30) "Beware And Avoid False Gospel’s” Series

PREACHING THE TRUE GOSPEL

30) “Beware and Avoid False Gospel’s”

TEXT: Galatians 1:6

RECAP

Today, our teaching concerning the true Gospel of Jesus Christ,

And “...those things most surely believed among us” (Lk 1:1) continues.

In recent weeks, as we have opened the Scriptures together...

We have discovered how getting saved - is Not of Works!

That means, God’s promise of Salvation and the forgiveness of sins,

Is not at all based upon on what you do – because it’s not your good works that saves you.

And this is important to understand – because its fundamental to our Christian beliefs.

The true Gospel, according to what the Bible teaches...

Is not at all about the things we do for God,

It’s all about what Jesus has done for you through the perfect redemptive work of the cross.

Remember Ephesians 2:8-9 sums this up really well saying:

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

There is no room for anyone of us to boast in our own salvation...

Because we don’t save ourselves.

We are saved by God’s Grace...through Faith in Jesus Christ alone...

Because this is God’s Gift to mankind – it is Not of Works!

Amen!

The Bible and the entire Gospel message is very clear on this.

Of course, just as important as knowing...

That we can never be good enough to work for our own Salvation,

It’s just as important to recognise that we can never be good enough...

To keep or to hold onto our salvation either!

And there is a lot of confusion within wider religion on this point too.

You see, some people turn to Jesus in order to be saved...

But then they mistakenly believe that they need to be good - in order to stay saved.

And people like this live in an incredibly anxious and fearful state...

Thinking that should they sin or somehow create offense against God,

That they will end up losing the salvation that they have been given.

And that is wrong – because it is not what the Scriptures teach!

And the tragedy in this – is that people who hold this view and belief...

Once again make the salvation of God - all about themselves and the things they do.

“I have to be good enough – in order to stay saved”.

“I need to do right and live right – otherwise I might lose my salvation.”

But remember – what the true Gospel of Jesus Christ is – because it is “Not of Works”

You see, eternal life and having a home in heaven is founded upon the Promise of God,

And is not at all based upon what you do.

And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life – 1 John 2:25.

Now as you may recall – we spent a little time last week

Touching on the differences that exist...

Between the promises of man and the promises of God.

Namely, the difference being that God always keeps His promises...

While man quite frequently doesn’t

And I just very quickly want to touch on this again tonight

Because I feel like I may not have explained this all that clearly last week.

But this is what the Scriptures teach us when it comes to making promises:

Deuteronomy 23:21-23 says:

21 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.

22 But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.

In other words, when you make a promise before God – keep it – otherwise it’s a sin.

23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised

with thy mouth.

Now a freewill offering was voluntary - it was not required under the OT Law.

And the point being made here is simple – if you make a promise before God…

Whether great or small – you need to keep it.

The problem though we all have as sinful human beings...

Is that sometimes we fail to stand by our word,

And that results not only in broken promises – but also in sin.

Now Jesus in the NT adds to this teaching in Matthew 5:33-37 saying:

33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: