What the Gospel is NOT…
I have a feeling there is a lot of confusion over what the gospel is. Look at the list below. Do you see somethings that sound familiar? Though some of these things are true, they are not the Gospel.
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“You must be born again.”
”You must be filled with (or baptized by) the Holy Spirit.”
”You must be good.”
“You must be baptized.”
“You must speak in tongues.”
“You must confess your sins to a priest.”
“You can perform miracles.”
“Expect a miracle.”
“You must be saved.”
“Let Jesus into your heart.”
“You must have a personal relationship (or encounter, or experience) with Jesus Christ.”
“You must believe what the Church teaches.”
“Repent of your sins.”
“Make Jesus Lord of your life.”
“Put Jesus on the throne of your life.”
“Jesus was the best man who ever lived.”
“Jesus set an example for us so that we may follow him to Heaven.”
“Trust Jesus.”
“Let go and let God.”
“Draw near to God.”
“Christ died for every person and wants everyone to be saved.”
“Jesus wants you happy, healthy, and rich.”
“God wants you to be fulfilled.”
“Tough times don’t last; tough people do.”
“You are a winner.”
“God is too loving to punish anyone in Hell.”
“Decide for Christ.”
“Christians should take dominion over the Earth.”
“Jesus is coming again.”
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The Gospel is good news. It is the historical facts of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. The Apostle Paul tells the Corinthians plainly what the Gospel is:
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
(1 Corinthians 15:1-6)
That’s it.
But, isn’t there more to it than that? Consider this,
“Christ, in dying for his people, took the punishment they deserve for their sins and actually achieved their salvation. He did not merely open up a door to Heaven that they might enter when and if they please. He did not merely build a bridge across the gap between sinful men and a perfectly holy God so that people might come to God if they wished. He crossed the gap to take his people back to Heaven with him. When he said, “It is finished,” he meant it. The death of Christ actually accomplished the complete salvation of his people. They can do nothing to deserve salvation, and they can contribute nothing toward their salvation.” (John W. Robbins)
The real, true, simple, historical facts of what Jesus did changes everything…everything! He “died for our sins” because we all are horrible sinners. He took away the punishment we rightly deserve. He rose again to life to show the world that death no longer has power.
Do you believe you’re a horrible sinner? Do you know your need for a savior? Then you are understanding who you really are. But there is good news: believe that Jesus is the one who has taken the penalty for your sin and suffered the wrath due you. Now run from your sin, and seek to know your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
(John 3:16-18)
And Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
(John 10:14-15)
Adapted from the tract: “Counterfeit Gospels” at trinityfoundation.org
(Source: trinitylectures.org)
