How to identify a false gospel, and a true gospel.

[judgement]

THE gospel of salvation is not sacrements is not liturgy, is not the worship of the eucharist, is not water baptism, not by infant baptism, is not doing good works not by speaking in tongues is not penance, is not the mass, is not by worshiping mary, and is not praying the rosary and is not by a priest saying the last rites prayer, or by purgatory, not by keeping the law(10 commandments) not by keeping the sabbath, not by church membership, not by fasting, and your not saved by tithing giving 10% to the church) or confession of your sins to a priest. Or the person teaching that you can still live a wicked life which means live in sin and die that way, and still enter the kingdom of GOD is a false gospel.





If any religion or church or person teaches or adds anything to the gospel of our lord and saviour Jesus Christ to be saved, they and all who believe in them and trust in them according to the apostle paul they are accursed.(damned).
The true gospel, acts 20:21} testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. acts 26:20} I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must turn from their sins and turn to God -- and prove they have changed by the good things they do. 1 corinthians 15:1-6} Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. ephes 1:12-13} that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. ephes 1:17} that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. galatians 1:11-12} But I make known to you, 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 it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. romans 1:16} For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 1 corinthians 1:18} For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. i hope this helps the body of christ God bless eveveryone.

 

[agua]

1Co 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.


Amen!

 

[jari]

Or the person teaching that you can still live a wicked life which means live in sin and die that way, and still enter the kingdom of GOD is a false gospel.

On the other hand teaching that you must stop sinning inorder to enter heaven is yet another false Gospel.
Gospel means "good news" and by believing in Jesus you will be saved.

 

[just-a-servant]

THE gospel of salvation is not sacrements is not liturgy. . . .

Okay, you've identified what the Catholic church teaches in your first paragraph. You've quoted some scripture in your second paragraph. Neither paragraph tells us how to identify a false gospel or a true gospel. I'd like for you to revisit the title of your post, study the scripture, and come up with a way to do it. You can, if you try. Don't be one of those guys who just blah blah's about whatever is on their mind and doesn't think through the subject they are writing about. Think like Jesus, there was purpose to everything he said.

just-a-servant

 

[judgement]

another gospel

On the other hand teaching that you must stop sinning inorder to enter heaven is yet another false Gospel.
Gospel means "good news" and by believing in Jesus you will be saved.

Yes jari that would yet be another gospel thanks for sharing that, belief starts in the heart and from there as the person learns and grows in the lord Jesus, then the fruits of repentance would be turning from those things God calls sins, meaning walking in the flesh and not in the spirit. God bless you :shade:

 

[judgement]

another gospel

Okay, you've identified what the Catholic church teaches in your first paragraph. You've quoted some scripture in your second paragraph. Neither paragraph tells us how to identify a false gospel or a true gospel. I'd like for you to revisit the title of your post, study the scripture, and come up with a way to do it. You can, if you try. Don't be one of those guys who just blah blah's about whatever is on their mind and doesn't think through the subject they are writing about. Think like Jesus, there was purpose to everything he said.

just-a-servant

The true gospel, acts 20:21} testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. acts 26:20} I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must turn from their sins and turn to God -- and prove they have changed by the good things they do. 1 corinthians 15:1-6} Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. Anything that adds to this the gospel is false, even a child could understand the simple gospel. Jesus said this And Jesus answering said unto them,
Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because
they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all
likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and
slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in
Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish” (Luke 13:2-5).
“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall
be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine
just persons, which need no repentance. … Likewise, I say unto you, there is
joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke
15:7, 10).
I believe what Jesus said this is the gospel simple and easy to understand, repentance toward God and faith in the lord Jesus Christ, anything that adds to that is another gospel God bless

 

[RJ]

You indentify the gospel by reading the word of God.

I agree with judgements thread:

1 corinthians 15:1-6} Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.

He died for the forgivess of our sins and was resurrected which gives us life for eternity.....this is the gospel.

 

[just-a-servant]

I wish you'd consider using some punctuation and sentence structure; It would make reading your post a whole lot easier. I've separated it some for that purpose. Please don't get me wrong, you just want to make it understandable to as many as you can; leaving out punctuation and making long multi-subject sentences is terribly confusing.

The true gospel, acts 20:21} testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

acts 26:20} I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must turn from their sins and turn to God -- and prove they have changed by the good things they do.

1 corinthians 15:1-6} Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.

Anything that adds to this the gospel is false, even a child could understand the simple gospel.

Jesus said this
And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in
Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:2-5).

“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. … Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:7, 10).

I believe what Jesus said this is the gospel simple and easy to understand, repentance toward God and faith in the lord Jesus Christ, anything that adds to that is another gospel God bless

I guess what I wrote wasn't clear. What you have quoted in scripture is not at issue. What is at issue is the title of your thread. You have made a statement implying that your article will tell us how to identify a true gospel from a false one. You have yet to do that in your posting.

Acts 20:21 describes what Paul DID, not HOW to identify a true or false gospel.
Acts 26:20 again tells what Paul DID, not HOW to identify a true or false gospel.
1 Cor 15:1-6 tells what the gospel IS, not HOW to identify a true or false gospel.
Luke 13:2-5 says WHAT to do (repent) and WHAT happens (perish) if you do not. It doesn't tell HOW to identify a true or false gospel.
Luke 15: 7, 10 These passages say there will be great joy in heaven when a sinner repents. They don't tell HOW to identify a true or false gospel.

Do you see what I mean? You're post purports to lay out a methodology of determining the difference between true and false gospels. The Mormons use a simple method: If you feel it in your "bosom" that it's true, then it must be true. At least with their method there is a way to tell. You have given no understanding to us in your article on how to do this.

Your only statement coming anywhere close to your purpose is "Anything that adds to this the gospel is false."

Why is this such an issue, you ask? There is coming a day, soon, where you who study and seek His wisdom will be called upon to shepherd His flocks until He returns. You will HAVE to be sure of what you say. You will HAVE to know how to tell the difference and if you don't, you may end up leading the flock over the cliff.

If I seemed harsh, I am sorry. Please forgive me.

IMHO,
just-a-servant

 

[RJ]

I guess what I wrote wasn't clear. What you have quoted in scripture is not at issue. What is at issue is the title of your thread. You have made a statement implying that your article will tell us how to identify a true gospel from a false one. You have yet to do that in your posting.

Acts 20:21 describes what Paul DID, not HOW to identify a true or false gospel.
Acts 26:20 again tells what Paul DID, not HOW to identify a true or false gospel.
1 Cor 15:1-6 tells what the gospel IS, not HOW to identify a true or false gospel.
Luke 13:2-5 says WHAT to do (repent) and WHAT happens (perish) if you do not. It doesn't tell HOW to identify a true or false gospel.
Luke 15: 7, 10 These passages say there will be great joy in heaven when a sinner repents. They don't tell HOW to identify a true or false gospel.

Do you see what I mean? You're post purports to lay out a methodology of determining the difference between true and false gospels. The Mormons use a simple method: If you feel it in your "bosom" that it's true, then it must be true. At least with their method there is a way to tell. You have given no understanding to us in your article on how to do this.

Your only statement coming anywhere close to your purpose is "Anything that adds to this the gospel is false."

Why is this such an issue, you ask? There is coming a day, soon, where you who study and seek His wisdom will be called upon to shepherd His flocks until He returns. You will HAVE to be sure of what you say. You will HAVE to know how to tell the difference and if you don't, you may end up leading the flock over the cliff.

If I seemed harsh, I am sorry. Please forgive me.

IMHO,
just-a-servant

You said:
1 Cor 15:1-6 tells what the gospel IS, not HOW to identify a true or false gospel.

Im sorry but, what you said above makes absolutely no sense.

In 1 COR 15, Paul tells us what the gospel is and, anything to the contrary is false. There is no other gospel!!!

 

[just-a-servant]

You said:
1 Cor 15:1-6 tells what the gospel IS, not HOW to identify a true or false gospel.

Im sorry but, what you said above makes absolutely no sense.

In 1 COR 15, Paul tells us what the gospel is and, anything to the contrary is false. There is no other gospel!!!

RJ,

Thanks for helping to make my point.

What I said makes perfect sense when all you do is quote scripture telling what the gospel is. That's the "true" part of the equation. What is the "false" part? There must be a "HOW" method to tell the difference.

You said, "In 1 COR 15, Paul tells us what the gospel is and, anything to the contrary is false. There is no other gospel!!!" That's only partly true. You must also say, "Anything added to the Gospel he taught, is also false." You must consider things added or contrary to and things subtracted from or different than the Gospel Paul taught also as false. It's just not a simple quotation of scripture telling us what the Gospel IS that will satisfy our being able to tell the good news from the bad. You must use all of scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit to determine good and bad teaching.

My original post in this thread was meant to get "judgement" to use the scripture and the Holy Spirit to come to these conclusions and re-write his post to answer the question of HOW it is done.

just-a-servant

 

[RJ]

RJ,

Thanks for helping to make my point.

What I said makes perfect sense when all you do is quote scripture telling what the gospel is. That's the "true" part of the equation. What is the "false" part? There must be a "HOW" method to tell the difference.

You said, "In 1 COR 15, Paul tells us what the gospel is and, anything to the contrary is false. There is no other gospel!!!" That's only partly true. You must also say, "Anything added to the Gospel he taught, is also false." You must consider things added or contrary to and things subtracted from or different than the Gospel Paul taught also as false. It's just not a simple quotation of scripture telling us what the Gospel IS that will satisfy our being able to tell the good news from the bad. You must use all of scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit to determine good and bad teaching.

My original post in this thread was meant to get "judgement" to use the scripture and the Holy Spirit to come to these conclusions and re-write his post to answer the question of HOW it is done.

just-a-servant

Ok, Im through....you still make no sense to me.

The anwer is any thing other that the gospel that Paul taught and that is exactly what he said.

To me your discussion is nothing but hyperbole... It's pretty simple actually but, hey, that is my fault because I am just a simple person.

Godls blessings...I'm finished!

 

[just-a-servant]

Ok, Im through....you still make no sense to me.

The anwer is any thing other that the gospel that Paul taught and that is exactly what he said.

To me your discussion is nothing but hyperbole... It's pretty simple actually but, hey, that is my fault because I am just a simple person.

Godls blessings...I'm finished!

Consider this scripture:

Matt 13:10-17
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
"Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand."
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

You must be able to tell the difference between the false gospel and the true one - and you must be able to do so with more than a feeling. You must use prayer, scripture, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If that is not clear enough for you, I don't know what is.

The OP's original statement was, "How to identify a false gospel, and a true gospel." He was very adept at telling us what the true gospel was/is; He completely failed to tell us how to tell the difference between the good and the false. That is what I asked him to do.

I'm not speaking in parables, I'm speaking plain. I agree the only true Gospel is like the one taught by Paul. I don't see any disagreement with that issue.

hyperbole: A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect; an extravagant statement, as in I could sleep for a year or this book weighs a ton.
I don't believe I used any hyperbole in my posts. Hyperbole has no place when speaking of the scriptures.

Now I'm done also,
just-a-servant

 

[james g]

If any religion or church or person teaches or adds anything to the gospel of our lord and saviour Jesus Christ to be saved, they and all who believe in them and trust in them according to the apostle paul they are accursed.(damned).
The true gospel, acts 20:21} testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. acts 26:20} I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must turn from their sins and turn to God -- and prove they have changed by the good things they do.



The question is, "What does the Bible MEAN by 'repent,' and how should it be presented to the lost?" The important thing is NOT what repentance has COME to mean down through the centuries since Christ's time, but rather - and this is of utmost importance - what the word did mean WHEN IT WAS SPOKEN by Christ, Paul, Peter, and others in Biblical times.

If you look up "repent" or "repentance" in a modern dictionary you will read definitions like the following: "regret; to feel sorry for sin and seek forgiveness; to turn from sin." Based on these definitions, preachers have been going about earnestly trying to get men to quit their sinning, or at least to work up a genuine sorrow for sin. But is this the divinely appointed task of Christians - to get men to change their ways

No! This kind of preaching often leads to a form of self-righteousness and self-reformation - not to salvation. Does a sinner have to turn from or give up his sins to be saved? COULD he do this? Did you? Have you yet given up all sinning?

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us"
I John 1:8
It is sadly apparent that our modern-day misuse of the word "repent" has done a great deal of harm and has confused multitudes. Because of the wrong use of the word "repent" men have gotten the idea that a Christian is one who doesn't smoke, drink, curse, go to dances or movies, or do anything that is wrong or immoral.
This negativism has blinded people to the fact that a Christian is "one of Christ's" - one who, through faith, has received Christ as his Saviour. Once a person has Christ and His power in his life, THEN his behavior often changes. But this change is the RESULT of being a child of God; it is not the CAUSE.
Being good is not the way to become a child of God. Remember
Ephesians 2:8,9,
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Because preachers have allowed themselves to propagate this error in the teaching of repentance, our churches are full of "good," self - righteous, moral people who are certain they are "Christians," yet when they are asked if they are going to heaven, the best answer they can give is, "I hope so."
They do not have the assurance that comes from knowing Christ as their Saviour. Instead, they are plagued by the uncertainty that comes from trying to be good enough by their own efforts to gain heaven.
All too often this idea that "I must be good to gain God's favor" comes from Bible-believing men who preach that one must either "turn from sin or burn in hell." How sad and tragic it is that so much damage can be caused by the misuse of one word.

Notice that the Bible states here that we are to proclaim repentance TOWARD GOD. There is nothing here about turning from sin. Paul is giving his last words to these be loved Ephesian elders whom he had led to Christ. They had formerly been heathen idol worshipers Acts 19 and very immoral. However, Paul's preaching to them was that they needed to change their thinking about God.

Think what an impact on these sinful heathen the truth of Romans 5:8 would have had: "But God commendeth (displayed) His love toward us, in that, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, Christ died for us."
Remember, the word "gospel" means "good news." Do you think it would have been good news to them if Paul had said, "While we were trying to give up our sins, God tried to love us a little bit," or, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for our past sins, and now if we stop all our present sins and never commit any sins in the future, God will love us"?
No! These sinners needed to know that the God of the universe loved them even as they were. They needed the assurance that God was not requiring of them the impossible - that they stop sinning - but simply that they would trust Christ and His payment for their sins and thus receive salvation.
Later Scripture makes it clear that God certainly did work in their lives to bring about changes, but this took place only AFTER they were already saved Eph. 2:10.

 

[just-a-servant]

(I deleted most of your comments here just to save space, If you wish to read what I'm referencing in it's entirety, read the above post by james g)
The question is, "What does the Bible MEAN by 'repent,' and how should it be presented to the lost?" The important thing is NOT what repentance has COME to mean down through the centuries since Christ's time, but rather - and this is of utmost importance - what the word did mean WHEN IT WAS SPOKEN by Christ, Paul, Peter, and others in Biblical times.

If you look up "repent" or "repentance" in a modern dictionary you will read definitions like the following: "regret; to feel sorry for sin and seek forgiveness; to turn from sin." Based on these definitions, preachers have been going about earnestly trying to get men to quit their sinning, or at least to work up a genuine sorrow for sin. But is this the divinely appointed task of Christians - to get men to change their ways. . . . . . .

Well written, sir. A point I may add is even when you repent and even after you're saved, the sin nature remains. You can't get rid of it. As Jesus said in John 3, "You must be born again." However, that is another topic.

IMHO,
just-a-servant

 

[Coconut]

Notice that the Bible states here that we are to proclaim repentance TOWARD GOD. There is nothing here about turning from sin. Paul is giving his last words to these be loved Ephesian elders whom he had led to Christ. They had formerly been heathen idol worshipers and very immoral. However, Paul's preaching to them was that they needed to change their thinking about God.

@ james g I really like your message, and have been trying for the past hour to agree with all of it...

BUT ...I am having a problem with the above statement, and how you are defining "Repentance"...and also who the audience of your text was...

I am guessing you are referring here to Act 20:21?

Act 20:17 From Miletus he sent messengers to Ephesus to ask the elders of the church to meet with him.
Act 20:18 When they came to him, he told them, "You know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day I set foot in Asia.
Act 20:19 I served the Lord with all humility, with tears, and with trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews.
Act 20:20 I never shrank from telling you anything that would help you nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house.
Act 20:21 I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus.

Yes, we see in context Paul was indeed talking to the Ephesian elders here, however Paul`s "I testified" statement was not "preaching to them" as you say.

So I have a question for you in regards to your statement.

"Notice that the Bible states here that we are to proclaim repentance TOWARD GOD. There is nothing here about turning from sin."

Laying aside all our dictionaries...

Does God define repentance toward Himself as "turning away from sin"?

Or

Does God define repentance toward Himself as "a change of thinking about Himself" ?

For reference- Ezekiel says:

Ezekiel 18:30 "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways," says the Lord GOD. "Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord GOD "Therefore turn and n live!"

God never once says "if you will just change what you think of Me you will live!"

However, Paul's preaching to them was that they needed to change their thinking about God.

k...let all the Jews and Greeks (and gentiles) THINK God is good.

Is that it?

Act 20:21 I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance to God AND faith in our Lord Jesus.

How is it you are using Pauls words to testify of faith in the Lord Jesus...a faith that requires only good thoughts....and no actual turning around and walking toward Christ instead of walking away from Him?

 

[tulsa 2011]

I Corinthians 15 and I Corinthians 15: 1-6 were mentioned on this thread. Paul goes on beyond verse 6 with his discussion of Christ's death and resurrection, by which we are saved, in fact on to verse 14. He also mentions grace and the resurrection of believers from the dead, which is where he is heading in this chapter.

But are the doctrines Paul talks about in I Corinthians 15: 1-14 to be taken as Paul's definition of the Gospel? And are these few doctrines to be taken to be the "essentials" and other doctrines "non-essential?"

If this is the case, this narrow definition of the Gospel would allow for most of the man-made theologies popular among Christians since the 19th century acceptable as the Gospel, because they appear not to violate the "essentials."

Compare, for example, Galatians 1: 6-8, where Paul warns against preaching another Gospel other than the one he preached. He says in Galatians 5: 2-5, "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith."

And in Acts 15: 1-2, 5: "And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
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....But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses."

There is nothing in Paul's opening discussion of the death and resurrection of Christ in I Corinthians 15: 1-14 about not having to keep the ceremonial law of Moses in order to be saved.

Hebrews 10: 9, "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second." "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect." Hebrews 10: 1

"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." Colossians 2: 16-17

These three scriptures are not part of the Gospel, and are
non-essential"?

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God....Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3: 3,7.

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12: 2

These two scriptures on the transformation necessary for the natural man to be saved are not in I Corinthians 15: 1-14.

What about these scriptures, are these too non-essentials? ""And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them
also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be
one fold and one shepherd." What about Paul's saying the same thing in Romans 12: 4, I Corinthians
10: 17, Galatians 3: 28, Ephesians 2: 14-16, and Ephesians 4: 4?

If these scriptures are not part of the Gospel and are "non-essentials," then a man made theology could get by claiming that God now has two peoples, not one.

Here is a big scripture that many might want to put in the "non-essential" category: "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." II Thessalonians 2: 10-12

This is getting long. The last three scriptures that many might want to put in the "non-essential" category as not being a part of the Gospel start at Romans 2: 23-24, 29-30, "Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God, For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written....For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."

The next one is Romans 9: 6-8, " Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."

The third scripture is Galatians 4: 24-26: "Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all."

These last three scriptures are all a part of Paul's revelation given to him by the risen Christ which he talks about in Acts 26: 15-18. Remember that this revelation was given to Paul after the Day of Pentecost and after the establishment of the Christian community in Jerusalem by Peter and others.

These texts too are not included in Paul's supposed definition of the Gospel because if they were and many other texts were to be included there, it would be so long it would just replicate much of the New Testament. And thats the point, a Christian cannot say there are "essential" and "non-essential" doctrines in scripture. The doctrine of Christ as in II John 1: 9-10 is really all the doctrines given by Christ and through his apostles.

 

[james1523]

But are the doctrines Paul talks about in I Corinthians 15:1-14 to be taken as Paul's definition of the Gospel? And are these few doctrines to be taken to be the "essentials" and other doctrines "non-essential?"

It's easier to classify doctrines into essential and non-essential if we consider that Christians were alive and well years before Paul wrote His letters as part of the Holy Scriptures we have today. How many of the believers couldn't read or understand Paul's letters? How many were languishing in Roman jails? Is understanding difference between grace and works really essential for them? Or maybe faith in Christ is only essential they need. It is a similar situation today. Have we heard of the 'global bible famine'? According to Bible league, 500 million Christians worldwide don't have a bible, 200 million don't have access to scripture they can understand, 793 million adults lack the literacy skills to even understand a bible. We have to ask ourself what is essential in this case. But to be fair I'm playing on the meaning of 'essential' here.. some refer to essential to growth.. yes most , if not all scripture, arguably, is important for spiritual growth.. but essential to salvation? - all scripture is not.

 

[tulsa 2011]

The dialectic is an argument against that which is fact, or absolute, and scripture is fact and absolute. But it is not a good idea to get into an argument with the dialectic. In this case the doctrine being defended is followed by many or most Christians - which does not mean that doctrine agrees with scripture. Scripture does not contradict itself. II Thessalonians 2: 10-12 is not contradicted by other New Testament scripture, but it can be contradicted by man made doctrine. Arguing against the dialectic can lure one into doing the dialectic.

 

[lawrenceb]

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Tim. chap. 3 KJB)

 

[tulsa 2011]

In the 19th century there were several main man made theologies, which
were the Jehovah's Witnesses. the Mormons, Christian Science, the
theology of John Darby, C.I. Scofield and Lewis S. Chafer and other
smaller cults. Some would list the Seventh Day Adventists in this
group. The Darby, Scofield and Chafter man made theology won out by
the mid 20th century or earlier.

These 19th century man made theologies, which differed in ways from
New Testament doctrines, were the beginning of and a big part of the
falling away of II Thessalonians 2: 3 and the levening of Luke 13: 21.

Luke 13: 21 on the leavening of the church says "It is like leaven,
which a woman took and hid
in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." The word till
indicates the leavening occurs over time.

Paul in I Corinthians 5: 6-7 warns that "Know ye not that a little
leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
7. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as
ye are unleavened."

He is warning that a little bit of false doctrine will grow and
contaminate the entire loaf, that is, a little bit of false doctrine
will increase over time and make an entire ministry impure in its
teachings.

"And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." Matthew 24: 11

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some
shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and
doctrines of devils;" I Timothy 4: 1

"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and
being deceived." II Timothy 3: 13.

A man made doctrine says that Christians should not study end time
Bible prophecy, and that it is one part of the many "non-essentials"
of scripture. This doctrine protects Christians from the knowledge
that there will be false doctrines taught to Christians and a falling
away from sound doctrine.

But there are some other man made doctrines - with man leaning to his
own understanding - that became part of the falling away of II
Thessalonins 2: 3 and the other prophecies on apostasy.

One of these man made doctrines is easy salvation. And the Alter Call
is one part of this easy salvation. Church history says that Charles
Finney (1792-1875) began the Alter Call, but before the 19th century -
some say it began in the 1820s - Christian churches did not use the
alter call to get people to come forward and testify that they had
accepted Christ at revival meetings in the evangelical denominations.

The Alter Call became a part of easy salvation because many people can
confuse the action of going in front of the congregation to confess
Christ with an inner transformation (John 3: 1-7, being born again,
and Romans 12: 2, the renewing of the mind by the Holy Spirit, and
having something of the mind of Christ, Philippians 3: 5). And, in
part because the act of coming to the pulpit to confess Christ is a
part of the group dynamic of the congregation, it can be just an
emotional experience and not a real transformation experience.

Then, there is the man made doctrine of "essential" and
"non-essential" New Testament doctrines. While this doctrine shows up
in the early 17th century in a statement by a German Lutheran,
Rupertus Meldenius, there probably was a much more recent beginning
for the doctrine. Rupertus Meldenius said "In necessariis unitas, in
dubitas libertas, in omnibus cartas." In English this says "In
essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things,
charity." Scripture calls for unity on all New Testament doctrines,
not liberty to accept or reject those which man has decided are the
"non-essentials."

"Till we come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the
Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fulness of Christ." Ephesians 4: 13

The Christian humanist mind, or the dialectic mind, can say Paul is
not talking here about unity of belief in the "non-essentials." But
there is no doctrine of "non-essentials" in scripture. The
implication of Paul's call to unity of the faith is that this is unity
on all New Testament doctrines.

The man made doctrine that there are "essential" and "non-essential"
New Testament doctrines works to protect those in doctrines which do
not agree with New Testament scriptures from fear that they may not be
saved, especially if they know and understand what Christ is saying in
Luke 13: 25-27, "I know ye not whence ye are; depart from me all ye
workers of iniquity." He is not saying he does not know then were
they are geographically, but where they have positioned themselves in
their beliefs, in their doctrines. If one just decides on his own,
without Biblical support , that Christ is not talking about the
"non-essential" doctrines he believes in, which are false, then the
doctrine of "essential" and "non-essential" teachings becomes a
defense mechanism, which can be deadly.