My writing is in blue.
The gospel is the good news of the free gift of eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ. Sin separates us from a Holy God. Because of our sin nature, it is impossible to please God through our own merit. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). The Holy Bible says that our righteousness’s are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Jesus Christ, who is God in the flesh, came to Earth to fulfil the law perfectly, and He died on the cross for the sins of the whole world, was buried, and resurrected three days later, according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Jesus asks us to believe his account. He said that he is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Whosoever puts his or her trust in Him hath eternal life (John 6:54). This is God’s plan of salvation, entirely free of human works (Ephesians 2:8-9) This gives God all of the glory.
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son – 1 John 5:11
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life – 1 John 2:25
Question: “What is the true gospel?”
The gospel is the gospel. Not sure why there is a reference to the ‘true gospel’ as detailed by this question, but it is a website where people ask questions, which are then answered by the owners of the site.
There is no reference of ‘true gospel’ in the Holy bible.
1 Bible results for “true gospel.” Showing results 1-1.
And I intreat thee also, true yoke fellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life – Philippians 4:3.
Answer: The true gospel is the good news that God saves sinners. Man is by nature sinful and separated from God with no hope of remedying that situation. But God, by His power, provided the means of man’s redemption in the death, burial and resurrection of the Savior, Jesus Christ.
The word “gospel” literally means “good news.” But to truly comprehend how good this news is, we must first understand the bad news. As a result of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:6), every part of man—his mind, will, emotions and flesh—have been corrupted by sin. Because of man’s sinful nature, he does not and cannot seek God. He has no desire to come to God and, in fact, his mind is hostile toward God (Romans 8:7). God has declared that man’s sin dooms him to an eternity in hell, separated from God. It is in hell that man pays the penalty of sin against a holy and righteous God. This would be bad news indeed if there were no remedy.
But in the gospel, God, in His mercy, has provided that remedy, a substitute for us—Jesus Christ—who came to pay the penalty for our sin by His sacrifice on the cross. This is the essence of the gospel which Paul preached to the Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 15:2-4, he explains the three elements of the gospel—the death, burial and resurrection of Christ on our behalf. Our old nature died with Christ on the cross and was buried with Him. Then we were resurrected with Him to a new life (Romans 6:4-8). Paul tells us to “hold firmly” to this true gospel, the only one which saves. Believing in any other gospel is to believe in vain. In Romans 1:16-17, Paul also declares that the true gospel is the “power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” by which he means that salvation is not achieved by man’s efforts, but by the grace of God through the gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Because of the gospel, through the power of God, those who believe in Christ (Romans 10:9) are not just saved from hell. We are, in fact, given a completely new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17) with a changed heart and a new desire, will, and attitude that are manifested in good works. This is the fruit the Holy Spirit produces in us by His power. Works are never the means of salvation, but they are the proof of it (Ephesians 2:10). Those who are saved by the power of God will always show the evidence of salvation by a changed life.
When we are born again, we are baptised with the Holy Spirit.
22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father – Matthew 20:22-23
This new nature cannot sin.
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God – 1 John 3:9
We still have our sin nature, so without the gift of the Holy Spirit, nobody would be able to go to heaven. It is not the life we live that saves us, but Jesus Christ who saves us. It is his righteousness and His faith that we trust in. Remember, the Holy Bible tells us that our works are as filthy rags, so to have to prove our salvation is of no benefit to the flesh. Works cannot save; the Holy Bible clearly states this.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast – Ephesians 2:8-9
Salvation is entirely of God. It is God’s plan of salvation that we must put our faith in, the man Jesus Christ, who is God in the flesh. He is the righteousness that saves a sinner from death. It is His work that we trust in and not our own. This world has always had salvation wrong, it has always trusted in merit to prove the goodness of a person, but we are not good people. None of us are.
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high – Psalm 7:17.
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus – Romans 3:24-26
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus – Romans 3:26
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness – Romans 4:5
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith – Romans 4:13
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness – Romans 6:16
(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever – 2 Corinthians 9:9
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; – Titus 3:5
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith – Hebrews 11:7.
Got Questions is right that we are given a new nature, through the Holy Spirit, but the flesh remains. There will always be a war with the flesh until the day of redemption. Even Paul struggled with sin (Romans 7:14-25). However, Got Questions is wrong that works are the proof of salvation. They continued that those who are saved by the power of God will always show the evidence of salvation by a changed life.
Sadly, it is subtle messages like this that corrupt the simplicity that is in Christ.
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ– 2 Corinthians 11:3
Christ did the work. He saves us, and our works have nothing to do with salvation. If a person is looking to him or herself to prove salvation, how much work is necessary? How much sin does he or she need to quit? Oh if people who preach this really knew the degrees of sin in the human being, they would not say such foolish things. Looking to self for proof of salvation takes the glory off Jesus Christ, toward self. It is a subtle tool of Satan to add works of any kind to the work that Jesus Christ has done.
We could look at it in this way. All organized religions of the world have faith in something, and they believe in works, and that his or her works will eventually save them and merit them heaven. This is not biblical salvation. In truth, the salvation of grace is offensive, because most of us don’t want to see our need for a saviour. We believe we are not that bad. Just because we don’t rape or murder others, we believe we’re pretty good people. However, God is not a respecter of persons.
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons – Acts 10:34
This means that God views everyone in the same way. All persons need saving, whether jew or gentile, rich or poor etc.
Everyone who has not trusted Christ as saviour is under the penalty of sin, and the wages of sin is death.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord – Romans 6:23
Although Jesus paid for the sins of everyone in this world, God chooses to save only those who believe on His son, through His grace – unmerited favour.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life – John 3:16
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him – John 3:36
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life – John 4:14
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life – John 5:24
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed – John 6:27
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day – John 6:40
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life – John 6:47
There is only one path to Almighty God and Heaven, and that is through Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, this world and its vain philosophies of man have taught that there is more than one path to God, but the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy through organized religions who teach works-based salvation, and false prophets who corrupt the simple gospel of Christ.
The fruit that Christ speaks of in Matthew 7 is in relation to doctrine, what a person teaches, contrary to what false prophets teach (the life we lead). The only good fruit that exists is Jesus Christ, so whosoever believes in Him is bearing fruit for God’s glory.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Remember, upon being born again, a believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit, who leads us into truth. When we are trusting in Christ alone, apart from works, this is the message that saves us from the wages of sin, because we are trusting on Christ. Even though the message is subtle that Got Questions says, that a believer will show evidence of salvation by a changed life, this simply puts a person back under bondage, and may not even save. God knows who has trusted Christ, so evidence of works to prove salvation is a false teaching, because all organised religions have good works, and we know that these will not save, unless he or she has trusted on Christ’s work. This is the trouble with a lot of churches today. They believe that they have the gospel correct, but then works are subtly added because, in reality, they do not trust that Jesus’ work is enough. To the flesh, working for salvation makes sense, but Jesus Christ is the difference between all organized religions today. We trust in Him, not ourselves. Churches either frontload the gospel with works with messages like ‘repent of sins’ or backload the gospel with works by saying that if you’re truly saved you will have the works.
NO NO NO. It is through the Grace of God that we are saved, not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Works are not necessary post salvation, but Ephesians 2:10 says
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them – Ephesians 2:10
The keyword is should. We should grow in grace by spending time with God in prayer and reading His Word. These works will help our spiritual growth, but it is important to say that none of these works post salvation has any relevance on our salvation. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit and cannot lose our salvation. The works we do as believers merits rewards in heaven.
Got Questions say, Those who are saved by the power of God will always show the evidence of salvation by a changed life.
If a church is adding works of any kind to the gospel of grace, they do not understand grace, and they do not understand the difference between salvation, which is entirely of Jesus Christ, and discipleship, which is a choice to serve God, not for salvation, but out of love and gratitude for what He has done for us.
We must expose these heretics who frontload or backload the gospel with works, getting us to take our eyes of Christ and His finished work, and getting us to look at how we live our lives.
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ – 2 Corinthians 11:3
False prophets will often refer to Matthew 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven – Matthew 7:21
They use this particular scripture to tell Christians that those who don’t repent of sins or prove their salvation will be rejected by Jesus, but those who are trusting in Christ’s finished work have done the will of the father (John 6:40), and trusted in Christ.
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day – John 6:40
Because the Holy Spirit does not reside in false teachers, they are not aware that this scripture speaks of those who are trusting in their works, and not Christ’s complete work.
The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come – John 16:13
From the Statement of Faith on Got Questions
Section 7: Salvation
We believe that salvation is a gift of God’s grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9). Christ’s death fully accomplished justification through faith and redemption from sin. Christ died in our place (Romans 5:8-9) and bore our sins in His own body (1 Peter 2:24). On the third day after His death, Jesus physically rose again, demonstrating His victory over sin and death (Romans 14:9).
We believe salvation is received by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Good works and obedience are results of salvation, not requirements for salvation. Due to the greatness, sufficiency, and perfection of Christ’s sacrifice, all those who have truly received Christ as Savior are eternally secure in salvation, kept by God’s power, secured and sealed in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 24). Just as salvation cannot be earned by good works, neither does it need good works to be maintained or sustained. Good works and changed lives are the inevitable results of salvation (James 2).
In Got Question’s Statement of Faith, they do say that good works and obedience are the result of salvation, but remember it is Christ’s obedience that we trust in, and not our own.
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous – Romans 5:19
However, they then add that they are not requirements for salvation, but then they say that a changed life is the inevitable result of salvation. Again, they are backloading the finished work of Christ with works, getting a person to look at how they live, instead of resting in Christ’s finished work. Grace and works do not mix.
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work – Romans 11:6
If a website gets the important gospel wrong, what other errors do they teach?
