What is the True Gospel...There are so many versions out there and some are very similar and others are completely ridiculous. There are those that are so similar to the true gospel and yet it takes away from the truth and thereby taking away from its saving power. I want to go into depth on this as an "evangelist" and disciple of Jesus knowing it my duty to preserve the purity of the gospel of Jesus.
We know that simply we are sinners who need to be reconciled to our God and creator. We know that Jesus was sent to bear the penalty for our sin, but what does faith in him mean in order to be made at peace with God and inherit eternal life?
Let us look at three principles that we need in order for this to happen:
1. Repent- Be Humble and poor in Spirit- This is a genuine sorrow for your sin against God and recognizing that you need salvation.
2. Turn from yourself and this world- Jesus says in many scripture John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
This is an essential point that many leave out in their teaching of the Gospel. Jesus also says in Luke 14:26-27 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
This is the Hard part of the Gospel. For some it may be the initial humbling and repenting but for others it is number 2. In fact this is the principle of why Jesus said that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. The Rich man who has luxury and wealth will have to give that all up to follow Jesus... just as Zacchaeus did. Now is this a work that earns salvation? No, but it is an understanding that if you are going to follow Jesus you may have to give up your sinful ways that earned you that money, or as you submit to Christ you may have to give that wealth away.
This is why in James it says that God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith.(2:5) They are the ones who will be more likely to give up the things of this world because they don't have much to give up.
3. Follow Jesus- As we follow the Light of this world he will lead us into righteousness. This gives the idea of trust and commitment. This is where Jesus speaks metaphorically of being born again. Once we have died in principles 1&2 then we are ready to be born again by calling on Jesus to be our Lord and Savior being reborn by the Holy Spirit. (John 3) The idea that we simply believe in Jesus or say a prayer is not entirely accurate. When you study the verses in their original Greek that seem to suggest this you will find that it means more than that and it also aligns with the many other scriptures that reference what we have already spoke on and so many more.
An added Bonus:
4. Bear Fruit- this is a principle that is not for the unbeliever to work unto salvation, but the disciple to work out his salvation. The Scriptures are very clear that if the "disciple" is not bearing fruit then they are not a true disciple and will not inherit eternal life.
So when I hear people leaving out from the Gospel any of these points then I have to say they are not really preaching the true Gospel. If a person does not repent and turn from his life, if he does not place his trust in Christ and follow him then he is not a true disciple. It is absolutely contrary to scripture and deceives the person who is being taught this perverted gospel.
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