The True Gospel

The Gospel is central to the Christian faith. Without it, we have no purpose, no hope, and we lack a basis for practically all we do. However, we must take care to preach and teach the True Gospel. While this seems like an obvious point, because the Gospel is so essential, it is worth examining some false gospels common in the Church, and seeing what the True Gospel is, and why it matters.

The first type of false gospel is the Me Gospel. This one is especially pernicious, yet woefully common. It takes the emphasis off of Christ, and puts it on each individual. Focusing on specific things that must be done, it is works based. It tells us that if we don't do certain things, or feel certain ways, or say certain things, then we are not saved. These are things that we all tell ourselves that we have to do. Am I saved if I haven’t prayed the "sinner's prayer"? Am I saved if I didn't feel 'spiritual' during worship on Sunday? Am I saved if I didn't tithe 10% of my income? All of these things are extra-biblical requirements. The consequence of this gospel is the despair that comes from using finite methods to reach an infinite goal.

The next kind of false gospel is the Conditional Gospel. It is similar to the Me Gospel, except that it is composed of requirements put on us by other people. We aren't saved in their eyes if we don't meet certain conditions. The idea that one's salvation depends on someone other than Christ's opinion of you is heretical. You may believe this gospel if you think that someone's salvation is in doubt if they haven't been slain in the Spirit, spoken in tongues, or prophesied in church. The problem is that, again, Christ is not at the center of this. Extra-biblical requirements are. Additionally, this gospel ends in fear that other people may make another criterion defining true salvation

The third variety of false gospel is the Uncertain Gospel. The main idea of this one is that ultimate salvation is constantly in doubt. One never knows for sure whether they have done enough to deserve, or receive salvation. You find yourself asking, "Have I given enough money?" "Have I repented of my sins enough times?" "Have I lived in such a way as to deserve salvation?" This is the beginning of the road to legalism, because it necessitates certain rules to make us feel as if we're good enough. This is totally false, and inspires arrogance and pride in those who subscribe to it.

The last kind of false gospel I want to address is the Elite Gospel. This gospel centers on the belief that the Gospel isn't appropriate for everybody, that you have to be good enough, and know enough. Basically, it preaches that the Gospel is an exclusive form of elitism. You might not be saved if you're not a Calvinist. You might not have salvation if you don't home school. You might not be saved if you listen to secular music. This is has much the same end result as the Uncertain Gospel, in that it creates legalism. The Gospel is not about being better than anyone else, or being more pious than God. Extra rules do nothing to secure salvation, but do a lot to create false assurance.

Now that we've seen several kinds of false gospels, the obvious question is, "What is the true Gospel?" The Gospel may be defined as: The teachings of Jesus and His apostles regarding salvation. Which are the promises of justification and forgiveness of sins for the sake of Christ alone. One thing to notice about this definition is that it clearly limits itself to what is actually in Scripture, and the two foundational doctrines of justification and forgiveness of sins. There are four specific traits of the True Gospel that I want to address.

The first is Solus Christus, which is Latin for "Christ alone." The Gospel's unavoidable center is on Jesus Christ. Romans 10:8-9 says: "But what does it say? 'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." We see that the Gospel revolves around Christ alone. Nothing else. It doesn't matter what clothes you wear, how or when you were baptized, or how much you have contributed to your church's building fund.

The second trait is Sola Gratia, which means "Grace alone." According to Galatians 2:21, "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose." In other words, it is impossible to keep the law of God. Since it is impossible, we have to totally rely on the grace of God to justify us. If it weren't for divine grace, there would be nothing that could achieve salvation for man.

Another trait of the True Gospel is Sola Fide, or faith alone. We read in Galatians 2:16, "yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified." So we see that it isn't any standards that we come up with that save us, but only faith in Jesus Christ. Compare this to all of the false gospels I have discussed, where the requirements are faith plus something else.

The last trait of the True Gospel is Sola Scriptura, which means scripture alone. Everyone knows John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." You see, the scriptural view of salvation is not elitist. It is not uncertain. It is not legalistic. It is not bleak. It epitomizes hope, and that only by the grace of God.

The result of the True Gospel, what it inspires in us, is both freedom and slavery. First, it removes us from bondage to sin. When we are justified before God, we no longer are seen as sinful to God. No longer do we have to live sinful lives with a destiny in Hell. Second, we become slaves. We become slaves to righteousness. We are purchased by Christ to become His servants. Being a slave to righteousness is like being forced to eat chocolate, we have to do something we know is awesome anyway.

Why does this matter? What consequence is it what each individual believes? Quite simply, there is eternal life in the balance. Giving oneself, or others, rules that do not have any founding in scripture, and claiming that these will save you is arrogant, sinful, and foolish. Worse, it detracts from the work Christ has done, and makes man seem capable of his own salvation, thus negating the need for Christ's death and resurrection in the first place. We should constantly strive to preach and teach the True Gospel, so that eternal life and salvation may be ours, and we do not lead others into error.