1stBBC
The gospel of your salvation
Eph 1:13 in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,-- in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
How important is this word of truth in ensuring a gospel leading to salvation?!
Gal 1:6-8 I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another gospel only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.
The lies of the other gospel …. the one not based on the word of truth.
1. You can be saved based on moral values
Rom 3:12 They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not, so much as one:
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
Jer 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.
Jesus words to the scribes and the Pharisees in Mathew 23 is a clear example of how men can score high on moral values but low on the gospel message.
Still a gospel but not the gospel of salvation.
2. You can be saved while still standing in the middle
Jam 1:8 a double minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Jam 4:4 Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.
Jer 7:9-11 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods that ye have not known, and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered; that ye may do all these abominations? Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it, saith Jehovah.
Jer 7:28 truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.
Luk 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Luk 11:23 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
A Christian in the middle like a student without a school, a soldier without an army ….
1Ki 18:21 And Elijah came near unto all the people, and said, How long go ye limping between the two sides? if Jehovah be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Still a gospel but not the gospel of salvation.
3. You can be saved by just hearing a lot
Pro 29:1 He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Eze 33:31-33 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but do them not; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their gain. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument; for they hear thy words, but they do them not. And when this cometh to pass, (behold, it cometh,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.
God will change his dealings with people who keep on just hearing.
Isa 6:9-11 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they sea with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed.
Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until cities be waste without inhabitant, and houses without man, and the land become utterly waste
Hos 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.
Eze 3:17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
The word of the truth is a word of warning. Still a gospel but not the gospel of salvation.
4. You can be saved based on ignorance and lack of knowledge
Rom 1:21-23 because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:31 without understanding
Psa 25:14 The friendship of Jehovah is with them that fear him; And he will show them his covenant.
Mat 22:29 But Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Joh 8:32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
2Ti 3:7 ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Still a gospel but not the gospel of salvation.
5. You can be saved while hearing false doctrine
Mar 8:15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.
1Co 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
He will not forbid you from water but he will poison it.
Mat 7:15 … are ravening wolves.
2Pe 2:1 … who shall privily bring in destructive heresies …
Some samples:
Mat 15:9 But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.
Jdg 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified?
Gal 4:8-11 Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods: but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again? Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years. I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.
Gal 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
Gal 6:16 And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Still a gospel but not the gospel of salvation.
Are you following the true gospel or another?
Jam 1:18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Pastor Tony Skaff
2006
