Article #31 - A different Jesus / A Different Gospel?

A different Jesus / A Different Gospel?

Paul wrote this in 2 Corinthians 11:3,4: "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preached another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." What did Paul mean by a different Jesus or a different Gospel? For that matter, how is your Jesus and the Gospel that you believe in? The Bible tells us that there is only one Jesus and He has the only Gospel that saves. Yet we see many religious systems, often times with the members not really too concerned about it. They may simply say, "I'm happy for you," but staying this religion or that religion in which they practice. Paul stated clearly that, "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." (Galatians 1:8) Matthew agrees with this Gospel idea in Matthew 7:13,14, where he says, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

The whole point is to say that there are many ways in which one may believe. However, there is only one way to believe correctly as to gain an eternity in Heaven. Over and over again, the Bible is clear about how one gets to Heaven by simply telling us, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Jesus told the crowd that inquired about what they should do, that "... This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6:29) Many of these denominations make the claim to be the "One True Church," yet we see differently when comparing these religions with God's holy Bible. Sadly, their situation is similar to those that John mentioned in 1 John 1:6 when he said, "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth."

"Where are they wrong?"- might be your first impressions, especially if you've never seen a problem before about these religions. Or perhaps you feel that Aunt Betty is going to Heaven, and she's been a lifetime member of this particular denomination all of her life. To this I would simply ask you if she has ever sinned in her life, and just how does she plan to have her sinned dealt with? When was she born again? If by some possibility your answers include sacramental confession, baptism, and priestly confessions, then I doubt that she knows the Biblical gospel of how Jesus took the sins of the world upon Himself to cleanse us at Calvary nearly 2000 years ago.Aunt Betty, like most people of this denomination, probably thinks that she will gain her salvation if she does enough good works, goes to daily mass, and possibly says some rosaries and thinks that it would be helpful to get some indulgences to obtain her salvation. These are just a few of the many ways in which she was taught that would help her merit Heaven, but the Bible tells us differently. The Bible tells us that Jesus took care of our sins in Isaiah 53:5 - " he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed," and that it was a one time sacrifice, paying for our sins totally, completely.

But this is the problem. If you were to ask Aunt Betty if she believed in the finished work of Christ, she undoubtingly would say that she certainly does. But why, then, is she partaking in so many practices that shows us differently? Much of the practices in which she is so religiously captivated with, already mentioned above, aren't Biblical. Such things as transubstantiation (which is another false Christ) aren't of God, nor is the practice of praying to Mary. The answer is that they simply have a different Jesus. If this denomination knew the Biblical Jesus, its members wouldn't be praying to Mary for anything as Hebrews 4:16 tells us, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Jesus is there for her, as well, as all of us. What He did is a gift acquired by faith alone, just as the Bible tells us, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." (Romans 3:28) To the street person, because Aunt Betty is so nice and religious, it appears that she is Heaven bound, but to the true Christian this niceness means very little and she still is in need of Salvation because of God's Word - "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

In closing, Gospel Light Ministries encourages you readers to examine yourselves and your faith. What are you trusting to get into Heaven? Are you following the real Jesus and the real Gospel? If you are trusting anything but the finished work done at Calvary, you have a different Jesus.