Only One Gospel

(Galatians 1:6-12, 21) "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called 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. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. I do not frustrate the grace of God; for if righteousness come by the law, then christ is dead in vain." The Apostle Paul was addressing the issue of the gospel to the church of Galatia. The Judaizers came in and were trying to pervert the gospel by adding the ceremonial law to it. The Judaizers were guilty of legalism, which is adding works to grace. The Apostle Paul and the other early apostles were preaching a salvation which was by grace through faith. Instead, the Judaizers were adding aspects of the Mosaic law to the gospel. The Apostle Paul had to address that issue to the Galatians. Paul addressed the issue of faith and the law and mentioned what was the purpose of the law. Galatians 3:11 declares that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God. It is evident that the just shall live by faith. Paul stated in Galatians in 3:24 that the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. What does that mean? The law has no ability to save sinful man. All the law does is reveal who we are. It reveals we're dead in trespasses and sins. The law is perfect but no man is justified simply because man's dead in sins and trespasses. No flesh can be justified by the law. Then grace comes and says look to Jesus. If you will repent of your sins and look to the finished work of Christ and accept what Jesus did for you on Calvary, you will be redeemed and justified. You are freed from the curse of the law.

In this day in which we're living, there are all kinds of people walking this planet that are spiritually ignorant. People don't know the Bible or its truths. Many people don't understand the concept of "sin" and that they transgressed the law. If you ask them who Jesus is, they will identify him as a historic figure who lived a perfect life but don't know what his purpose was in coming to this earth. In many of the denominations in America, there are all kinds of teachings in regards to how a person can be saved. The Catholic Church teaches a man could be saved through good works. The Church of Christ advocates water baptism or baptismal regeneration to save a person's soul. Some Independent Baptists have taught a person could be saved by simply repeating a prayer with no repentance. There have been people that have been saved repeating a prayer, but they weren't saved as a result of that prayer. It wasn't the words itself that saved them. It was repentance and trusting in God from the heart. Repeating a prayer means nothing if there's no repentance upon the individual praying the prayer. Some Independent Baptist preachers preach "hyperevangelism", which teaches that a sinner could be saved without repentance. Hyperevangelism promotes evangelistic methods which tries to force sinners to pray a prayer without the drawing of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Baptist churches like to do that so they can publicize it in a periodical and boast of the number of sinners that have been "saved."

I believe Freewill Baptists teach a general calling to salvation. In other words a sinner can come to Christ anytime they desire apart from the drawing of the Holy Spirit. However, John 6:44 says a person can't be saved unless the spirit of God draws them. The spirit of God must woo the heart of a sinner and show them their need. A person can't be saved apart from the drawing of the Holy Spirit. God does say in scripture "whosoever will". However, salvation is personal and specific. It takes the drawing of the Holy Spirit to show that individual their need for Christ. A sinner can read the New Testament and learn about the plan of salvation for them. However, the Holy Spirit must make it real to them individually that they've sinned and transgressed God and their only hope is to come to Christ. Reading words in the Bible alone won't accomplish the task. That will plant a seed in the sinner's heart. However, the Spirit must use those words to convict the sinner. The Holy Spirit must perform the work of conviction. The convicting power of the Holy Spirit is the only thing that can convey to the sinner their need. God's ways are far above man's ways. We have a responsibility to carry the gospel to the sinner. However, the Holy Spirit must do the rest in the case of converting sinners.

It's tragic how many religions try to confuse the sinners the correct way to salvation. That's the trick of the Devil to blind people. Throughout the early church there were religious groups preaching doctrines that were damnable heresies. Preaching a gospel which tampers with salvation is damnable heresey. That's why the Apostle Paul told the Galatians if anyone preaches any other gospel than what they have received, then let them be accursed. He repeated that twice. That's serious. Accursed means "damnation". A person that poses as a preacher that preaches another path to salvation is preaching damnable heresy. That person is to be cursed to hell. God has no tolerance for those that pervert the gospel. There have been many that have frustrated that gospel and have made it more difficult than it should be. Salvation is simple. God didn't add a lot of rules to complicate salvation. That's man's teaching. The problem many sinners have is when it comes to repentance. There are sins that many sinners don't want to forsake. That's why salvation may seem difficult in their eyes. However, there's no special ceremony, prayer, ritual, creed or anything that needs to be added to salvation. Salvation is only by grace through faith upon repentance by the sinner. If a sinner will forsake their sinful ways and trust in Jesus, then they will be saved. Salvation is of the Lord. Only God receives the glory. Man cannot share in the glory.

In Galatians 1:21 The Apostle Paul stated that if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. What would be the purpose in the propagation of the gospel to the whole world if man could achieve his salvation? Why spend all kinds of untold dollars spreading the gospel if there were multiple paths to salvation? It would be futile. Christ died because that's the only way man could be saved. There had to be a perfect spotless lamb to take our place in order to atone for sin. That's what Jesus did on Calvary. As a result, there's only one gospel to proclaim. Throughout the ages, many religions have added Old Testament rituals when it comes to salvation. The Catholic Church has priests in their diocese. Parishoners will come and confess their sins to the priest for forgiveness. That's unnecessary. When Jesus died on Calvary, He became our High Priest. The earthly priesthood was abolished when Jesus died on Calvary. The only path to salvation is through Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life and no man cometh to the Father but by me." That's clear-cut. It's only one gospel. Any other gospel is damnable heresy.