The Gospel is that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead showing his victory over sin and death and guaranteeing our salvation and justification before God.
Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord *Shall* be saved.
For by grace are ye saved, through faith… it is the gift of God.
Not of works lest any man should boast.
For God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ.
You cannot *add* or take away anything from this…. God’s ordained prescription for salvation in this age.
You cannot deny Christ’s Sacrifice and resurrection and be saved.
You cant say “I’m a good person.. I dont deserve to go to hell”…. for there is none Righteous no not one, For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.
If you deny that it was necessary for Christ to shed his blood for you…. you reject the gift of God.
You cannot *Add* to the finished work of Christ as preached to us by the Apostle of the Gospel of Grace St Paul.
False preachers of the Law say that a person must keep the Law to be saved…. ie they add *works* as necessary for salvation.
They prove they dont understand the Gospel of grace at all!
They fail to ‘Rightly divide’ the word of truth and so twist the scriptures to say what they want…. by mis-applying the old testament, the Kingdom preaching of Christ, St Peter, St James, etc…. and corrupt the Gospel of grace into Slavery under the Mosaic Law.
They add things like baptism, like keeping the Sabbath etc as necessary for salvation.
These ‘additions tend to enslave those whom they deceive into obeying *The Church hierarchy*….. ensnare them in tithing etc.
This is to deny the Liberating Power of the Cross, which sets us free from the Law.
If all this seems confusing….. Satan Laughs and spreads his wings…. He created this confusion to keep you from the Simple truth.
That Christ has paid the penalty of our sins and that if we simply ask God to save us in Christ’s name…. we will be saved indeed… no ifs…. no But’s….
Christ came to save us Sinners.
No matter who you are or how evil you have been, or what your personal struggles and vices are.…. Christ s Blood can save you!
Rejoice in the Love and GRACE of God our Heavenly Father.
Tim Wikiriwhi
Protestant King James Bible believer Dispensationalist Libertarian Independent.
Read more from Tim….
Hell is for the Self Righteous, Heaven is for Sinners.
Christ’s work of Salvation on the Cross… The Great Equaliser.
The Christian Fellowship is a voluntary private society, not a theocratic political movement.
The hope which is In Christ. Terrible grief shall be turned into great joy!
Your account of salvation seems pretty consistent with Acts 2 where it says: “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Then Peter said to them, “Pray a prayer accepting Jesus as your Saviour; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Oh, wait, no, he didn’t say that at all, did he?! What he actually said was “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
You mean you actually have to change what you do in your life and participate in a sacrament?! OMG a gospel of “works”!!!
Forgive my sarcasm. I agree with a good 80% of what you wrote. Salvation is indeed a gift of grace dependent only on God’s mercy, not on our efforts. But to say that Christians have to do “nothing” in response is contradicted by all except the most liberal and libertine of “Christians”. All who believe in Christ’s saving acts must act in response – they must repent – ie. stop doing the things they were doing previously, and be baptised – an action which takes on Christ’s death and resurection for the remission of sins.
As we continue to live our lives, God demands our humility and our vigilance. Our faith must be ongoing. Our relationship with God is not a legal contract or a legal status before Him – a “get out clause” if you will, but is indeed a relationship, and no relationship can be maintained without effort on both sides. It is correct to say that the works of the law do not save us, but incorrect to say that the law has been abolished. The law stands, because Christ is the Law, the Logos. “On the contrary, we establish the law…” (Romans 3:31) Sin is still sin, and if we are not making every effort to rid our lives of the sickness of sin, then our faith is not in Christ, the Law, but in something else. So this is why the sacraments are necessary – not because works save us but because our faith must work with God’s mercy in the Way He has given us. We must confess our sins (1 John 1:9) and imbibe the body and blood of Christ (John 6:53-58). And because sin is a constant danger to us, and through our faith we abhor sin, we stand vigil against it through prayer and fasting, so that the Holy Spirit will work in us and defeat the enemy.
Paul’s Gospel and the mystery
Acts 2:36-39
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost….(Believe plus do!)
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Acts 15:1-2
1 And certain men which came down from Judæa taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved….( “works”)
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
Acts 15:4-6
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed,….(What did they believe! “That Christ was crucified, buried and rose again on the third day” 1 Corinthian 15. 1-4 plus works)
saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders (“ James, Cephas, and John”) came together for to “consider” of this matter…. (They did not know!!)
Galatians 2:1-3
1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be “circumcised:”
Galatians 2:7-8
7 But “contrariwise,” when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
Romans 1:1-6
1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
(”1 Corinthian 15 1-4”)
5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:……..(”Plus nothing Just believe”)
Galatians 1:4-5
4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Galatians 1:6-12
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 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.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is “not after man.”
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the “revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Romans 16:25-26
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel,(”1 Corinthian 15 1-4”) and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, “which was kept secret since the world began,”
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
1 Timothy 2:4
4 Who will have all men to be saved,..( “1 Corinthians 1-4”)… and to come unto the knowledge of the truth….(“ mystery “)
Ephesians 1:13
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation:.. (“1 Corinthians 1-4”)… in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 1:15-18
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,..(“ mystery“)
Ephesians 6:19-20
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Since it is the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, this article may be relevant: http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/68270.htm
Blair,
When you *Add* repentance as a necessary condition of the gospel you show that you have failed to appreciate the uniqueness of St Pauls Gospel of the grace of God, from what had been preached before him by Christ and post-pentecost by St Peter.
Under these earlier ministries and their preaching of *the kingdom gospel* to the Jews both repentance and Baptism were necessary.
They had to prove themselves fit to enter the millennial kingdom of David, and to ‘endure unto the end’ to be saved…. all doctrines of faith Plus works. All very different from what St Paul came preaching.
His Salvation was 100% grace and is a pattern of Salvation in this age.
He preached the Cross as a Revelation of a great mystery… an awesome thing to rejoice in.
Prior to this Peter preached the Cross in early acts as an act of murder and rebellion against God.
Thus we must take extreme care not to add such conditions to the gospel of grace.
How the Christian ‘ought’ to walk after he becomes saved is a totally separate matter from salvation, which is an act of Pure Grace via faith.
universal offer of salvation by grace doesn’t mean everyone will accept it.if you preach that you have no role then you are not preaching. those that accept the offer of salvation by grace must first repent. without repentance and obedience to the voice that is calling you then you cannot access the grace. repentance is a necessity the more reason paul says preserve your body and that grace isn’t a license to sin. we don’t catch it when james was talking about work and faith. what do you understand by work out your salvation in fear and trembling. obedience to the teaching of CHRIST is actually work in itself.
I’m not sure how you can believe in a God who constantly contradicts Himself. Either both Peter and Paul preached through the Spirit of God, or neither did. Can’t be one or the other. And the quote of Paul I made, along with much of the rest of his epistles, completely contradicts your “gospel”, a unique, multi-dispensationalist system unknown in two thousand years of theology. I put it to you that it is unlikely that you are the vessel of the Holy Spirit finally revealed after two thousand years of spiritual darkness!
And you state that How the Christian ‘ought’ to walk after he becomes saved is a totally separate matter from salvation, which is an act of Pure Grace via faith. I’m not sure you understand what salvation is. It is nothing less than the renewal of soul and body. If one simply becomes “saved” by a decision of God – ie. God changing His mind about you, yet you remain unchanged, then is it you or God who is just? It is effectively saying that God was previously unjust, yet now is just because He has “saved” you by His change of mind, and your subsequent acts are mere gratitude towards His change of mind. But it is obvious to me that this does not reflect the reality of God, or any sort of gospel at all, since the sickness of sin still exists within you – God is now merely “ignoring” what He previously felt wrathful vengeance against. And in saying so, we are effectively justifying sin, not God. We are saying that we like our sin and we lack the faith to be rid of it, so God must change His mind from an attitude of wrath to an attitude of indifference.
Whatever “dispensation” you follow, you would do better to follow one where God is Love, God does not change, God sent His Son to conquer sin and death so that WE might change and be transfigured to His likeness. God’s work and God’s mission to us is the same, yesterday, today and forever, and requires us to change and respond to – yes – this act of pure grace. Because it really is a much better, much more hopeful, and much more glorious gospel! 😉
Acts 13:38-41
38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;
41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
” The Apostle Paul is speaking to the Jews but”…2 Timothy 3:16
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Timothy 2:14-16
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
2 Corinthians 5:14-18
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
🙂