Another Gospel……Another Jesus

The Gospel today has steadily been changed during the past 50 or 60 years.  In our day, what is believed to be, and preached as, the Gospel is no longer the true Gospel.  The Jesus that is preached with this “gospel” is, therefore, another Jesus.

Both this “new” gospel and this “other” Jesus, differ significantly and radically from the true Gospel, and the true Jesus.

Because these changes have happened little by little, it would appear that very few have noticed.

Everyone probably knows the story of the frog in the pot of water.  If you put a frog in a pot of boiling water, the frog will immediately and quickly jump out – it knows it’s in danger.  But, if you put a frog in a pot of cold water, turn on the heat, and gradually warm the water to the boiling point, the frog won’t realize that the water is getting hot or boiling until it’s too late…..it’s dead!

The Apostle Paul, most often, refers to the Gospel as “the Gospel”, as do the other writers of the New Testament.  Paul’s reference to “the” Gospel makes it exclusive.  When Paul is not referring to the Gospel, he calls it “my” Gospel, or “our” Gospel, or he refers to “another gospel”. 

Paul’s reference to the Gospel, meaning that there is no other Gospel, assumes that his readers understand what the term really means. 

Many times, Paul and others refer to the Gospel as “the Gospel of Christ”, “the Gospel of Jesus Christ”, or “the Gospel of God”.  In these references, the writers of the New Testament are asserting that the Gospel is about Jesus Christ – it is founded in Him, it is by Him, it is completed in Him, and Jesus Christ is the center and the object of the Gospel.

Paul even drives this home further in his unambiguous definition of the Gospel:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4   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 you—unless 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  (NKJV)

Paul makes it very clear that the Gospel is about Jesus Christ, and no one or nothing else.

We, humankind, are the beneficiaries of the Gospel and Jesus’ atoning work on the cross, but the only role we play in all of it is that “Christ died for our sins”.  It was Jesus Who died; it was Jesus Who was buried, and it was Jesus Who has risen from the dead.

So, this brings us to the so-called gospel of today.  How has the true gospel changed?  How does it differ from “the Gospel of Jesus Christ”? 

The difference today is that Jesus is no longer central to the gospel that is most often preached by most of the professing Christian church. 

Jesus no longer holds the center place of the gospel because man has replaced Jesus with himself.  It is no longer the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it the gospel of “self”.  It is another gospel that is being preached, and it is another Jesus that is being presented.

Today, most in the professing Christian church have been convinced that the Gospel must be changed in order to reach “today’s” generation.  We certainly don’t want to offend anyone when we are witnessing to them.

1 Peter 2:7-8   Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”

1 Corinthians 1:18   For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

The Gospel is meant to be offensive.  Mankind has no natural desire for the things of God, nor do they have the desire to cease from sin and repent. 

So, today, we preach the “modern” gospel which, rather than speak of Jesus, speaks of “you”:

• God loves “you”
• God has a wonderful plan for “you”
• God can make “you” happy and fulfilled
• God will bless “you”
• God will make “you” rich
• God will make “you” healthy
• God will heal “your” marriage
• Etc……..

While many of these things are certainly true, the emphasis is in the wrong place.  The emphasis is “you” and not Jesus Christ.  Because so many professing Christians feel the need to “sell” someone on the benefits of salvation, this false gospel becomes a man-centered gospel which, in effect, preaches another Jesus.

Romans 1:16   For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Hebrews 4:12   For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

It is only the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has the “power of God to salvation”, and it is only the Word of God that is “living and powerful”. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ and the gospel of self have vastly different messages to the hearers. 

• The object of the true Gospel is Jesus Christ - His person, His work, and His glory.
• The object of the gospel of self is simply self.  It concentrates on what man can get from God, and that Christ only wants to bless everyone.

The results of the preaching of these two very different gospels are also very different. 

• The true Gospel, the Gospel of Christ, is unpopular, and few respond to it;
• The gospel of self is fashionable and many run to it

Matthew 7:13-15; 22-23   “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.  “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 

Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

These two gospels also produce very different attitudes in those who adhere to them:

• Those who obey the true Gospel, the Gospel of Christ, worship Him, are obedient to Him, and their lives and doctrine revolve around Jesus.  They are Christ-centered.
• Those who follow the gospel of self worship themselves, and their lives revolve around themselves.  They are self-centered.

These will also produce two entirely different churches.  One that is Christ-centered, and the other that is self-centered.

As you can see, there are no slight differences between these two.  They are in complete opposition to each other.

The true Gospel produces a life of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone, while the gospel of self produces arrogance and self-righteousness.  The true Gospel leads to eternal life with Jesus, while the gospel of self will lead to an eternity of suffering in hell.

Those who are attracted to the gospel of self are not saved, because they have put their trust in a false gospel and another Jesus.

2 Corinthians 11:4  For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!

Galatians 1:9   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.

Unfortunately, what most people 2000 years ago wanted from Jesus is the same that most people want from Him today – happiness, health, material blessings, solving problems, boosting egos, political leadership…..heaven on earth.

When Jesus refused to give these things to them, but offered them Himself, the cross, and eternal life, they crucified Him.   Today, instead of crucifying Jesus, we quietly move Him out the back door of the church and make sure that He can’t come back in.

Revelation 3:20   Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.