No Other Gospel, Part 4

6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

1 Corinthians 15:1–2 NKJV

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

Series - No Other Gospel

Background

Paul was warning the churches in the region of Galatia not to entertain anyone who brings another gospel besides the one that they have received from Him.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ was first delivered to man in the form of a Promise.

Later, the Gospel was presented to Israel in the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms in the form Shadows and prophecies.

Both the Promise, the Shadows and the Prophecies looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, in whom the whole counsel of God hinged.

Main Point

When the apostles preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they were not confined to the story of His life, death and resurrection.

The True Gospel

The Gospel of the Apostles has four (4) components:

The Message of the Cross

1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Message = Gk. LOGOS, word; message; thought; the content, that which is being delivered

ESV, NASB - “word of the cross”

The message of the cross is that Jesus died for our sins

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 NKJV

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

1 Corinthians 15:3–5 NKJV

The message of the cross is that he was “delivered” for our offenses, and was raised for our justification

Romans 4:25 NKJV

25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

Romans 4.29

The Message of the cross is that He died so that we might live for Him who died for us!

2 Corinthians 5:15 NKJV

15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

The Message of the cross is that Christ’s death saved us from God’s own wrath!

Romans 5:6–11 NKJV

6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Romans 5.

THAT’S WHY IT IS “GOOD NEWS”!

The Doctrines of Faith

“Doctrine” means the body of teachings and beliefs, the fundamental beliefs that is distinct to the Christian faith.

The doctrine of faith is the body of fundamental teachings essential to the proper understanding of God’s purpose and plan that leads to a genuine experience of salvation.

Apostolic doctrines

doctrine of new birth

doctrine of justification

doctrine of sanctification

doctrine of baptisms

doctrine of baptism

doctrine of repentance

doctrine of eternal judgment

doctrine of resurrection

doctrine of the coming of Christ

doctrine of the Godhead

many more…

True doctrine comes from God

John 7:16–17 NKJV

16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

True doctrine is sound doctrine

John

Titus 2:1 NKJV

1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:

correct = Gk. HYGIANO, correct, accurate

True doctrine saves

1 Timothy 4:16 NKJV

16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

1 Timothy 4.

True doctrine sets free

Romans 6:16–17 NKJV

16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.

Titus 2:1 NKJV

1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:

correct = Gk. HYGIANO, correct, accurate

The doctrine of faith distinguishes us as believers of Jesus Christ

The Commandments of the Lord

A “commandment” is an instruction that demands action.

1 Corinthians 14:37 NKJV

37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

2 Peter 3:1–2 NKJV

1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,

Jesus gave commandments

John 14:15 NKJV

15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

John 14:21 NKJV

21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

John 14.

Obedience to the Lord’s Commandments seals our relationship with Him

John 15:10 NKJV

10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

John 15:12–14 NKJV

12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

John 15.

1 John 5:3 NKJV

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

Progressive Teachings or Revelations

Progressive teachings are biblical teachings that progress through time as God reveals them to His people.

These teachings do not affect the person’s salvation. Instead, they can help the believer grow in the knowledge of God’s plans.

Progressive teachings help the believer grow

2 Peter 3:18 NKJV

18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Hebrews 6:1–3 NKJV

1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.

Hebrews 6.1-3

Progressive teachings become clearer in time

2 Peter 1:19 NKJV

19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;

2 Peter 1

WARNING! Progressive teachings can cause people to stumble if not handled properly

2 Peter 3:15–17 NKJV

15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;

Conclusion

The false gospel is the perversion of the true gospel.

Galatians 1:7 NKJV

7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

Galatians 1.

Pervert = Gk. METASTREPHO, to distort, to turn into something

Example - says, the sun shall be “turned into” darkness…

Conclusion

What are we to do with the true gospel?

The must become the pillar and ground of the truth

1 Timothy 3:15 NKJV

15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

1 Timothy 3:16 NKJV

16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

The saints must learn how to defend the faith.

Jude 3 NKJV

3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Jude 4 NKJV

4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

KNOW YOUR FAITH. KNOW WHAT WE STAND FOR AND BELIEVE. THEN, DEFEND IT WITH YOUR LIFE.