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:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem;
for it is the city of the great King.
And some of us may go – well that makes sense…
Don’t make promises according to things that are outside of your control.
I will only take an oath upon myself – because then I will be sure to keep it.
However Jesus continues in verse 36 saying:
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Jesus says its best not to make promissory oaths at all...
Because inevitably - there may be some that you can’t keep.
Instead – if you say you are going to do something – do it,
And if you say you’re not going to do something – stand by your word...
Because anything more than that - could result in sin.
Now that is some of the teaching God gives us – concerning the promises of man,
And He declares these things to us because – promises are important in the eyes of God,
And know that man frequently breaks them.
On the contrary however – God never breaks a promise.
In fact, 1 Kings 8:56 declares: “...there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised...”
And remember …This is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life (1 Jn 2:25)
Now since the promise of salvation is given to you - by God...
Then you can be rest assured that promise will be upheld.
Unlike with man – there is no broken promises from the Lord.
God always delivers on what He says He will do...
And since He is the one that is promising eternal life–we can have absolute assurance in Him
In this regard, the Bible teaches us all that: “Once we are saved – we are always saved”,
Because it is God that promises to save us.
And since eternal life has always been, and always will be...
Conditional upon the promise of the Gospel - and not conditional on the things we do,
Then we have absolute surety that our salvation will stand secure.
Remember the promise Jesus made to all that believe in Him - John 10:27-30:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Jesus says – “eternal life is my gift to you…
And once received – I will take you in my hand,
And no man will be able to rob you of the promise of my Salvation.”
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and my Father are one – Jesus says.
The picture here all points to the wonderful assurance...
We can have in the promise of our salvation.
Jesus says – “when you place your faith, hope and trust in me – I will save you”
“I will take you in my hand – so that your salvation is secure”
And just in case that is not enough - He then declares that our Heavenly Father
Will also wrap His hand firmly around us – and nothing or nobody will be able
To wrench us free from His hand.
In this we all can all have “double assurance” in knowing this...
That once saved – you will always be saved – according to the promise of God.
INTRODUCTION
This is the true Gospel message of Jesus Christ,
And Brethren according to what the Scriptures teach – this is what we most surely believe!
But sadly, this is not what everyone believes.
Unfortunately, there is a big problem that exists within many churches today,
And that is that a great number no longer see the need...
Or understand the importance of the Gospel.
In fact, many other things have now begun to take precedent and become more important.
And brethren, this is really nothing new,
Because even all the back in Paul’s day…
There were those who had already strayed from sharing the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Turn with me to Galatians 1
Look at the challenging words Paul spoke to the Church in Galatia in verse 6 saying:
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you
into the grace of Christ - unto another gospel:
“I am astonished by this” – Paul says…
“That so soon after hearing the Gospel and receiving the grace of Jesus Christ,
You would allow yourself to be ‘Removed’ so quickly from the truth.”
That term Removed there in the Greek means to:
“Transfer” or to “Transpose” - Hence “to take something out of its place”
And it really denotes the changing of a position…
Or the overall condition of something that was previously there.
Now in effect what Paul actually says is: “You once held to a position
Grounded in the truth of the Gospel and grace of Jesus Christ…
Only now you have “removed” yourself from that belief,
And you have taken up another position entirely”.
In fact, Paul even goes so far as to call it “Another Gospel”.
So this is something that for all intensive purposes is different
From the Love and Grace of Jesus Christ that was previously taught.
And then Paul makes an all important distinction here by saying this in verse 7:
7 Which is not another;
So this is not another Gospel at all…there is no such thing as another Gospel
…but there be some that trouble you [they are stirring you up], and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. (Galatians 1:6-7)
That term Pervert simply speaks of:
“The act of turning or diverting something from its natural course”
What’s the natural course of the Gospel?
It’s that the truth of Jesus Christ would be shared - so that people will get saved.
What does the Bible say?
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
(1 Tim 2:3-4)
The true Gospel of Jesus Christ is the truth – and that is how people get saved!
However Paul says – “there are some that pervert the Gospel of Christ”.
Have you heard the phrase – “perverting the course of justice”?
That’s a legal phrase that police and law enforcement agencies use
To describe the actions of those who attempt to hinder their investigations...
By either trying to hide or stand in the way of the truth.
They are said to be “perverting the course of justice”,
Well Paul said these people are perverting the Gospel.
In other words, they are in effect changing the natural course of the Gospel
They are standing in the way of the truth.
And just so everyone is clear – he says: “this is not another Gospel at all”.
It’s a counterfeit. It’s a fake.
There is only one true Gospel of Jesus Christ...
And that is the Gospel message we have been studying for these past many weeks.
In verse 8 Paul stresses the truth of the one true Gospel above all else saying:
8 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.
Paul stresses that there is only one Gospel of Jesus Christ that stands as the truth,
And he says to the brethren at Galatia…
It’s the Gospel that has already been preached to you.
There isn’t any other Gospel – and just to really hit the point home
He says – it doesn’t matter if it’s me…or even a supposed angel from heaven,
If anyone tries to proclaim any other version of the Gospel,
Other than what you have already received in the truth – let that person be accursed.
That literally means you treat them like they are cursed.
In other words, put some distance between yourself and them…
Recognizing the calamity and destruction that overshadows them.
And as if any of this was not clear enough – Paul declares it again in Verse 9:
9 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.
Interestingly, the word for Accursed is the Greek word Anathema
And it can be translated to refer to something “spiritually forbidden” or “banned”
Now by definition if something is banned - you have no association with it.
So in a sense, Paul says those that teach false Gospels…
You are not to keep casual company with.
Don’t listen or seek to condone the things they have to say.
This is no light matter is God’s eyes.
“Let them be accursed” - have nothing to do with those that pervert the true Gospel Christ.
Such a thing is forbidden under God.
Now – I want to clarify something here really quickly before I move on.
This does not mean that we do not love...
Or seek to share the true Gospel to all we can,
Including even those who may be holding to another Gospel other than the truth we preach.
Brethren, I will share the true Gospel of Jesus Christ with anyone who will listen,
Regardless of their background, religion or personal beliefs.
But I will not accept any other Gospel – other than the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.
If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received,
let him be accursed.
Now this is some strong language here – right.
But please know and understand - these are God’s Words – not mine.
They emphasize an important point for us all to understand,
Because the handling of the Gospel truth is no small matter.
God takes the integrity and truth of His Gospel very seriously.
And I can tell you this – Not all Churches professing to be teaching the “Gospel”…
Are actually doing so – because many are actually proclaiming “Another Gospel”
And because as Paul says, there is “no other Gospel” – that makes it a False Gospel.
Brethren we can’t afford to be naive about this.
Not all Churches are the same. Not all religions hold to the true Gospel.
And what’s more, if there were false Gospels being preached back in Paul’s day,
I guarantee there are many False Gospels still being preached out there today.
Let’s now touch on a couple of quick examples together.
Social Gospel
Example 1 - The Social Gospel as it was called,
Was a significant Protestant movement that gained notoriety in the United States.
In and around World War One, the “Social Gospel” was a progressive movement
Which had the aim of combating social injustice, human suffering...
And poverty within society.
The underlying premise was that you can’t honour God or share the Gospel…
Without there first being a platform of good works…
Being made evident and openly displayed within society.
Now on a shallow and superficial level – this all sounds really good.
As it turns out – Martin Luthur King was a big advocate of the Social Gospel in the USA,
And often quoted Scripture while speaking out against racial prejudices
And trying to promote equal rights for those in black communities.
Again at face value – there is nothing inherently wrong with doing good for others.
After all, the Bible teaches us this.
The Scriptures expressly command that we ought to treat everyone fairly...
And care for the poor and those less fortunate than ourselves.
But guys that is not the Gospel. The Gospel is “Not of Works”
And the unfortunate thing is – while some people may have started off
With the really sincere intent of trying to get out there and help people…
By holding to, and following, solid Christian principals,
Somewhere along the way they got the whole Bible message
Concerning Salvation and Service completely confused.
In fact, the underlying belief of sharing the Social Gospel…
Was that the Church and every saved Child of God
Had an obligation to do good to others…
And as such, they began to tie their salvation and good works together.
In other words, they had to do good to others – in order to be saved themselves.
Guys that is a False Gospel. You can never ever be saved by the things you do.
Titus 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to His mercy He hath saved us.
That’s the true Gospel – and it’s got nothing to do with you being good to others.
Salvation will never be about who you are - or what you do,
It’s always been about who Jesus is - and what He has done for you.
God called us to be saved by the blood Jesus Christ first - That’s Salvation
And then…to glorify our Saviour by the way in which we live – that’s Service.
But these are two completely different teachings in the Bible…
And are not to be mixed up together.
You can’t get the cart before the horse.
First you get Saved - and then you end up in a position...
Where you can honour and glorify God as you Serve Him.
But your good works will never ever Save you or others.
And that makes the Social Gospel…
Or the belief system of any other works based religion - A False Gospel!
Prosperity Gospel
Another Example is the “Prosperity Gospel”.
I imagine some of you have probably heard of this,
Sometimes it’s called the Health & Wealth Gospel.
And this is probably more prevalent today – than any other False Gospel being spread.
This doctrine has the underlying premise and belief
That if you are truly saved and one of God’s Chosen,
Then God will cause you to prosper in every area of your life.
You will be physically healthy, materially wealthy, and personally happy.
In other words – if you are genuinely saved - God will cause you “to Prosper” – full stop.
Now does God, and can God, - Bless every area of our lives – Yes! Absolutely!
But since when has physical and material things in this life and this world…
Become a standard measure and proof of our spiritual relationship with God?
Because a lot of prominent Pastors say that it is.
If you are in right relationship with God – then health, wealth and prosperity will follow.
But you know, Jesus taught about the rich man and Lazarus in Luke Chapter 16,
And you will recall that Lazarus, who had nothing,
Lay covered in sores begging at the rich man’s gate.
Yet ironically, after he and the rich man died…
It was Lazarus who was comforted in Abraham’s bosom within Paradise.
Here was a man who had seemingly nothing in life – and yet had great gain in eternity.
The rich man however – had nothing!
Likewise, John the Baptist was said to be the greatest of prophets born among men.
But he lived in the wilderness – was dressed with rough animal skins
And had a regular diet of locusts and honey.
Materially – John didn’t really have all that much…
But spiritually Jesus declared him to be great.
Even the Apostle Paul said: I have learned, in whatsoever state I am,
therewith to be content. (Phil 4:11).
Paul was beaten, whipped, ship wrecked, bitten by a snake,
And in the end struggled with his own serious health issues…
Which the Bible tells us he prayed to God intently to cure – only it never happened.
Was Paul not in right relationship with God?
Where was Paul’s promised health, wealth and prosperity?
Heck - where was the promised health, wealth and prosperity for any of these men?
Guys this physical life and its material things…
Should never be the focus of any child of God,
Because it has absolutely no bearing on our spiritual relationship with the Lord.
After all, none of it will have any meaning in eternity at all.
None of it matters – Point and case…
Even Christ Himself declared: “Do not lay up for yourself treasures on earth…
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven”. (Mat 6:19-20)
I mean does anyone else see a problem with the Prosperity Gospel?
Because in light of the Scriptures - the Prosperity Gospel is fundamentally flawed.
Bottom line, it is a False Gospel because it completely misconstrues
The spiritual relationship God desires to have with man.
This false teaching advocates that we should all come to God
For the material benefits that can be gained – but that’s just not true.
Simply put, if the Prosperity Gospel is true…then grace is obsolete,
And Jesus is largely irrelevant…
Because man is merely a measure of physical things he lays hold of in this life.
Now Guys – that would be incredibly sad if it were true?
Thankfully though, this is just another example of a False Gospel that exists today.
Two Identifiers of False Gospels
So here’s the question then…
How can we spot a False Gospel?
Well – quite simply – as Paul said…
If it doesn’t measure up to the truth preached here in the Bible
Then it is “another Gospel” – which is not actually another Gospel at all,
But a counterfeit and a fake – because it’s false.
Furthermore, as far as I can tell – there are always two fundamental things
Every false Gospel has:
Firstly, it will hold to the premise that Jesus simply isn’t enough.
“Yes – its salvation by grace, through faith – but....”
“Yes, Yes – all you need is Jesus to be saved – but there is something else too”.
The Social Gospel is a good example of that – where you need to also bestow good works upon others in order to be saved.
And lets not forget about the “Must go to Church Gospel”
Which advocates that you must also be baptised…
And a member of the Church in order to be saved.
You see such beliefs advocate that salvation is of Christ – and something else!
The second underlying commonality with every False Gospel
Is an unfounded, ungrounded focus on me.
It’s strange how all this works – but somehow it becomes less about
The perfect sacrifice and saving grace of Jesus Christ…
And more about you as an individual.
Consider the Prosperity Gospel – “Man God must really love me…
Because look at how much I am prospering”
“Clearly I must be getting something right to be earning God’s favour!”
And many modern day Charismatic movements are big on this…
Often professing the proof of salvation to be evident ones Spiritual Gifts.
In fact, the most common one being...
If you can’t speak in tongues - then you can’t be saved.
Guys when has God’s saving grace ever been about anything I can do?
In fact, when has it ever been about anything other than Jesus Christ?
So whenever you see or hear someone professing the Gospel to be
All about Jesus – “plus something”…
With an over inflated focus upon themselves,
I can guarantee you this – it is a false Gospel.
The True Gospel Defined
So what exactly is the true Gospel then?
Thankfully the Bible defines the Gospel rather simply for us.
The term Gospel itself is derived from the original Greek word yoo·ang·ghel·ee·on
Which speaks of “Good News” and “Glad Tidings”…
With particular emphasis on how this message is to be shared and proclaimed.
The term Gospel itself is used over 50 times in the NT.
It is called the gospel of God. Rom.1.1.
It is called the gospel of Christ. Rom.1.16.
It is called the gospel of salvation. Eph. 1.13.
And guys on every level – this is nothing but good news!
It’s a message from God - concerning Jesus Christ and His Salvation.
That’s the Gospel.
I want you to also see now how Paul defines the true Gospel.
Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
Now this is not talking about the risk of losing one’s salvation…(once saved – always saved)
But rather about the importance of continuing to hold to the true Gospel in your life.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;
4 And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:
And so this how Paul defined the Gospel in the NT
It is the good news concerning Jesus Christ – and Him alone!
It is a message that the Scriptures have always clearly taught and proclaimed,
And in an eternal sense - it is the message concerning…
The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ - for the hope of our salvation.
CONCLUSION
And so what do we take away from all of this?
Well for one thing, the Gospel should be of the utmost importance to us all.
In fact, the Lord places a huge emphasis on the Gospel within the Scriptures
And He even warns us about the existence of False Gospels out in the World.
If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received,
let him be accursed.
But guys the Gospel has always been and will always be...
The good news and glad tidings of Jesus Christ.
It is the message of Christs death, burial and resurrection that saves our souls.
I want to leave you all with one final verse today,
Its found in Philippians 1:27 – Paul says:
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
In a nut shell we are to – hold fast, cherish and proclaim the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen!
