The Gospel of Jesus was and is the good news of God’s plan of redemption, and the fullness of His love for man in Jesus. I am blessed to have lived in the grace of that Gospel since age 18, for some 54 years now. Everyone said my conversion in the Jesus Movement in 1971 was a fad and I would get over it. All these years later I still “ain’t” over it.
I have had the joy of being on the cutting edge of several “movements” in the Spirit and His purpose since that Jesus Movement time. I have seen several Iterations, if you will, of the church. From hippies and young people in informal gatherings, to very traditional platform to spectator structures, to organic/home church forms. But, I have found Jesus central in most all these structures ,ways of gathering, someplace. I have also found, unfortunately, division in most at some point, and generally over some non essential.
I do not plan to wax eloquent here today on focusing on what divides. However, I do think it needful to comprehend that our adversary to the faith is, I think, often less concerned about keeping the truly lost in darkness, than he is keeping believers confused and divided. I read a quotation recently, and I am sorry I can’t remember who from, that said something along the lines of; The devil doesn’t fight religion, but instead focuses on producing a counterfeit Christianity. One that is so close to the real thing that Christians won’t speak out against it for fear. (Again, sorry I can’t give attribution and quote it directly; I must take better note of what I read online when scrolling away).
It is a powerful ploy. Because in doing so the adversary does not have to refute the facts/truth directly; he must just counterfeit them well enough to pass for the real thing in order to keep those that are in darkness there, and those of us who have been drawn to the light arguing and dividing from one another in the shadow.
I read stuff all the time from my more “liberal” and my “theatre” friends that are indictments (generally from those professing to be believers) that indict the church over not being loving or inclusive enough. These indictments are, again generally, made regarding some scripture or quote of Jesus that is ripped out of context, and leaning heavily on the understanding of man’s concept of “fairness” or “right” or the ever present being “judgmental” I will not go into specific examples, because if you are reading this I am sure you understand what I am talking about.
With that background, I do want to simply make the point that it is possible for the true gospel to be bent into what Paul called a “different” or “another” gospel, which is not actually another, but simply a perversion of the true one. Obviously this kind of perversion is as old as the true Gospel itself
[Galatians 1:6-10 NASB95] 6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is [really] not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
The apostle makes it clear there can be a distortion or perversion of that which is the truth or the true gospel. And, his judgement of those that push it upon believers that have heard the truth is quite harsh: “he is to be accursed!” So strong is his thought and assessment of this that he says it twice in close succession.
Right after this in the letter to the believers in the area known as Galatia Paul defends the gospel of his preaching: [Galatians 1:11-12 NASB95] 11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but [I received it] through a revelation of Jesus Christ. This revelation of Jesus is important to comprehend for we do have the promise of such revelation regarding truth
He goes on reciting his experience as a defender of Judaism to the point of persecuting the church, and then turning to preach the very gospel he once persecuted. It is most probable he did this because the perversion/distortion he was dealing with was from Judaizers trying to put Gentile believers back under the law.
I can’t say here that the specific perversion matters not, but I can say the specific perversion is not my point here. The point is that such perversion/distortion existed, and there are still such purveyors of distortion now. So, we must be on guard in the Spirit to comprehend the truth. We have a promise that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth.
[John 16:12-15 NASB95] 12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear [them] now. 13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose [it] to you. 15 “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose [it] to you.
In his letter to the church at Corinth the apostle again speaks of his fear of believers being deceived by preaching of “another Jesus”, promoting reception of “a different spirit”, or accepting “a different gospel”.
[2 Corinthians 11:2-4 NASB95] 2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you [as] a pure virgin. 3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity [of devotion] to Christ. 4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear [this] beautifully.
He speaks later of the purveyors of such as false apostles wearing disguises:
[2Co 11:13-15 NASB95] 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
Again, I do not share this here to instill fear, but to encourage you to be aware that distortion and perversion exist. (I had two purveyors of such on my doorstep this morning, inviting me to a Resurrection season service at a local JW meeting hall). And, even outside of obvious so-called “Christian” cults, the counterfeits abound in our post Christian culture. Counterfeits that embrace easy believism without a call to discipleship and living under Lordship, a socially acceptable gospel outside of the cross, and others pressing legalism and works outside of grace by faith.
Let us note from 2 Corinthians 11 above that the counterfeit is designed to 3 …. as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity [of devotion] to Christ. Literally here the words “of devotion to” are added for understanding. The KJV renders it from the simplicity {that is in} Christ. Simply put the true gospel is Jesus centric.
It is focused on Who He is and What He has done. Do not be duped by another. And do not be ashamed of the truth of the true gospel focused on Him crucified and risen again. It is the power of God unto salvation to all that believe. Receive no counterfeits.:
[Romans 1:16-17 NASB95] 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it [the] righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS [man] SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”