False Gospels

In the previous two posts from the book of Galatians I was dealing with the subjects "Only One Gospel" and "No Flesh is Justified by the Law". The Apostle Paul, who penned the book of Galatians was dealing with those Judaizers who were insisting that Jewish circumcision and the Mosaic law were essential for salvation. The Apostle Paul was pointing out that there were some among you trying to promote another gospel, which isn't another. The Apostle Paul was saying that if anybody preaches another gospel than that which was received by them, then let that person be accursed. The Apostle Paul noted that the gospel he preached to the church at Galatia was from God and not from man. He was having to refute legalism being taught in Galatia. Legalism is adding law to salvation. Instead of salvation being by grace through faith, the Judaizers added circumcision and the Mosaic law to salvation. That's damnable heresy. In Chapter 3 Paul was making the point that under the law no flesh is justified. Man is condemned by the law. However, the law is a schoolmaster which brings us to Christ. The law has no redeeming value. However, that doesn't mean the law is void. No. No. It's good but man's not saved by the law. When God saves a man, the laws of God will be written in the child of God's heart. God grants a Christian the desire to follow the law.

Galatians 1:6-9 says, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that call you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." In the age of Christendom in which we live, we have a perversion of the gospel of Christ. What do I mean when I say perversion? It's a gospel which has been twisted, diluted with lies and half-truths. It's a false gospel. It's a gospel contrary to scripture. You can drive around to any church or religious citadel in America and you'll find all kinds of false teaching concerning the gospel. I'm going to briefly focus on some of the false gospels or false teachings out there.

1. Salvation by works. You have churches teaching that salvation is through works. The Catholic Church teaches that. Mormons teach that. They teach that you can perform good works and the good will outweigh the bad. The Catholic church teaches that when a person dies they'll enter purgatory and the Catholic saints can pray them into Heaven. It doesn't work that way. Ephesians 2:8-9 bears out we are saved by grace through faith. It's a gift of God and it isn't of works. Jesus paid the debt on Calvary. All mankind has to do is recognize that he's sinned before God and if he's drawn by the Holy Ghost can repent of his sins and trust in Jesus. A child of God that's saved experiences what II Corinthians 5:17 says. They'll become a new creature and old things are passed away and all things become new. God doesn't save a sinner in his sin. God saves a sinner from his sin. Hebrews 13:5-8 bears out a child of God will experience chastening from God. If they don't they're none of His.

2. You must be baptized to be saved. The Church of Christ teaches salvation by water baptism. However, Ephesians 2:8-9 bears out a sinner is saved by grace through faith. A believer is commanded to be baptized but water baptism doesn't seal a believer's salvation. We're to be baptized in obedience to Christ to show the world that we've dead to this world and resurrected in Christ.

3. Prosperity gospel. The Charismatic movement is the primary group promoting this prosperity gospel. All you have to do is listen to TBN and you'll hear that kind of teaching. The late evangelist Oral Roberts promoted this gospel of seed faith. If you give a certain amount of money, God will multiply it and you can be rich. God does promise the believer in Malachi if they bring their tithes and offerings in the storehouse God will pour out a blessing from Heaven in which you can't contain. However, God's blessings don't always come in the form of money. God doesn't promise us riches if we give to God's work. Jesus said the poor we'll have with us always. It's not God's will for everybody to be rich. God desires us to be prosperous, but prosperity isn't always tangible.

4. Circumcision. One of the false gospels that was taught in the New Testament was Jewish circumcision. The Jewish law required that Jews were to be circumcised. Circumcision began with Abraham and was practiced in the New Testament. When the gospel was spread to the Gentiles, they were taught they had to be circumcised to be saved. However, circumcision was for the Jew. It was a sign showing they were Jews. It was part of the old Mosaic Law. There were teachers instructing Gentiles they must be circumcised to be saved. The Apostle Paul addressed that issue in Galatians 6:11-15.

These are just some of the examples of false gospels being preached in churches today. I could expound on many more, but at least you have a small sample of false teachings in our churches today. These false teachings are the reason why it's so important for Christians to earnestly contend for the faith. (Jude 1:3)