordinary Christians. So it does not require an apostle to confront an apostle or angel who teaches false doctrine.

Any believer has the authority to disagree with even a real apostle or angel if he comes with a gospel different from the one already delivered. The gospel carries the very authority of God. It is a standard that can judge any apostle or angel. Since this is the case, we should much more eagerly acknowledge the errors in our heroes, scholars, and creeds, regardless of how much history and tradition pressure us to respect them.

What is this gospel, once-for-all delivered? Within a short space in this same letter to the Galatians, we observe at least three pillars of truth. First, Christ the Son has come in the flesh through a woman (4:4). Thus we affirm the divinity and humanity of Christ. Second, Christ the Redeemer has atoned for sin by his death (3:1). We affirm justification by faith alone, without the works of the law.

Third, Christ the Baptizer has endowed his people with miracle power by his Spirit, and God works miracles among his people not because of the works of the law, and not because of persons and periods, but because the people believe the gospel (3:5). Therefore, we affirm that Christians can receive superhuman and supernatural power by the Spirit, and that miracles, prophecies, and other signs and wonders are available to each one because of faith, and not only because of special gifts and ministries.

As a Christian, I have the authority to smite any genuine apostle or even an angel from heaven who preaches a message that deviates from these pillars of the gospel. God is greater than any apostle or angel, and this is the gospel he has established. This third point is inseparable from the gospel, because it is the gospel. It is the gospel just like the first point is the gospel, and just like the second point is the gospel. In fact, Paul uses this third point as proof for the second point.