It’s amazing how subtle the false gospel is.  I have prepared two gospel’s below.  Gospel A and Gospel B.  See if you can discern which gospel is the false gospel and which is the true.

The verdict:

Both Gospel A and Gospel B are 100% TRUE.  But Gospel A is only part of the truth.  In fact it is a partial truth which makes it a lie and false gospel!

Concerning Gospel A: There is not a single person on this earth who would not like a free ticket out of hell and into heaven.  But of these people there are very few who would like to see God rule (Lord) over their life.  Gospel A offers a free ticket out of Hell and into Heaven based on a mere intellectual acknowledgment and decision for “Jesus”.   The good news of Gospel A is merely a free ticket out of Hell…  Jesus is Savior but not Lord.   Often proponents of Gospel A add in additional humanistic motivations such as emotional pain relief, a quenching for out of control materialistic desires (void filler) and many other motivations of the man centered gospel.

In Gospel B: The central focus is restoring the man to God aka reconciliation (2 Cor 5).  God created us to worship and glorify Him through the pursuit of God (John 17:3).   The good news of Gospel B restores man to God so that he can now live for God.   Gospel B is the good news that repentance and lordship is available despite your sin which renders you separate from God and deserving of wrath.  This is the true gospel.  I can now begin to live for, know and worship God from now on throughout eternity.  This is a gospel nobody in their depravity wants!  It takes an effectual calling to bring someone into acceptance of this Gospel.(John 6:44; John 6:56; Acts 16:14; Acts 13:48; Matt 16:17; Matt 11:27; Acts 2:39; Romans 9:10-24; Romans 12:3; Phil 1:29; Eph 1:4; John 10:26; John 1:13; Psalm 65:4; James 1:18; John 17:9) Because salvation is a complete work and miracle of God it frees me to preach the true gospel without having to worry about men being offended by it.

Arguments used to support the false gospel:

• I got saved through Gospel A.  Actually no… You got saved in spite of the partial Gospel.  God’s Holy Spirit was already doing a work in your heart and you responded when you heard it.  I don’t deny that Gospel A reaps a legitimate harvest.  My problem with it is that it also confuses true Christians and lies to unbelievers. It tells those who are headed for destruction and judgment that there is safety ahead (Ezekiel 33:7-9).  Perhaps this is why Paul said, “I am innocent the blood of all men because I have not shunned to declare to you the full counsel of God.” (Acts 20:26-27) And perhaps indicates a stricter judgment for the teachers and preachers of God’s word.
• Gospel A works.  It gets more people. Since when was results the litmus test for validity?  Again it only seems to get more people because you are inviting anyone and everyone who still desires to live in rebellion against God to accept a free ticket out of hell.  Who wouldn’t want that?  Does not Jesus say, “not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the ones who do the will of my father in heaven” (Matt 7:21)  see also: (1 John 2:4; 2 Peter 2:13ff; James 2:14; Heb 6:6; Titus 1:16; Eph 2:10; 2 Cor 13:5,1 Cor 6:9; John 8:31; Matt 7:21; Jude 1:4).

I would be plagiarizing to claim these following “six things the cross of Christ is not” my own.  I have been blessed reading the book, “The Cross of Christ” by John Stott and I find these on page 158-159. They are not styled in list format in the book.  I have only added them here as such to go along with the theme of the previous entry on the false gospel, “six things the gospel is not”

So here they are, “Six Things the Cross of Christ is not:”

1. The cross was not a commercial bargain with the devil, let alone one that tricked and trapped him;
2. nor an exact equivalent, a quid pro quo to satisfy a code of honor or technical point of law;
3. nor a compulsory submission by God to some moral authority above him from which he could not otherwise escape;
4. nor a punishment of a meek Christ by a harsh and punitive Father;
5. nor a procurement of salvation by a loving Christ from a mean and reluctant Father;
6. nor an action of the Father which bypassed Christ as Mediator.

Instead, the righteous, loving Father humbled himself to become in and through his only Son flesh, sin and a curse for us, in order to redeem us without compromising his own character.

Stott points out that these six excuses are given for the cross of Christ in order to pacify our proud hearts which rebel against the “scandal,”or stumbling block, of the cross (pg 160).  We cannot bear to acknowledge either the seriousness of our sin and guilt or our utter indebtedness to the cross.

These are six things promised and offered by the humanistic, man centered, false gospel preached and accepted by many “conservative” Christian churches today. None of these are what was ever presented as the gospel or the motivation for accepting the gospel by Jesus or the Apostles. If Jesus or Apostles preached this, they would have never been persecuted.

1. A promise to fill ones emotional needs and desires.
(Emotional Pain Relief, Happiness, Joy)

2. A promise to satisfy ones out of control materialistic desires.
(Fill the void you’ve been trying to fill with relationships, gadgets, cars, money, friends)

3. A golden parachute to get you out of hell and into heaven.
(Modern CEOs request clauses in their contract called golden parachutes that assure them a lofty reward in the event they fail as CEO and are fired as a result. This allows the CEO to slack off and make poor decisions without fear. Jesus didn’t come to save anyone and everyone from hell so that they can continue to live in sin & rebellion without fear. Jesus came to make possible repentance through the forgiveness of sins so that we can live a life seeking after and knowing God! The condition isn’t that the person merely wants to get out of Hell and into Heaven. The condition is that the person wants to now live for God and recognizes that his sin and rebellion leave him separated from God and deserving of His wrath. The true gospel is the solution!)

4. A promise to make this life easier or any better.
(Matt 7:14)

5. A promise of health, wealth and prosperity here on earth.

6. A call to be more moral.

The Gospel is: good news to those whom the father draws to Himself (Matt 11:27; John 6:44, 65; Acts 2:39; Acts 13:48; Romans 9:9-24). It’s for those who want to know, worship and live for the true God but recognize their life of sin and rebellion against Him render them separated from and deserving of His wrath. The good news is that by faith in the atoning work of Christ, repentance is available. That by grace we may know and be right with God now and through eternity. Our sin no longer hinders us and the requirement of the law no longer burdens us. The good news is that in my inability God is able to Justify, Sanctify and Glorify me for His good purpose and pleasure.

But you say, “people don’t want to know God and they won’t ‘accept’ Jesus unless you offer them something more appealing.”
That is exactly what is wrong with modern Evangelical Christianity! Salvation is a miracle of God and God will never be appealing to a totally depraved man unless God is drawing him. If the true gospel is not appealing enough for a man then shame on you for offering him something else.

But you say, “it works! when I offer people emotional happiness/bliss and an escape from hell they desire it and accept Jesus.”
My answer to that is: what god hating sinner wouldn’t want emotional happiness/bliss and a golden parachute to save them from Hell? Even Satan would desire that. That’s not the requirement of salvation and those who accept Jesus on that basis are not accepting the biblical Jesus but the Jesus of their imagination. It doesn’t work. You have successfully made a false convert. “It works” or “look at the results” are never the litmus test for proper doctrine. “Is it biblical?” would be more appropriate.

More reading: http://www.monergism.com/directory/link_category/Lordship-of-Christ/

Yes it’s secular psychology.  I’m not sending it to anyone for doctrine, reproof, correction or instruction in righteousness.  But it is always interesting to see conclusions that the secular world come to on the same religious systems Christians recognize as cults.

If it says anything to the way we minister or the message we preach: let it be that our message is the Gospel and nothing else!  Let them ridicule us for what scriptures say they should ridicule us for, “Christ and Him crucified!”  Not for presumptions of the end times that even well studied Christians don’t agree on and won’t agree on until the day He comes.

http://www.freeminds.org/psych/propfail.htm

I have been learning so much about the grace of God recently and have had the opportunity to preach a message on it at church a couple Sundays ago. It’s a message on 1 Peter 1:13 with major references to Ephesians 2.

Here is the message: Audio MP3 1 Peter 1:13

The idea is that we can’t know the depths of God’s grace unless we first look at our depravity and His wrath (what we deserve). Only then can we begin to fully appreciate the Cross. Proven by the women who had been forgiven much and also Romans 9:22-23 which I had failed to mention.

There is a new children’s book by R.C Sproul. Looks pretty good:

http://www.christianbook.com/

In an interview he answers:

What is the message that you would like to give to parents who purchase this book to read to their children?

In this day and age, the whole need for atonement is being ridiculed widely, not just in the liberal church, but it has made its way into the evangelical community as well. People are saying that satisfaction involves God in cosmic child abuse. They ask why we can’t just rely on the love of God — that there is no need to satisfy His justice and His wrath. Through this story I want people to understand that the wrath of God is real. It was necessary to satisfy God’s righteousness in order for people to be healed. Instead of our receiving the cup of wrath, it was to be drunk by Jesus in His people’s place. That is absolutely central to the gospel.
(http://theologica.blogspot.com/2008/10/princes-poison-cup-interview-with-rc.html)

Is hell the absence of God? Or is God ever-present in hell pouring out his wrath on a sinful people?

I have a problem with the saying, “God doesn’t send people to Hell, people choose to go there.” Throughout the scriptures I find while yes, “God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked.” (Ezekiel 18:23) God is the one who sends people to hell. The argument I will make is that those who hold to this humanistic view of hell also remove the offensive nature of sin towards God.

By taking God out of the act of throwing sinners into hell and punishing them one makes sin no longer an offense against a Holy God. Sin becomes but merely a harmful element to which God “kindly” warns man against. You will find that those who purport this view will also often state that, “God hates sin not because it offends Him but because it is harmful to man.”  If people choose to go to Hell as opposed to God sending them there: Sin will no longer be sin; God will no longer be Just and the gospel will be transformed into a man centered gospel rather than a Cross Centered Gospel.

Argument for God sending people to Hell: (The bible says he does)

• In Matthew 7:21-23 it says that many WANTING to enter the kingdom of heaven will be told by Jesus, “Depart from me you workers of of lawlessness I never knew you!” Firstly this doesn’t sound like a person who chose to go to Hell.
• In Matthew 13:41-42 it says that there will be WEEPING and gnashing of teeth. Secondly, this doesn’t sound like a people who want to go to hell.
• Matthew 25:41-46 tells us again Jesus separates one from another and the wicked are cast into hell.
• Revelation 20:11-13 says the wicked are judged by their works and cast into the lake of fire. Note: The wicked are JUDGED by their WORKS!
• Rev 11:18 God is thanked for his wrath on the workers of lawlessness. Clearly God is the one pouring out wrath and they suffer it not out of choice but because they deserve it!
• The false teaching that man chooses to go to hell assumes that the default is Heaven. The bible teaches that the un-regenerate man already stands condemned. (John 3:17-18). He deserves it!
• Matthew 10:28; we are told to fear Him who is able to throw both soul and body in hell!

So then why must people say, “God doesn’t send anyone to hell… People choose to go there”? If not because they do not comprehend the righteous judgment of God? Nor the total depravity of man.

Usually these statements are followed up with the fact that Hell was not created for man but for the devil and His angels. But we find this statement in but ONE verse (Matt 25:41) and in that verse we find God sending MEN to hell. That verse doesn’t say that MEN don’t deserve to go there… it just says that it was originally prepared for the devil and his angels. Though it was once prepared for Angels it is where God pours out his wrath on both men and angels.

Is Hell the absence of God? David did say where can I go from your presence, if I make my bed in Hell… you are there (ps 139:8). Could it be that God is also ever-present in Hell pouring out His wrath?

Why does it matter? Because the gospel message is completely altered by the stance you take!

The Gospel is that the unregenerate are already rightfully condemned to Hell to suffer the wrath of God. The gospel commands us to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. If I am so wicked as to be deserving of Hell as the bible teaches… If I am due the just WRATH of a Holy Righteous God… and not only that, but with all of eternity could not pay my debt… Then the fact that I am saved from going there becomes ever so much more the amazing grace of God. The atonement becomes ever so much more intense and great and effective. God owes me the cup of His wrath; but Jesus drank it for me: WOW! and then in the ages to come He shows the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus… Mind blowing!

On the contrary IF God doesn’t send people to Hell… If Man chooses it himself… Then God’s wrath is nothing to be feared. The good news, is minimized. Sin is no longer serious. The difference between the hell bound man and the heavenly bound man IS NO LONGER THE DILEMMA OF SIN, RIGHTEOUSNESS and the JUDGMENT to come as Paul so beautiful articulated to Felix (acts 24:25) and Jesus emphasized was the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:8). The problem is no longer that man has offended God and awaits His pending judgment. The issue becomes: man hasn’t made a choice yet! You haven’t made the decision to go to heaven yet.

Now instead of preaching a gospel centered around the dilemma of sin and the work of the Cross… I must appeal to the carnal desires of man to muster in him a decision for a “christ” who saved man from an empty sad voided life rather than a Christ who saved man from the eternal WRATH of God and this wicked generation… Sin, while mentioned, is no longer sin anymore. The Heresy our church fathers condemned comes to life!

No wonder the church has such a low view of God’s grace, love and holiness. No wonder the church can’t see why we are to be living sacrifices or why we owe Christ our lives (2 Cor 5:15; Romans 12:1-2). We told them Hell was a mistake and the work of salvation was your choice! We downplayed salvation.