The word “gospel” means good news. It is great news for all of us when we believe that God provided a way for all of us to be forgiven of our sins, and when we die, we will go to Heaven. Paul clearly defined it in 1 Corinthians 15:1-6: “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; otherwise, 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.”
One way the gospel message is attacked is by those who cannot accept God’s grace of salvation. They believe that if they are kind to others and don’t drink or smoke, they will go to Heaven, which will be good enough for God. Paul makes it clear in Ephesians 4:8,9 when He writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast, for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Another threat to the gospel is the “prosperity gospel.” This is the belief that the gospel is about God making us rich and giving us things that we want, including health, wealth, and wisdom. This is a lie. Jesus came to save us from sin and reconcile us to God. He gives us those things that will draw us closer to God, which often come with suffering.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).
Many people reject the idea that sin should be punished. They believe a loving God would never sacrifice His Son, which is to reject the heart of the gospel itself. Sinless Jesus was the only man on earth who could sacrifice Himself to pay the price for our sins. This was a sacrifice that God made for all of us, and it comes from a holy, loving, and merciful God. Romans 6: 23 says,”For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Many have rejected Jesus of the Bible and embrace the philosophy that “All paths lead to God.” People like to think that whatever anyone believes is fine so long as they’re sincere. People like to think that God will accept everyone in the end. After all, isn’t he a loving God? But the gospel is a radically exclusive message: Jesus alone is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Other threats to the gospel’s integrity include beliefs in a brand of “tolerance” that fundamentally rejects God’s universal truth and attacks the reliability of Scripture. Churches often take the wide road for fear of upsetting someone who does not agree with the gospel message. “Wide is the road that leads to death” (Matthew 7:13).
It’s serious business when we add to or subtract from the Gospel.
The gospel message Paul taught brings the grace and peace that Jesus offered, and we all desire. The good news of the gospel begins with grace that was freely given to us from God. Without the gospel, there is no peace with God. In our own ability, power, and ingenuity, we have no hope of peace. Any “gospel” that adds to or takes away from this is no gospel at all.
In his letters to the Christians in Corinth, Ephesus, and Philippi, Paul opens with joy and thanksgiving for their partnership in the gospel. He reminded them of the importance of the gospel and the fruit that comes with living out the Good News.
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ” (Ephesians 1:7-10).
Paul’s letter to the Galatians differed from the other letters he had written. He opened it, showing his disappointment with the Christians’ perversion of the Gospel, which led to false teachings.
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently, some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” (Galatians 1:6-9)
Any teaching that is contrary to salvation by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ is a violation of God’s grace. Whether we, as Christians, pastors/priests or teachers, add rules Jesus never intended or water down the truth to suit cultural norms of behavior, we are misleading and misinterpreting the gospel. If instructions on believing are not found in the scriptures, stay away from them.
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’”(Matthew 7:21-23).