False Gospels
Broken Cisterns that hold no water ..
Beware of False Gospels —
Jesus warns us all, “Beware of False Prophets .. you will know them by their fruits.” — Matthew 7:15-20
There are many false prophets and several false gospels. These captivate the hearts of many gullible souls. I have always been amazed (myself included) how gullible christians can be. The entire Bible warns us to beware of false prophets.
I won’t list all of the False Gospels — or false solutions to humanity’s problems — but here are a few to consider. Any serious follower of Jesus Christ has probably encountered each of these along his/her spiritual journey.
False Gospel of “other gods” — including My Self.
This is the original false gospel: if you eat the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil your eyes will be opened and you will like God, being able to choose good and evil yourself.
We encounter this false gospel often: I can choose for myself what I want to do or what I enjoy. I am able to discern good and evil and choose the good.
There are of course many other “gods” to choose from: technology has become our modern god now in AI. AI has all the answers at our fingertips. Money or wealth is another false god (Mammon). Free Sex is another god (Baal, Ashtoreth).
Many believe in Aliens from other realms or planets. I’ve always been amazed that some will believe in Aliens and yet reject the God of the Bible?
Many believe in other systems, faiths, religions. There is wisdom in any culture that has lasted over the centuries. All claiming to be a good way or even the best way.
“I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.” — Jesus John 14:6
False Gospel of My Own “Works”
This is the gospel proclaimed by many religions and even many christian churches. I know because I grew up in one. We were indoctrinated with the idea that “our church” had “the Truth” and was the only one that would saved. This was based upon a few basic practices which were cherry picked from the New Testament. We were drilled that we were the only ones doing these correctly. The assumption was that we were doing these correctly and these are the important doctrines/practices. Several of these were mere rituals.
Romans and Galatians expose the fallacy of this false gospel. Jesus confronts it every time He deals with the Pharisees. This is the clear message of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. If I think for a minute that I am saving myself by keeping the important commandments — I need to read, study and meditate for a year on the Sermon on the Mount. This is the Law we will be judged by IF we rely upon our own works to save us. Knock yourself out!
The Law is the Target. We have all sinned and missed the Target! Hundreds, even thousands of times in our lives. The Sermon on the Mount is the LAW explained to us. It is not the Solution, it is the Target. The Solution is the Real, the True Gospel of Jesus Christ revealed through out the Bible.
False Gospel of the Unconditional Love of God or Libertinism
Every lie has some truth in it or we would not be intrigued by it. God is Love. God loves every human. But that does not mean every human will be saved or find eternal life. This comes at us — “once saved always saved” — “the grace of God covers all your sins” — “you don’t have to do anything, just repeat after me the sinner’s prayer.” God loves you, but salvation is not unconditional.
“Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” — Jesus Matthew 4:17
“Not everyone that says ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but whoever DOES the will of My Father who is in heaven.” Jesus — Matthew 7:21
This is the gospel Paul confronted in Corinth. God’s grace covers it all. Let’s just tolerate and accept everyone and everything. God loves you just like you are, honey.
Jesus and the Bible teach us consistently that Faith without repentance and obedience is dead or worthless. Without good fruit in my life, I am deceiving myself.
“Every branch in Me that does not bear (good) fruit, will be taken away (cut off and thrown into the fire)” — Jesus John 15:2
False Gospel of Rituals
This is where many of us christians are deceived. We emphasize Sunday morning worship — which is often nothing but a Ritual. Offering a “Sacrifice” to God. Some of us believe that we have to do the “ritual” in exactly the right way. Others will not make it because their “ritual” is wrong.
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD. Behold to obey is better than sacrifice and and to heed than to offer the fat of rams.” Samuel to King Saul — 1 Samuel 15:22
“You do not (primarily) desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite heart — These O God, You will not despise.” — David Psalm 51:16-17
God wants our hearts. “Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. This is the first and greatest commandment. And a second command always goes with it, Love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commands the entire Law of God rests.” — Jesus Matthew 22:37-40
False Gospel of Doctrinal Correctness
Many of us Protestants have been deceived by this false gospel. This belief has splintered the Church of Jesus Christ into hundreds, or thousands of bickering, self-righteous hypocrites. Somehow, someway Jesus deeply prays for and expects all of His followers to be ONE! Which means all of our divisions are suspect in some way.
“I do not pray for these (My closest 12 disciples) alone, but also for all those who will believe in Me through their word; that they ALL MAY BE ONE, as You Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one is US, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” — Jesus John 17:20-21
“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” — Paul 1 Corinthians 1:10
“I .. beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which your were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
“There is One Body and One Spirit, just as you were called in One Hope of your calling; One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism; One God and Father of us all, who above all, and through all, and in you all.” — Paul Ephesians 4:1-6
False Gospel of Politics and Elections
We look to our US government or the right politician to be our Messiah, our Savior! We believe we can save ourselves by electing the right candidates. We believe if we try harder and support and vote for the right candidates — this will save us. Democrats believe their party can save us. Republicans believe their party can save us. How’s that working out?
We still have Wars and Rumors of Wars.
We still have Runaway Debt and Money Printing.
We still have Abortions on demand.
We still have Racial, Immigrant, Wealth divisions.
We still have family breakdown.
Only the True Gospel of Christ and His Kingdom Will Save Us!
That will be my next post.
Thank you for reading this far. Would love to hear your thoughts and comments below.
Are there Other False Gospels you have encountered?