As most of us already now, the word “gospel” comes from the Old English and refers to “good news.” Today when we speak of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is becoming muddied and confused withn the contemporary Evangelical church being invaded as it is by contemplative spirituality with its roots in apostate Rome. Now through men like Guru Brian McLaren there is considerable debate as to what the Gospel itself actually is. In this time of so many weak-willed ministers jumping headlong into the rapidly growing deceptions slithering into the Body of Christ from the Purpose Driven Church, the Emergent Church and the Word Faith Church, the pillars the Ecumenical Church of Deceit actually rests upon, much of what purports to be the Church is now beginning to merrily march down the broad road of compromise that leads right back to the apostate Roman Catholic Church.

Men and women with no spiritual backbone are literally undoing the Protestant Reformation and are more than ready to place themselves back under the slavery and bondage of the Church of Rome and her self-righteous sacramental system of works-righteousness. Consider this bit of discussion I had the other day with Emergent theologian Scot McKnight on his blog near the bottom of the comments. These people tell us the Reformation is over. You may ask: “Has Roman Catholicism altered their views on the Bible and salvation since Luther’s time?” As I point out from their own sources in Has The Roman Catholic Church Really Changed? the answer is no, people have simply decided to “feel” that it’s over. This really should come as no surprise however, as the Apostle Paul warned us long ago of this kind of treachery when he wrote to the church at Corinth:

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him (2 Corinthians 11:3-4, KJV).

So we can see here that God the Holy Spirit warns us that there is such a thing as another gospel, and it isn’t the only warning of its kind in Scripture, so it becomes obvious that the Christian is to be on our guard about such trickery of the Devil. Unfortunately so much of the Church has come under Satan’s spell of a twisted type of love, peace and tolerance (didn’t we learn anything from the 60’s) that they have simply laid the weapons of our warfare down without so much as a struggle. Sad–very sad indeed. I covered this issue of so-called Emergent scholars and pastors who are now denying the Gospel of our Lord a while ago in “Evangelicals” Attacking The Gospel.

But the Lord be praised that He already anticipated this silly time of sappy sentimentality and brazen boldness by preserving the actual Gospel for His Church right within the pages of the Bible itself. It really couldn’t be more clear. Here, from the Apostle Paul himself, is the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its beautiful simplicity. The Gospel, I might add, that was faithfully preached by the Apostles and would cost all but John their very lives to fearlessly proclaim. And how it sullies the memories of our dear brothers who paid the ultimate price so that you and I would know this Good News. O how tragic to watch more and more leaders within the Evangelical church falling one by one for the ecumenical cotton candy fluff being preached by false prophets like Rick Warren–the Pied Piper of Purpose Driven.

The True Apostolic Gospel Of Jesus Christ

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

In the first two verses Paul tells the church in Corinth that he will remind them of the gospel I preached to you. The Greek here gives the picture – “I would have you know.” As in “this is a very important matter this” Gospel I preached to you. In other words, this was not just a little friendly reminder, but an exhortation that this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In stark opposition to alleged postmodern Evangelicalism’s cavalier attitude toward the most important message ever given to mankind, Paul was telling them that this Gospel was not to be taken lightly, for it is the very heart of Christianity. The Apostle wanted to make sure they understood that by this Gospel alone you are saved; as it is entirely possible for someone to believe in vain. Paul clearly elaborated on this truth in Galatians 1:6-9.

In the next two verses he will pass on what I received. The words the Apostle uses here in the original Greek are technical terms, which are often found in rabbinical writings. There are many commentators that use this passage to link Paul with early Christian “tradition” concerning the fact of Christ’s resurrection. And this is accurate, however Paul is doing so much more than merely passing on an early creed of the ancient Church. Galatians 1:11-12 – I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ (emphasis added).

A careful examination of these verses shows that Paul tells us that no man made up the gospel I preached, and while he most certainly was aware of these early creeds of the ancient Christian Church, the Apostle is also informing us that he received the gospel by revelation from Jesus Christ. We remember from Acts 9 that Paul had seen the Risen Christ in person thus qualifying him as an Apostle (see–1 Corinthians 9:1), and he also further informs in Galatians 1 of the time he spent in the desert of Arabia where he would likely have communed with Christ before he went to Jerusalem. In any event, it clear from biblical texts that what Paul is doing here is verifying the truth of this early Christian creed by confirming this is exactly what Jesus had revealed to him personally as the Gospel to be preached.

In verse 3 the Apostle begins to tell us what the Apostolic Gospel was/is Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. This why it is so important to know Who Jesus Christ of Nazareth truly is; not just that He died for our sins, but also that Christ is God Himself in the person of the Man Jesus of Nazareth (see–Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1,14,18). Then in verse 4 Paul tells us Christ was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. And therein is the Gospel. If there was more to it – “Gospel Principles” to be worked out as in Mormonism – or some elaborate “Sacraments of the New Law” as in Roman Catholicism – or any “works” of any kind – then here is where Paul would have included them.

But you will notice that he did not. That’s because there are none attached to what God “finished/paid in full” (Greek: tetelestai) on the Cross (see–John 19:30). And Paul specifically tells the church at Ephesus there are no works involved in a gracious salvation based on unmerited favor – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). And this is the extra Good News for the true Christian, it is by grace you have been saved – it is past tense, an event that has already happened. Now we look at 2 Corinthians 5:17 with a more full understanding of what Paul is actually telling us – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! Can you see there; the common phrase we use – “born again” – is indeed a literal fact!

Dearly beloved of the Lord, this is the security that you already have as a regenerated child of the living God–you are a new creation. And today is a good day to spend some time in thankful adoration of the God Who loves us so much that the Lord Himself was willing to pay the unspeakably horrific price of the Cross in order that He might simply give to us such a great salvation.