Have you ever wondered why Paul said “my gospel” in his writings and Jesus Christ said “this gospel of the kingdom?”
It’s because these are two different gospels.
And I don’t mean a false gospel. One gospel is found in Matthew-Luke and another is found in Paul’s writings. There is the “this gospel of the kingdom” which is straight from Jesus Christ (see Matthew 24:14) and the gospel that the apostle Paul preaches (see Romans 16:25…..”….of power to stablish you according to my gospel….”). That is from Paul. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Paul writes, “….I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved…….For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how 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:” The gospel is Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again the third day for our sins. This is the gospel in which we should preach and how we are saved today.
So, the gospel of Christ that Paul preached was that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again the third day. That is the gospel for us today. That is what must be preached. That is how we get saved by believing the gospel of Christ. That is not the same as what Jesus Christ said was his gospel, which is the gospel of the kingdom. Those two gospels are not the same, they are different. If they are the same then how could Jesus Christ say to believe the gospel of Him dying, buried, and rose again if He had not died yet. Because He ministered mostly to Jews and He was preaching the gospel of the kingdom telling them (the Jews) “repent ye and believe the gospel.” What gospel? The gospel of the kingdom. But we know they did not receive Him (John 1:11). Later on, the gospel of Christ that Paul preached which was after Jesus died, was buried, and arose the third day was presented to Gentiles (which was the mystery not yet known to man, in that, salvation was now for Gentiles as it was Jews). Why am I pointing this out? Because we are saved by what Paul says the gospel is for us now. It is important to note, that just because Jesus Christ says something does NOT automatically apply to you doctrinally. Paul was presented the mystery that Gentiles could get saved along with Jews. Now salvation is for both Jews and Gentiles.
This is an example of rightly dividing the word of truth. That is why doctrine matters.
The context of what is written in the word of God is VITAL to know what it teaches. If one takes scripture out of context, they will err quickly. One of the things that one can see if someone is in error these days is if they teach that you must do something to remain saved in order to “make it to heaven.”
They have COMPLETELY discredited what Jesus Christ did on the cross for us. Was Jesus Christ not enough to make sure you “make” it to heaven. You think your righteousness plays a part? Let me ask you something, would you trust your works to ensure heaven? Or would you rather trust WHOLLY on Jesus Christ?
What Jesus Christ did on the cross was that he FINISHED ALL that was necessary to have a relationship with God the Father. And that is simply to believe(trust) in Jesus Christ. Your trying to stay saved is not what is keeping you saved.
You are kept saved by the power of God (1 Peter 1:5).
You are not trying to “make” it to heaven if you are saved. Before you are saved, you were dead (DEAD spiritually), then you are made alive (ALIVE spiritually). “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” (Eph. 2:1). If you think you can lose your salvation, are you dead again? Are you blinded to the gospel again? No. Because you can’t lose it. Obtaining salvation is the gift of God. Would you give something to somebody and then require them to do something to keep that gift? NO, you wouldn’t. And that’s the same thing with salvation. It is the gift. GIFT. GIFT.
I am convinced that there are people that get saved and start teaching this works heresy to others for some reason. It’s like pride takes over and they start thinking, they played a part. But what they are doing is teaching people to trust Jesus Christ and themselves to “make” it to heaven.
And that is damnable heresy. Because they are teaching faith in Jesus Christ and their works. And I have a major issue with that because I am a defender of the grace of God and that eternal life is a gift made freely through the Lord Jesus Christ by believing the gospel. And you have NO part of this salvation. You just receive this gift of God.
“….there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
That name is Jesus Christ.
Don’t you get it? Don’t you see that it is all or nothing? We go to heaven because of Jesus Christ or we go to hell because He failed. Our hope hinges SOLELY on what Jesus Christ did. If His word is a lie, then we have no hope.
It is ALL about what Jesus Christ did.
Blessed be the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Take care,
-Brent
