Seven Characteristics Of The Gospel of ChristRock of Offence CommentaryThe Gospel calls us into a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3). Our acceptance of this call places us in God's family. Throughout history millions made this decision. Our relationship with God is filled with many blessings. Yet, the Bible discusses another aspect to our calling. In 1 Timothy 6:12, Timothy is told to "fight the good fight of faith." Again in 2 Timothy 2:3-4, Paul admonishes Timothy..."Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good SOLDIER of Jesus Christ. No man that WARRETH entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a SOLDIER." The Church of Jesus Christ is involved in a spiritual war -- a battle for the heart and mind of the human race. Even though this war is not one fought with bullets, guns and bombs -- those who have placed their trust in Christ are directly affected by this emotional conflict. Our adversary is Satan and his kingdom of demonic forces. During times of war, propaganda, deception, misinformation and counterfeits of various kinds are tactics used to defeat the opposition. From the devil's perspective, you're the opposition--if you're a believer in Christ. Our only source of truth is God's Word (John 17:17) which has the power to destroy enemy strongholds and liberate those who believe it. These strongholds are found in the mind (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). The mind is where the battles are won or lost. The only hope Satan has of stopping Christians and neutralizing their efforts is by somehow changing the message of the Bible through the use of religious counterfeits--or by discrediting it to such an extent that no one will take it seriously. Both of these methods are currently used against the Church. The gospel that is commonly heard today is not the same gospel preached by the early Church. Much of the modern gospel sounds similar, using the Scriptures to support its arguments...but it's not the same. If someone dares preach the whole Gospel the religious system brands them as a fanatic, a heritic or divisive. Yet, the religious leaders charged Jesus with blasphemy and labeled him as a heretic during His ministry (John 10:32-33, Mark 14:64, Matthew 26:65). Did you know that? Even Saint Paul said that he had been charged by the religious establishment of his day with heresy (Acts 24:14) -- and God used him to write most of the New Testament canon of Scripture! Hollywood usually associates the "Gospel" with some wild-eyed preacher screaming at his audience to repent. Hollywood producers are among the most visible and powerful critics because they can make up stories and scripts for movies any way they want to propagate their message. The Gospel is sometimes associated with "money-grabbing" con artists who manipulate people into supporting their efforts. Today, the world watches as some "preachers of the Gospel" are involved in acts of immorality. For these reasons, Christians are accused of being hypocrites. Paul tells us in Romans 2:22-24 that our conduct reflects back on God which is why the name of God is blasphemed (or spoken evil of) in the world. More recently we see extreme religious groups who are guided by their leaders into acts of violence and mass suicide. Anyone serious about discovering spiritual truth won't be fooled by these diversions. The sins committed by those who are suppose to be Christians do not nullify or cancel truth. Since the world is basically ignorant of the truth of the Bible, they judge Christianity by what they see in its followers. If you are someone in this position, consider Jesus, who came to give His life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). Jesus came to give, not to get. The world needs to see authentic, truth loving, radically saved, sold-out Christians who walk as Jesus walked. Discrediting God and his people is only one of Satan's goals. Another tactic our enemy uses is information control. There are good, sincere men who love God yet preach an incomplete Gospel. This Gospel includes all the essentials for coming into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ but omits or redefines many other benefits for which Christ died. Some do this because they were trained wrong in seminary and others, because of tradition or a bad "experience" with some person or group. Many are good people preaching all the truth, AS THEY KNOW IT. The problem is that our enemy uses these things to alienate God's people from truth that will set them free. God seems to indicate that this tragedy has no direct solution until the end of the age. I do not agree with those who preach the Gospel in this manner because their message is incomplete and misleading. Yet, many are true believers in Christ. This kind of gospel can rob God's people of blessings while looking "spiritual" and right (Colossians 2:8). An account will be given to the Lord by all of us one day. In this article, I want to focus on recognizing the authentic full Gospel of Jesus Christ among the many other "gospels" found in the Church. Did you know that Saint Paul warned us in the New Testament about receiving "different gospels" and a "different Jesus"? (Galatians 1:6-9 and II Corinthians 11:3-4, 12-14) If you think that every time you hear a preacher talk about "Jesus"--that it's automatically the Jesus of the Bible, you could be making a dangerous assumption. If you think that every time you hear someone say they're "preaching the Gospel" that this means they are preaching the same Gospel Jesus and the early church preached, you could be setting yourself up for serious problems. Listen to Saint Paul's comments in II Corinthians 11:3-4.... "But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 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."The goal of this article is not to examine all the "different gospels" that are found floating around the Church but to identify some of the main characteristics of the authentic Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of a lack of space, we will not quote each scriptural reference but will give book, chapter and verse so you can read it on your own. Seven Characteristics Of The GospelCharacteristic #1Salvation can only be obtained by grace through faith in Jesus Christ by receiving Jesus as your Lord (Romans 10:9-10, John 14:5-6 Galatians 2:16). Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is THE ONLY DOORWAY into God's salvation! In the authentic Gospel, salvation is a result of God's grace--it's given without charge, you can't earn it (Galatians 2:21, Ephesians 2:8-9). Even though salvation is freely given--it must be personally received or it carries no benefit. The authentic Gospel will emphasize the need to "appropriate" salvation (or eternal life) to yourself. God gives salvation--but we have to receive it before any benefits can be realized (Colossians 2:6). There are many in the institutionalized Church that give lip service to salvation by grace, but then redefine grace to include some kind of law or works. I call this the "bait and switch" gospel. The apostle Paul said that mixing law and works into the Gospel perverts it. It can be easily found in the modern church. (Read Gal. 1:6-9, Eph. 2:8-9, Romans 4:3-5). More information is available at the link provided below.Characteristic #2The Gospel is confirmed by the power of God (I Corinthians 4:19-20). Ever notice in the New Testament during the confrontations between Jesus and the Pharisees that Jesus performed miracles and healings and the religious leaders could not? Some church leaders object to using this as a characteristic of the Gospel because they say that Satan can also do miracles--but it is a valid test. First of all, it eliminates all the expressions of powerless religion (including those found in Christianity) and, even though it is not a conclusive characteristic, it does greatly limit the choices. When the Gospel has been "perverted" (Gal. 1:6-9) by the works of the law, philosophy, tradition or man's teachings, it loses the miraculous power of God. When you hear men teach against the supernatural, miracles, and divine healing....beware. (Read Acts 15:1-12, Acts 8:5-8, Acts 14:7-10, Mark 16:14-20)Characteristic #3The authentic Gospel is taught from the perspective of the blood covenant (Luke 22:20, Hebrews 8:6-13, Hebrews 10:29, Hebrews 12:22-24). The Bible is divided into two parts: The Old Testament (or Old Covenant) and the New Testament (or New Covenant). Religious teaching has stripped the Gospel out of this covenant framework by either redefining or omitting it altogether. By doing so--the very foundation of our faith is unknowingly altered. The Old Testament is established around two "blood covenants": One between God and Abraham in the early pages of Genesis -- and another one established hundreds of years later through Moses, between God and the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai (The covenant of the Law). One of the "ways of God" is, keeping covenant, and you will not properly understand what's going on in the Old Testament (and also in the New Testament) unless you learn about how God operates under a blood covenant faith-based system. It is the key that unlocks the mysteries of the entire Bible. The New Testament is built around another covenant, "the blood covenant of Jesus Christ". This New Covenant didn't start operating until after Christ's crucifixion, resurrection, asension -- and the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Again, you will never properly understand what Jesus did or be able to exercise proper Biblical faith unless you learn how covenants operate. Most ministers just call them "a contract or agreement". YET, THEY INVOLVE FAR MORE THAN THESE SIMPLE DESCRIPTIONS. The omission or redefinition of the institution of a blood covenant can cause Christian believers to have a counterfeit faith. This kind of faith looks good and religious--but it's not the same faith the early church had--and it's void of power. Christ's blood covenant crucifies the old identity of the believer and gives them a new identity (Galatians 2:20). The believer's new identity is Christ. Paul's epistles refer to a believer as being "in Christ" (See our commentary entitled "Our Position in Christ" for more information. This new identity is the central truth of the authentic gospel. CHRIST'S BLOOD COVENANT IS NOT JUST ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE OF SALVATION--IT IS GOD'S PERSPECTIVE OF SALVATION! More information is available at the link provided below.Understanding the New Covenant Characteristic #4The Gospel teaches the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of tongues and the importance of the other gifts of the Spirit. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a second work of grace upon the life of the Christian to empower them to witness to the living Christ. Many leaders cut these topics out of the Gospel message because it is believed that they have passed away and no longer apply. The Bible does not teach this anywhere. Jesus and the early Church never considered these things unimportant or optional. (Read Acts 1:4-5, Acts 1:8, Acts chapter 2, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:1-7, Acts 8:5-25). More information is available at the link provided below.The Holy Spirit's Role In Salvation After The Cross Characteristic #5The Gospel teaches and provides physical (divine) healing for the sick. It's amazing how Jesus spent over one third of his ministry here on earth healing all who were sick (Matthew 4:23, Matthew 8:16, Matthew 9:35, Luke 6:17-19, Luke 9:11, Acts 10:38). Jesus also gave the power to heal to his twelve disciples (Matthew 10:1,7-8 Luke 10:8-9) -- and bestowed the ability to heal the sick to those who believe on him after his death (Mark 16:17-18). Yet, many churches still wrongly teach that it isn't God's will to heal everyone. Some don't believe that healing is a valid blessing at all. One thing is sure, if it isn't God's will to heal everyone then the devil will convince you that YOU'RE THE EXCEPTION! In the Scriptures, divine healing is shown to be one of the "twin salvation doctrines". This means that to the same extent salvation is God's will for everyone--so is divine healing. GOD'S WORD LINKS HEALING AND SALVATION TOGETHER. I've always found it interesting how some Christians and their leaders tell unbelievers that it is God's will for all to be saved. Yet, after they're saved, they say that it might not be God's will to heal them if they get sick. This wrong teaching usually starts a new believer down a tragic road where they are cheated out of many of Christ's blessings.Characteristic #6The Gospel supports the practice of deliverance. The deliverance ministry has almost disappeared in the modern church. It has been displaced by intellectualism coupled with a modern liberal theology that teaches it no longer applies to us today. The deliverance ministry identifies and confronts demonic spirits (or demons) that take up residence in human hosts -- and uses the power of the Holy Spirit to "cast out" the intruder. JESUS CONSTANTLY PRACTICED THE "CASTING OUT" OF DEMONIC SPIRITS DURING HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY -- AND GAVE THIS SAME POWER TO HIS DISCIPLES -- AND LATER TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH. A common reaction by those who observe this practice is fear. Its methods can upset the "religious" atmosphere in most church services, which is why its rejected and maligned. Demons still occupy human hosts today just like they did in Jesus' time and must be dealt with the same way. Yet, today they can hide for years without being discovered because we are taught that they can't afflict Christians -- or that the idea is an ancient superstition from "the dark ages". This is not true. Usually the ministry of healing can be seen side by side with the practice of deliverance BECAUSE HIDDEN DEMONIC SPIRITS COMMONLY CAUSE SICKNESS, DISEASE, INFIRMITY AND OPPRESSION. Many times demons have to be dealt with before a person can be truly set free into the liberty of the Gospel (Mark 16:17, Luke 10:17-20, Acts 19:11-12).Characteristic #7The Gospel ministers to the poor. This includes reaching people in other countries with the message of eternal life through Christ. World missionary efforts and obedience to the Great Commission to, "go into all the world and preach the Gospel" fall under this topic. I don't intend to minimize the subject of world missions by only giving it a sentence or two in this discussion. We'll cover it in more detail in another article. Jesus and the early Church were concerned about those living in poverty. It's the poor who lack the ability to help themselves. I believe this characteristic of "helplessness" is what attracted Jesus the most. Jesus was never attracted to those who were wealthy and "self" reliant. Most poor people know they need help. The average unbeliever is also helpless concerning their lost state--most just don't know it. I believe Jesus looked at the poor and considered it a "travesty of justice" for people who had nothing in this life--to also lose everything in eternity. For this reason those that preach the true Gospel will always want to reach the poor with the message of the cross--both in their native land and in other countries. This also includes the tangible demonstration of God's love through providing food, clothing and shelter to those in need. (Luke 4:18-20, Matthew 11:4-5, Galatians 2:9-11).ConclusionThe true Gospel of Jesus Christ is good news, "if it's not good news then it's not the Gospel." |
