That Other Gospel

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INTRODUCTION: The Apostle Paul was shocked. He marveled that the Galatians had so quickly left the pure teachings of Christ and His gospel in order to follow another gospel. But this other gospel is still with us today. It always starts with the gospel of Christ. Then, it simply adds something, anything, to that gospel. Be sure that you have the pure gospel as your foundation for eternal life.

I.          THE TRUE GOSPEL (1Corinthians 15:1-4)

A.       Its Outline

1.        The death of Christ for our sins

2.        The burial of Christ

3.        The resurrection of Christ

B.        Its Authority

1.        According to the scriptures

a.         Scriptures refer to the holy writings of God: compare scribble, inscribe, inscription, etc.

b.         Scripture is our authority for all doctrine (2Timothy 3:16)

2.        Not based on other authorities

a.         Not Tradition:  the authority of man’s long-time practice (Matthew 15:1-9, esp.v.3,6,9; Colossians 2:8)

b.         Not Philosophy: the authority of man’s greatest wisdom (Colossians 2:8; Acts 17:18, with v.16,22,23)

c.         Not Science: the authority of observable facts and repeatable physical laws (I Timothy 6:20)

d.         Not Scholarship: the authority of academic learning and agreed upon knowledge (2Timothy 3:7; Isaiah 29:9-12)

e.         Not Experience: the authority of personal experience (Romans 10:2-3)

When God Spoils Our Pictures – “Two painters were employed to fresco the walls of a magnificent cathedral. Both stood on a rude scaffolding constructed for the purpose, some distance from the floor. One, so intent upon his work, forgetting where he was, stepped back slowly, surveying critically the work of his pencil, until he had neared the edge of the plank on which he stood. At this moment his companion, just perceiving his danger, seized a wet brush, flung it against the wall, spattering the picture with unsightly blotches of coloring. The painter flew forward, and turned upon his friend with fierce upbraidings, till made aware of the danger he had escaped; then, with tears of gratitude, he blessed the hand that saved him. Just so, sometimes we get so absorbed with the pictures of the world, unconscious of our peril, when God in mercy dashes out the beautiful images, and draws us, at the time we are complaining of his dealings, into his outstretched arms of love.” –from New Encyclopedia of Prose Illustrations (p.19).

II.        THE END OF THE TRUE GOSPEL

A.       The Offer of Salvation

B.        The Reception of Salvation

1.        As an event (John 3:3-7; 5:24)

2.        Through the gospel (Romans 1:16; 10:9-10; Ephesians 1:13)

I Want My Burden Removed – The well-known evangelist Gipsy Smith (1860-1947) grew up in a Gipsy family in England traveling with his family in a wagon. His mother died when he was young and he tells how his father sought peace from his burden of sin. By the providence of God his father met with two of his brothers who were also seeking relief from the burden of sin. “As the brothers talked they felt how sweet it would be to go to God’s house and learn of Him, for they had all got tired of their roaming life. My father was on the way to London, and fully resolved to go to a church and find out what it was his soul needed. The three brothers agreed to go together, and arranged to take in Cambridge by the way. They drove their wagon to the Barnwell end of the town, where there was a beer-shop. The three great big simple men went in and told the landlady how they felt. It is not often, I feel sure, that part of a work of grace is carried on in a beer-shop, and with the landlady thereof as an instrument in this divine work. But God had been dealing with the landlady of this beer-house.

“When the brothers spoke to her she began to weep, and said, ‘I am somewhat in your case, and I have a book upstairs that will just suit you, for it makes me cry every time I read it.’ She brought the book down and lent it to the brothers to read. They went into the road to look after their horses. A young man who came out of the public-house offered to read from the book to them. It was The Pilgrim’s Progress. When he got to the point where Pilgrim’s burden drops off as he looks at the cross, Bartholomew rose from his seat by the way-side and excitedly walking up and down, cried: ‘That is what I want, my burden removed. If God does not save me I shall die!’ ” Not many days later, both Bartholomew and Gipsy Smith’s father are saved and they begin to lead others in the Gipsy camp to the Lord. But that is a longer story. –from Gipsy Smith: An Autobiography (p.58-59)

III.     THE OTHER GOSPEL

A.       The Same Elements: “Which is not another”

1.        Accepts the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ

2.        Claims to come to Jesus by faith in Him

B.        The Difference

1.        Does not directly subtract from the gospel

2.        Rather adds to the gospel

a.         The problem of the Galatians (Galatians 3:1-3; 4:4-11; 6:12-13)

b.         The teaching of the Judiazers (Acts 15:1, 5)

IV.     THE EVILS OF THE OTHER GOSPEL

A.       A Message Accursed (Galatians 1:8-9)

B.        Subtraction by Addition

1.        By adding to the requirements for salvation, they deny the sufficiency of the gospel

2.        Faith in the work of Christ becomes faith in their own works (Galatians 5:4)

C.       Works of Man Insufficient to Save

1.        Works of the Law (Galatians 2:16)

2.        Works of Righteousness (Titus 3:5)

D.       Another Gospel Hides the True Gospel

1.        Faith in works denies the work of Christ (Romans 4:4-5)

2.        Man remains in his lost condition

CONCLUSION: Art Thou Born Again? – John Berridge (1716-1793) was well known as an evangelical English preacher. “His preaching had a ‘rustic homeliness.’ His main points were boldly underlined. Tall and thin in appearance, he had an iron constitution, but at the end he was alone, blind, and deaf. Yet, Berridge testified, ‘Lord, if I have thy presence and love, that sufficeth.’…

 “On Berridge’s grave were words of characteristic testimony:

‘Here lie the earthly remains of John Berridge: Late Vicar of Everton, and an itinerant servant of Jesus Christ, who loved his Master and His work, and after running on his errands many years was called to wait on Him above. Reader: Art thou born again? No Salvation without New Birth!’ ”

–from The Company of Preachers by David L. Larsen (p.407).

 

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