"THE PERVERTED GOSPEL"

Its Message

INTRODUCTION
  1. The Bible is filled with grave warnings against tampering with the Word of God...
    1. There is the warning given through Moses - Deut 4:2
    2. There is the warning given through John - Re 22:18-19
  2. Perhaps the strongest warning is that given by Paul - Ga 1:6-10
    1. Some had "perverted" (metastrepho, to turn around, turn about) the gospel of Christ
    2. Like a belt that starts out right, but becomes twisted at some point
    3. Such perversions were to be rejected, even if it taught by angels or apostles!
  3. Since the gospel was first preached, it has often been perverted to teach something different than that proclaimed by the apostles...
    1. Some taught that we must be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses to be saved - Ac 15:1,6
    2. Others later stressed a similar doctrine of salvation through meritorious works
  4. Today, many present a perverted gospel of Christ...
    1. Often in reaction to the extreme doctrine of salvation by meritorious works
    2. Proclaiming a doctrine of salvation by faith "only"
    3. Denying any need of obedience in order to be saved

[In this lesson we shall consider this "perverted gospel" as often presented today, and note its contrast to the gospel as preached by Jesus and His apostles...]

  1. THE MESSAGE OF THE PERVERTED GOSPEL
    1. IT BEGINS WITH THE TRUTH...
      1. Most commonly presented as "The Four Spiritual Laws"
        1. Formulated and heavily propagated by the Campus Crusade For Christ
        2. Though it begins with truth, it does eventually pervert the gospel
      2. Note the truth that is presented in "The Four Spiritual Laws"
        1. Law One - God loves you, and has a wonderful plan for your life - Jn 3:16; 10:10
        2. Law Two - Man is sinful and separated from God. As such he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life - Ro 3:23; 6:23
        3. Law Three - Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life - Ro 5:6-9; Jn 14:6
        4. Law Four - We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives - Jn 1:12; Ep 2:8-9
        -- Up to this point, "The Four Spiritual Laws" does a fine job in presenting the gospel message; but then the gospel is "perverted" (twisted)
    2. THE ERROR IS IN TELLING ONE HOW TO RECEIVE CHRIST...
      1. E.g., "We receive Christ by personal invitation, cf. Re 3:20"
        1. It is true that Christ personally invites us to Him - cf. Mt 11:28-30
        2. But Re 3:20 is an invitation to wayward Christians, not alien sinners - Re 3:22
        3. Failure to note the context leads to a perversion of the gospel!
      2. E.g., "You can receive Christ right now through prayer"
        1. "Then receive Him into your life by a simple act of faith. In prayer you can tell God that you know you are a sinner, and that you are sorry for your sins. Tell him that you want to turn from your old way of living, and you invite Jesus Christ to come into your life to be your Lord and Savior." - Billy Graham (Writes On Religion)
        2. People are often told to pray, "Lord Jesus, I need you. I open the door of my life and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be."
      3. While this sounds innocent, is saying "the sinner's prayer" how we are to receive Jesus into our lives?
        1. The Bible nowhere mentions "the sinner's prayer"
        2. Those who are taught to pray for forgiveness are already Christians
          1. E.g., Simon - Ac 8:13,22
          2. E.g., those to whom John writes - 1Jn 1:6-10
        3. Again, Re 3:20 (often used to support the idea of receiving Jesus through prayer) was an invitation to erring Christians
      4. To receive Christ so that we come to know Him, one must keep certain commandments!
        1. As expressed by Jesus - cf. Jn 14:21,23
        2. As written by John - cf. 1Jn 2:3-6

        [The gospel message becomes perverted at the point when a person desires to receive Christ and is told to simply say "the sinner's prayer." Jesus and His apostles never taught that. What did they teach...?]

  2. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
    1. IT INCLUDES THE BASIC CONTENT OF "THE FOUR SPIRITUAL LAWS"...
      1. Law One - God loves you, and has a wonderful plan for your life - Jn 3:16; 10:10
      2. Law Two - Man is sinful and separated from God. As such he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life - Ro 3:23; 6:23
      3. Law Three - Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life - Ro 5:6-9; Jn 14:6
      4. Law Four - We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives - Jn 1:12; Ep 2:8-9
      -- This is a fine presentation of the gospel thus far
    2. YET NOTE WHAT JESUS HIMSELF TAUGHT...
      1. We must do the will of His Father in heaven - Mt 7:21-23
      2. We must do what He Himself has said - Lk 6:46; cf. Mt 28:20
      3. Certainly we believe that He is the Christ, the Son of God - Jn 8:24
      4. We must also repent of our sins - Lk 13:3; cf. Lk 24:46-47
      5. We must be willing to confess Him before others - Mt 10:32-33
      6. We must be baptized to be saved - Mk 16:15-16; cf. Mt 28:19-20; Jn 3:5
      7. We must keep His commandments to receive Him and the Father - Jn 14:21,23
      -- Jesus therefore taught obedience is necessary, as expressed in faith, repentance, confession and baptism!
    3. NOTE ALSO WHAT HIS APOSTLES TAUGHT...
      1. Christ is the author of eternal salvation to those who obey Him - He 5:9
      2. Therefore we must believe in Jesus and His words - e.g., Ac 16:30-33
        1. Many stop with verse 31, concluding faith only saves
        2. But the context reveals much more was taught, including the importance of baptism immediately
      3. We must repent of our sins - Ac 2:38; 17:30
      4. We must confess Jesus as Lord - Ro 10:9-10; e.g., Ac 8:35-38
      5. We must be baptized for the remission of sins - Ac 2:38; e.g., Ac 22:16
      6. Having thus obeyed the Lord, we receive Jesus into our lives and begin enjoying the blessings of an abundant life - cf. Ga 3:26-27
        1. How do we become children of God by faith? By putting Christ on in baptism!
        2. How do we receive Jesus into our lives? By clothing ourselves with Christ in baptism!
        -- As the apostles proclaimed the gospel, they stressed the same need of an obedient faith as did their Lord!
CONCLUSION
  1. Some think stressing an obedient faith involving repentance and baptism is teaching salvation by works...
    1. But repentance and baptism are acts of faith to receive salvation, not works of merit to earn salvation
    2. Baptism in particular involves the working of God, to which man humbly submits - Col 2:11-12
    -- A simple illustration of how a boy receives his uncle's inheritance by fulfilling a simple condition demonstrates how obedience does not nullify faith and grace
  2. Where does "The Perverted Gospel" stumble in its message...?
    1. At the point of how one receives Christ and thereby enjoys forgiveness
    2. In telling people to say "the sinner's prayer" to receive Christ
      1. Which is nowhere taught in the Scriptures
      2. Which neglects to tell people what Jesus and His apostles commanded
    3. In failing to consider the context of passages used to support the concept of receiving Christ through a simple prayer

When one is ready to receive Christ into their life, they do well to heed the words of Jesus and His apostles themselves, and not those who through TV and other media have perverted the simple gospel of Christ!

Have you received Christ through faith and putting Him on in baptism (Ga 3:26-27)...?

Note: For a short history on the development of "the sinner's prayer" in evangelical religion, visit the following web site: http://www.bible.ca/g-sinners-prayer.htm