Three False Gospels

In the book of Galatians, Paul warned his converts:

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:7- 9).

These stirring words should convince any clear-thinking Christian that it is quite possible for Satan, his angels, and his agents to so “pervert the gospel of Christ” that those who think they believe the “Good News” are actually being deceived by the Devil. Ominously, this actually happened to Paul’s own converts in Galatia, and they were in danger of being “accursed.” We should watch out that this doesn’t happen to us.

Here are three popular perversions we should avoid:

1. The “I’m Good Enough To Be Saved” False Gospel. Sadly, millions of professed Christians have accepted this perversion of the “Good News.” They think that just because they aren’t as bad as other men, they’re automatically going to heaven. Jesus Christ warned about this delusion in His “parable to those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others” (Luke 18:9). In his prayer, the proud Pharisee boasted, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men-extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and give tithes of all that I possess” (verses 11,12). Such self-complacency won’t lead to Pearly Gates, but to the lake of fire. By contrast, the lowly tax collector “would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!'” (verse 13). Jesus is clear that the tax collector was “justified” by God, not the Pharisee (see verse 14).

Paul clarified in his Galatian letter that the only way any sinner can be legally “justified,” which means to be declared “not guilty” before a holy God, is by “faith in Christ and not by the works of the law” (Galatians 2:16). In other words, being “good” won’t save us. Neither will performing good deeds. Neither will keeping the law. Not a chance. Only the true gospel of Jesus Christ can save us. We must have personal faith in Jesus Christ alone.

2. The “I Can Keep Living in Sin” False Gospel. This error is comparable to a ditch on the other side of the road, and it is very popular. Millions assume that because they are not saved by “the works of the law,” that this means that they can nominally accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, and then do as they please, even to the point of willfully practicing known sin. “Only Jesus is perfect,” they may claim (which is true), but then they mistakenly conclude that it is therefore okay for Christians to do wicked things. In the same book of Galatians, Paul also warned,

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21, emphasis added).

Did you catch that? Under the general heading of “the works of the flesh,” Paul listed “adultery,” “fornication,” “sorcery,” “hatred,” getting drunk, and spreading strife. “Well,” many who practice these sins will rationalize, “once again, no one is perfect, what can you expect?” My response is that Jesus Christ expects these evil sins to be sliced out of both the heart and life of every true Christian. If they are not, what does Paul say? Take note: ” those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” To believe otherwise is to believe a false gospel.

3. The “I Don’t Need to Keep the Law” False Gospel. This last deception is insidiously subtle. Because the New Testament is clear that sinners are not justified or saved “by the works of the law,” many have therefore mistakenly concluded that the Ten Commandments have passed away, and don’t need to be kept. But if you look closely at Paul’s works-of-the-flesh list quoted above, and then compare it with Exodus 20:3-17, you will see that Paul is actually listing specific violations of God’s Law. “Adultery” breaks the 7 th commandment, “idolatry” violates the 2 nd , and “murder” breaks the 6 th . Next Paul lists nine “fruits of the Spirit,” such as “love,” “joy,” and “peace,” and concludes by saying, “Against such there is no law.” What does that mean? It means that the law of God is not against these good fruits, but it is still against the evil ones! Thus God’s law still exists, and should be obeyed. We can be sure this is Paul’s intent because in another letter he quoted the 5 th commandment, stating, “Honor thy father and thy mother,” and then he commands Christian children to “obey” it! (See Ephesians 6:1-3)

So what is the true gospel after all? We don’t need to speculate, for the answer is in the Holy Bible. Paul wrote,

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and

in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to youunless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, emphasis added).

There it is, clear and simple, straight from Paul’s inspired pen. “Christ died for our sins … He was buried … He rose from the dead.” That is the gospel. But what is “sin” anyway? Again, we don’t need to guess, for John told us clearly when he wrote, “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). So how should we respond to the Good News that our loving Savior died on a cruel cross to pay the complete penalty for our sins of breaking the Ten Commandments? The biblical answer is that we must “repent” (see Acts 2:38) – which means turning away from the sins of breaking God’s law – and believe the gospel. Then Jesus Himself says to us, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15), which is a direct quote from the 2 nd commandment (see Exodus 20:6). 

If we heed this inspired counsel, we will avoid the “I’m Good Enough to Be Saved” false gospel, the “I Can Keep Living In Sin” false gospel, the “I Don’t Need to Keep the Law” false gospel, and escape deception. Then we will be following “the truth of the gospel” (Galatians 2:5) in these last days.

Understanding the Humble Nature of Jesus

Power, like control, can become an idol in our lives. The world tells us to be powerful, to be fast, to be strong, and to be in control. Even just recently in the Olympics, we watched the worlds most physically powerful people come together to compete against each other and admired and envied the power they had. Though there is a time and a place for power in acts like sport, we so often desire power and lean on our own power which moves our focus away from God.

One of the best ways to resist the unhealthy desire for power in our lives is to model our lives after the humble nature of Jesus. His surrender of power, described by the Apostle Paul in Philippians, was one of the most amazing things he ever did!

How do we stay humble like Jesus? First, we have to understand in what ways he was humble...

1. Remember that He was God, yet still humble

Jesus was not just a good man or even a great man. In Matthew 28:18, he said, “All power has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” He was God in the flesh – the One who had existed for all eternity, the great “I AM” (John 8:58). He created the world and maintains it (Hebrews 1:2-3).

2. He humbled himself to become a human

Yet all that greatness, the immortal and eternal, was somehow squeezed into a human body.

In his time on earth, Jesus chose to limit his power. He healed some sick people and performed many miracles. He had all the power and yet He lived His life under submission to the Father. Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” (John 5:19).

3. Know that He gave up his life

“When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7b-8). Jesus’ captors beat him, taunted him, brutally whipped him, and then nailed his hands and feet to a cross. He resisted the temptation to reveal himself the as Almighty God. His plan from the beginning was to give his life for us, because “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

4. He was exalted

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). What a great day that will be, when every human being honors Jesus as Lord. And to extent we imitate Jesus‘ humility, we will be exalted: “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor” (1 Peter 5:6).

The Idolatry of Control

We might not think of Control as an idol. Yet anything that we come to value more than God, is an idol. And as humans, we love to feel like we are in control of our own life, our destiny.

We believe we have control over our health, our job, our finances, and our relationships. However, that’s not the case. There is only one Sovereign, one Master of the Universe, and it is God, not us.

Here are just three important things that we cannot control ourselves, but God does:

1. How long we will live

We can take care of our bodies with proper diet and exercise. We’re told that this will allow us a long, healthy and full life.

But how long will we really live? That’s up to God. There are no guarantees no matter how hard we try.

Psalm 139:16 puts it plainly: “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”

An accident or attack can end our life at any moment regardless of how careful and healthy we are.

Because of this, we can’t trust ourselves with our lives. Rather, we must put our trust in God, for He has each moment planned.

2. Our Success

There are countless articles here on the internet that explain how to gain success from business, schooling, and changing your mindset. But, does that mean that success is guaranteed if only we just work hard? Not necessarily.

“Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” James 4:13-14

Just think... sometimes a business opportunity promises success. Though you might make a lot of money, you could also lose all of it. Or as this verse says, you might not even be alive tomorrow! (Also see Luke 12:16-21.)

3. Other People’s Decisions

Just as we believe we can control our own success, we believe we can control other people’s decisions and opinions. But, can we really?

“As for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises” (Psalm 55:20).

Even if we are loving and kind, those closest to us can disappoint or even betray us. Marriages, can result in infidelity, friends can break promise, and children often go astray, even when we parent them the best we know how. Other people are simply not under our control.

So, what does this all mean? Should we stop trying to care for our bodies, stop trying to make plans, or to stop building good relationships? No, the Bible tells us that these are all important (1 Corinthians 6:19; Luke 14:29).

It does mean that we seek God’s will above our own, and remember every day that His plans are the ones that will never fail! The more we submit to His will and His plans, the more we will experience His peace and joy — even when things don’t turn out the way we planned.

Wounds are Better Than Kisses?

We all seek happiness in life, and we often look for the answer in worldly things like making lots of money, getting a great job, or even finding the perfect significant other. Can you relate? Though the world makes us believe these things will satisfy us, true comfort and happiness do not come from worldly things. Rather, happiness comes from God, and the Bible shows us this over and over again.

Let’s be reminded of Esau, the firstborn and favorite son of Abraham’s son, Isaac. In Genesis 25 and 27, it tells how he lost his birthright and blessing. Esau ignored what was important to his father. His life shows what can happen to “those who look to this world for their reward.” (Ps. 17:14) Expect trouble from the world (John 16:33), even persecution (John 15:20).

Friendship with the world is an offense to God (James 4:4). Instead, love the world the way Jesus did (John 3:16): Reject all its temptations (1 John 2:15-16), deny yourself, and embrace the cross (Luke 9:23). The only way to really win in life is to resist the satisfaction the world offers (Mark 8:35). Christians gain victory over the world by our faith (1 John 5:4)! How amazing is that?

Many of the Bible’s stories are warnings about looking for comfort from the world rather than from God to help us learn more about how we avoid making the same mistakes. Let’s learn from the stories of three men…

1. Samson: A Story Of Entitlement And Pride

Samson felt his chosen status (Judges 13:7) and great strength gave him the right to immorality. He once set eyes on an attractive pagan woman and told his parents, “I want to marry her. Get her for me” (Judges 14:2).

Can you relate to these lustful and entitled feelings? Many of us can. The world may make us believe that these feelings are okay, but what does the Bible tell us?

Samson was deceived by Delilah, blinded and enslaved in the temple of an idol. This is a warning and a reminder to us to not live our lives in the same way.

2. Demas: A Lover Of The Present World

The Apostle Paul once considered Demas a fellow worker, naming him with Gospel writers Mark and Luke. But the last mention of him is: “Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life” (2 Timothy 4:10).

Demas proved to be “The seed that fell among the thorns” in Jesus’ Sower parable, which “represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced” (Matthew 13:22).

3. Jonah: A Bitter Witness Of God’s Salvation Plan

The “overthrow” of Nineveh (Jonah 3:4) was a spiritual one. But this miraculous evangelistic call was preached by a hostile witness, Jonah. God provided him a shady shelter to observe the results, but then suddenly took it away. “And the sun’s heat came upon Jonah’s head so that he became weak and begged with all his heart to die” (Jonah 4:8). Instead of being overjoyed (the way God was -- Luke 15:10), with the repentance of the city, Jonah ends with bitter opposition to God’s plan of salvation.

Christians often remind themselves of Romans 8:28-29 when trouble arises:

“…God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son…”

Any time you’re dissatisfied with what God allows, remember that the trouble and persecution of the world are symptoms of its hatred for Christ—and for His children. Discipline demonstrates you’re His child, as Hebrews 12:5-14 explains. The verses following these (15-17), show God’s perspective on the world’s children: “Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.”

The Idolatry of People-Pleasing

A story in the Bible's book of Numbers shows how dangerous the desire to “please men” can be (Colossians 3:22). This story is mentioned a lot in the Bible. Each mention comes with a warning.

God wants us to take note: what can this story teach us about ourselves?

1. It is Dangerous To Look For God’s Permission And Not His Approval

Fearing Israel, King Balak sent for the prophet Balaam. God told Balaam not to go. King Balak persisted, so Balaam asked God again.

God seemed persuaded: he gave Balaam permission to go. On his journey, the donkey he was riding was blocked by an angel with a drawn sword. The donkey refused to keep going, angering Balaam so much that he beat the animal. Before he could kill her, God allowed the donkey to speak, warning him of the danger. God then opened Balaam’s eyes to see the angel standing ready to kill him!

Just as the donkey’s actions went against Balaam’s plan for her, Balaam himself had nearly been killed for resisting God. But Balaam presses again, and finds the permission, (not the approval), of God.

2. There is Danger in Getting Around God’s Purposes

Accompanying the messengers back to Midian, Balaam at first blesses Israel instead of cursing them. God had warned him to do only as he was told.(Numbers 22:20) Balak is furious. Later we’re told (Numbers 31:16) that Balaam taught the Midianite women to seduce the Israelite men into idolatry.(Numbers 25:1-3) Terrified by Balak, Balaam cunningly thought of a way to curse the Israelites without speaking the curse himself, still a violation of God's instructions.

3. The Outcome of the Fear of Man

Balaam’s conduct shows perversion in a believer's walk:

The “way of Balaam” (2 Peter 2:15) — “against” God. (Numbers 22:32) If it was to his advantage, Balaam didn’t fear taking God's mercy for granted. In his heart, he said, “God has said ‘no’ to this--maybe there's a way I can do it anyway.”

The “error of Balaam” (Jude 11) — failing to learn the lesson of the encounter. Balaam was physically stopped and even threatened.

The “doctrine of Balaam” (Revelation 2:14) — passing this attitude along. Balaam was willing to try to spoil the purpose of God.

Presumption leads to the error of trying to get around God’s will. This means we manipulate, teach or become a bad example, leading others down the same corrupt path. Balaam may have said the Lord was his God. But he had idolatry in his life all along: respect of human favor over God’s. How much will God allow if we presume upon His grace? Balaam’s idolatry led him to serve God’s enemies, curse himself (Numbers 23:9) and demonstrate God’s denial of his prayers (Numbers 23:10) in the manner of his death. (Numbers 31:8)

Jesus Delivers Us

Recently, a Bible teacher asked…

“do you want Jesus to deliver you out of the place that brings you suffering?” Sometimes a broken heart, financial trouble or addiction keeps us away from God. Only the grace of Jesus can make us whole in every situation and carries us through it.

When King David cried out to God in Psalm 25:16-18, he said, “Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress. My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins.”

With King David’s prayer in mind, let’s explore how God has the power to set us free from from our troubles and how to look to Jesus to deliver us:

First, How Can You Be Delivered?

Listen to the words of Jesus, “I tell you the truth; those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” (John 5:24)

In this world, suffering is unavoidable. But the next world will be free from it. Getting to know the Son of God personally and accepting His gift of eternal life is the way to gain Heaven: His deliverance from all worldly suffering.

Know that Faith is what brings Deliverance.

Have faith that the Son of God, Yeshua, can set you free. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “… it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.” Believe in Him in your heart.

Know Jesus’ Desire for You to be Delivered and Whole.

True faith asks, believing Jesus is willing, but understanding He may have better plans.

The leper in Matthew 8:1-3 believed in Christ's ability but humbly asked for healing: “Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.”

The Apostle Paul also asked for healing, but discovered that it was more important for him to trust in Christ's sufficiency than to experience physical healing. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

Ask yourself … how great is your burden?

Do you feel like you’ve done too much or have gone through too much in your life to be delivered? You’re not alone.

With Christ, there is peace that supasses all of our temporary troubles here on earth. This peace comes from knowing that we can only find victory in Jesus. So, “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.” (Hebrews 3:7) Because he has overcome the world, bringing us everlasting hope, no struggle can keep us from it. “For God says, “At just the right time, I hear you. On the day of Salvation, I helped you.”( 2 Corinthians 6:2).

It doesn’t matter how great the burden you carry.

Jesus is greater.

Are You Ready to Share the Gospel?

Scripture: “For God so loved the World that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”John 3:16

What are the most important truths that will help someone have faith in Jesus? Based on John 3:16 there are 4 simple ideas that sum up the gospel:

1. Love

“For God so loved the World…” Let people know God loves them and wants to have a relationship with them! “God proved His love for us in the while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

2. Sin

Sin separates us from a loving, perfect God. We have rebelled against Him and refused to follow Him. By going our own way, we have missed the perfect plan God had for us. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)So what is the solution so ”we will not perish, but have eternal life?” (John 3:16)

3. Jesus

“He gave his only Son…” Salvation is a gift, not something you have to earn. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:23)

4. Believe

”Whoever believes in Him…” Like any gift, you must choose to accept it. AGREE that Jesus is the only Son of God and ACCEPT that he paid for YOUR sins on the cross and rose again to give you life. Invite people to pray with you to accept Jesus. “To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12)

Focus on Jesus

Be careful not to be distracted by difficult questions or subjects that cause disagreement. You don’t need to know ALL the answers; you only need to know that “Jesus said, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through me.’” (John 14:6).

Be Ready

“If someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.” (1 Peter 3:15b). Memorize these 4 simple truths and scriptures that go with them. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and power. Remember it is the Holy Spirit who helps people accept Christ; we are just pointing the way.

What Happens When You Accept Christ?

Scripture: “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:19

The word “gospel” means “good news.” But the message about Jesus is not just good – it’s GREAT news! Many great things happen when someone puts their faith in Christ. Today’s scripture mentions two very important ones. Let’s take a look:

Reconciled: Reunited with God

“For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself . . .” (2 Corinthians 5:19a). Have you ever been in a broken relationship? It feels terrible when someone you love no longer wants to be your friend, or even considers you an enemy. This was our situation before we knew Christ. Everyone is born sinful; it is our natural state. (Ephesians 2:3) Our own sin made us God’s enemies, but in his wonderful grace, God offers us a chance to reunite with Him. Paul put it this way in Romans: “. . . our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies.” (Romans 5:10)

Justified: Not Guilty

“. . . no longer counting people’s sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19b). Those who don’t know Christ are not only God’s enemies, but are considered guilty, and subject to eternal separation from God in hell. But through Christ’s death on the cross, those who have placed their faith in him are now justified -- that means you’re “not guilty” anymore, and you have been made righteous.

Think about the guilt of every wrong thing you have ever thought, said, or done—from envy to gossip to murder. What an enormous load of shame and guiltiness! Now think of the sin of the entire world – and how amazing it is that Jesus willingly took ALL of your guilt and replaced it with righteousness. Think of how wonderful it is to be declared “not guilty,” and the joy your friends and loved ones will feel when they experience this freedom.

Go For It: Tell People about Jesus!

These few things are great motivation to share about Jesus with others. Don’t let fear keep you from telling people. The reward is far greater than anything bad that might happen. May God bless you as you become “God’s Ambassador” to a lost and dying world.

Can Justice and Mercy Work Together?

Scripture: Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants. Psalm 89:14

The Bible tells us great things about God. It makes us love and worship Him. At other times, God can seem very strict. God is perfect, and we are sinners. Is it possible for God to overlook our imperfections and at the same time remain perfectly just (fair)?

What is God’s justice?

God created people for His glory. (Isaiah 43:7) His Law was meant to set His people apart from everyone else. (Deuteronomy 28:1) Those laws reflected His own nature, and He wants to make people like Him. In the past, those serving Him directly owned no permanent property. Yet all their needs were met. There was enough for the poor and the widows and orphans. Like God’s love, justice was for everyone equally. But people could not resist breaking the Law to gain advantage over one another.

A just judge defends the disadvantaged and punishes the guilty: “the Lord loves justice” (Psalm 37:28). Because the Law shows how God is, sin is a personal offense to God. (Psalm 51:4) He vows not to simply excuse the guilty. (Exodus 34:7) Those who die in their sins will be separated from Him forever. But we have hope...

What is God’s mercy?

God “does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9)! The Law no one could live up to showed people the perfection of God when He became Man: Jesus. The Book of Romans describes God’s mercy: “everyone has sinned ... yet God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe Jesus sacrificed His life” (Romans 3:23,25). In this way God remains “fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26)

“What should I do?”

Titus 3:5 says, “he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” That means good deeds will not earn God's mercy or favor. Jesus said “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28-29) Justice and mercy come together perfectly in Jesus. God did not excuse sin: he paid for it. When you accept Jesus and follow Him, you will receive God's mercy. Click here to learn how to follow Jesus.