What The Gospel Is Not

1st Corinthians 9:16, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”

The Apostle Paul could not take any credit for preaching the Gospel of Christ. His duty as a minister of Christ was to faithfully share the Gospel with lost sinners.

As a child of God, it is God the Father’s will that all His children be ambassadors for Christ. 2nd Corinthians 5:20, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

As a child of Light, we represent the Lord in a foreign land. We have been solemnly entrusted with the Gospel of Christ as saints. 1st Thessalonians 2:4, “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”

Every Christian is commanded to share the glorious Gospel of Christ; but if not, “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel!” (1st Corinthians 9:16b).

What is NOT the Gospel?
To understand the “Gospel,” one needs to understand what is “NOT the Gospel.” This is a list of what is NOT the Gospel. None of these bulleted items listed below will save you. NEVER!

1. The Gospel is NOT going to the confessional and confessing your sins.
2. The Gospel is NOT saying a “sinner’s prayer.”
3. The Gospel is NOT asking Jesus into your heart.
4. The Gospel is NOT surrendering your life to Jesus.
5. The Gospel is NOT “stop sinning.”
6. The Gospel is NOT feeling sorry for your sin.
7. The Gospel is NOT turning from your sin.
8. The Gospel is NOT walking to the front of the church and giving your life to Jesus.
9. The Gospel is NOT getting water baptized (infants or adults).
10. The Gospel is NOT being a part of a certain church organization or religion.
11. The Gospel is NOT giving money and buying your way into Heaven.
12. The Gospel is NOT making Jesus “King and Lord” of your life.
13. The Gospel is NOT following the Ten Commandments.
14. The Gospel is NOT trying to “outweigh the good over the bad” in one’s life.
15. The Gospel is NOT “just believe in God” or a “higher power.”
16. The Gospel is NOT submitting oneself to Jesus.
17. The Gospel is NOT getting confirmed or going through confirmation.
18. The Gospel is NOT partaking in communion.
19. The Gospel is NOT praying to Mary and other idols.
20. The Gospel is NOT praying to Allah, Buddha, or any other false gods.
21. The Gospel is NOT faith plus works.
22. The Gospel is NOT trusting and serving Jesus (mixing faith plus works).

Maybe you thought one of those items listed above was part of the Gospel, but you have just seen for yourself what is “NOT the Gospel.” The Bible is very clear what the Gospel is and it is the glorious Gospel that saves.

The Gospel is NOT the life of Christ. The GOSPEL is Jesus Christ’s death payment for sin, burial and resurrection. 1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the GOSPEL which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also YE ARE SAVED, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” [emphasis added]

As a child of God you have a choice:

1. Share the Gospel, support the Gospel, attend a Gospel preaching church, pray for the Gospel.
2. Share not the Gospel, support not the Gospel, attend not a Gospel preaching, pray not for the Gospel.

Fight the good fight of “faith” and lay hold of “eternal life.” “Profess” the finished redemptive work of Christ at Calvary with others. “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses” (1st Timothy 6:12).

Let us live each day as saints looking for the Blessed Hope, and until Jesus returns share the Gospel with others daily.

THE GOSPEL THAT SAVES
The “Gospel” that “saves” is to “believe” that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for all your sins, was buried, and bodily resurrected from the dead three days later:

1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the GOSPEL which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also YE ARE SAVED, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” [emphasis added]

How is a person saved? The Bible says, “And they said, BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be SAVED, and thy house” (Acts 16:31 KJV). Notice what it does not say. It does not say “turn from sin,” “pick up your cross,” “make Jesus Lord of your life,” “walk an aisle,” “water baptized,” “speak in tongues,” “follow the 10 Commandments,” et cetera. The inspired Holy Bible reads, “BELIEVE” on Jesus Christ and thou shalt be “SAVED.”

If you have never been born-again dear friend, then I invite you right now to do so. Friend, you and I are guilty sinners in the sight of a holy God (Romans 3:10-23). There is a penalty for our sin, which the Bible warns is death (Romans 6:23), including a second death in the everlasting Lake of Fire, Hell (Revelation 21:8). But God in His love sent His only begotten (biological Son), Jesus, into the world to die on a cruel and lonely cross to pay our debt of sin. JESUS PAID IT ALL!!!

Anyone who acknowledges these facts, receiving Christ's sacrifice on the cross as full payment for their sins, believing that He was buried but then raised up three days later from the dead is saved. Simply believe that Jesus did it all for you! Remember, you cannot save yourself! That is why Jesus had to come into the world to die on a cross. Christ died in our place. Many religious people have been tricked by the Devil to think that they can get to Heaven by doing good works. The inspired Word of God teaches that no one can be saved by works, that is, by keeping the law. Galatians 2:21, “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

The true Gospel that saves is the “GOOD NEWS” of Jesus' death, burial and physical resurrection. These THREE elements comprise the Gospel of free grace. Tragically, you'll hear something very different in over 95% of churches today, everything from an additional requirement to “turn from your sins” to water baptism (i.e., the heresy of “Baptismal Regeneration,” or as it is also called in theology, “Sacramental Salvation”). It is sad and very wrong that most churches today have taken the liberty to embellish and in so doing, corrupt “the simplicity that is in Christ” (2nd Corinthians 11:3b).