The True Gospel by David Nelson

Posted: 2008-03-01 21:02:53

The True Gospel    by David Nelson       2-29-08

Introduction: Below is a statement on some of the essential parts of the message of salvation often missing in sermons. This is not a doctrinal statement or a full treatise on every aspect of salvation or the gospel. We believe it is important for people to know these things in addition to other important aspects of the Gospel that are more widely accepted and taught. We are trying to guard against people sitting in church thinking that they are saved because they have “said a prayer,” and a pastor or a “spiritual leader” told them they were saved when, in fact, they have not been born again and are still going to church in an unsaved condition. After reading the points below we hope that you will agree that these thoughts and verses are an important part of the True Gospel. 

----God takes the initiative to draw us to Himself. “No one comes to the Father unless the Holy Spirit draws him.”

----No one can make himself born again. “Unless you be born again you cannot see the kingdom of God.” No one by the will of man can make himself born again, only God makes you born again as He wills.”

----We must believe in Jesus Christ of Nazareth and have Him in our life. “There is no other name except His name (Jesus) by which we must be saved.” “If we have Jesus in us we have eternal life.” “He who has not the Spirit of Christ has not life.”

----You may speak to God in prayer often but what is of key importance is when He starts speaking to you about sin and righteousness. If you listen, take heed, and change into His likeness (at whatever speed is not the key factor but what is key is continuing to change in your character and actions to become more like Christ) then you are a real “son” (child) of God. If you do not grow in righteousness and holiness (because of His continuing discipline of you, and His showing you His ways, and the changes that He makes in your life as you submit to His leadings and promptings), if this is not happening, then you are not a real “son” (child) of God but a bastard (pretend) son. “Without holiness no one will see God.”

----The true gospel Jesus presented can be summed up in this verse, “If anyone (man, woman, boy or girl) wants to be my disciple, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me.” (If you don’t do this you are not my disciple, pupil, or follower). Jesus did the will of the Father in His life. “I do only those things that please Him. I do nothing on my own authority but only what I see the Father do, that I do.” One of the hardest things Jesus ever had to do, though He knew ahead of time it was the Father’s will, was go to the cross. Why do I say it was one of the hardest things? He did all that the Father sent Him to do through His whole life without complaining but one night in the garden of Gethsemane He faced the greatest crisis of His life. When He prayed, “If it be possible Father let this cup (of the cross) pass from me (that I would not have to drink it). Never the less thy will be done not my will (which was to have it pass). Three times He said the same words to the Father in great agony of soul. Finally He got the victory and said, OK, I will do it, not my will, I will do your will, Father. And Jesus requires no less of His followers, deny your own will every day, take up your own cross every day, and follow Me (in whatever I may require of you).

----This is the true gospel. It has to do with us receiving Christ and believing in Him (His cross, His righteousness, His blood, His forgiveness, His life in us). He will change us by making us born again. We will become new creatures that are drawn toward righteousness and away from sin. As we lose sin more and more, we are becoming more holy, more like Him. It is a narrow path that leads to life eternal. We have that eternal life in us with Jesus in us. If we should stray from the path, He’ll give us strength and show us the way back. If we stay in relationship with Him till the end we will grow spiritually, become more like Him and “if we endure to the end we will be saved.” “We are nearer now to our salvation than when we first believed.”

----This is not the gospel that we hear very often, but it is because we have become familiar with an “easier gospel” and we thought it was an acceptable gospel, but it is missing some of the essential parts mentioned above.  

----Why is this Gospel such “Good News?” Because Jesus is the door to God’s world. He is the door to know God. “I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” I give you the free gift of eternal life, “And this is eternal life, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” 

(Quotes above are verses from the Bible, available upon request)