A Different Gospel

Are we preaching a different Gospel from what Jesus taught us?A

We read in Gal. 1:6 - 9 (NKJV) the apostle Paul saying, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from

Him who called you in the grace of

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

As we have said before, so now I say again if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”

If we preach and practice another gospel than the one Jesus told us to, we are in danger of being cursed by God. Very rarely does the New Testament writings pronounce curses on people; this is one of those rare occasions. We might be guilty of preaching and practising the “gospel” of self-advancement and not the gospel of the kingdom.

In its simplest expression, the gospel (good news) of the kingdom is that God has provided a way for the vilest of persons to be accepted by Him. It is saying that no matter how messed up you are, God’s willingness to accept you is even greater. When a person accepts this and changes, God has a channel to work through in the earth.

Jesus came on the earth preaching that men should receive Him as their Lord. He was willing to sacrifice His life that even His enemies would serve Him. The early Church came under tremendous pressure and severe persecution for carrying that message. They were willing to give up their rights and privileges in order to carry that news to mankind. Throughout the history of the Church, multiplied millions of believers have been murdered in order to tell others the good news of God’s salvation.

We read in Lk. 9:23 - 26 (NKJV), “Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.”

When Jesus went to the cross, that was God’s will for Him. He was focused on doing God’s will for His life. It meant a life of self-denial. For us this passage means, denying what is primarily only designed to benefit you in this world. It means choosing to do what God requires of us daily. An example of this, “if someone strikes you on one cheek, offer your other cheek to him also.” However, the gospel of self-advancement says, “no one will violate my rights EVER.”

The gospel of the Kingdom says, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” The gospel of selfadvancement is concerned ONLY with the benefit of the individual who is being oppressed. The gospel of the kingdom is concerned with saving the oppressed AND the oppressor. WHAT GOSPEL ARE YOU PREACHING? p

by David Ferguson Bible teacher, Pastor of Restoration Family Church Int.