In the
Defense of the Truth of the Gospel
Every
true church and every true believer, who confesses that the Lord Jesus Christ
is the only Savior of the world, has a solemn responsibility of defending the
gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul says in Philippians 1:17 that
he is “set for the defense of the gospel.” The reason for Paul to defend the
gospel is that many people in his days preached the gospel for “selfish
ambitions” or for personal glory (verse 16). They have preached Christ with
envy and strife (verse 15). Many in Paul’s day preached a different gospel
which Paul explains in Galatians 1-2. Their gospel was a man-centered gospel,
which Paul exposed with much concern in his heart, and, at the same time, with
much passion and conviction. He, then in Galatians 3-4, presents the true
gospel, which is Christ-centered. In doing this, Paul’s burden for the
Galatians was that “the truth of the gospel might continue with you” (Galatians
2:5).
The False Gospel of the
Judaizers
The
Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:6-7 explains the false gospel which he had to
oppose and expose, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called
you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but
there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” The
Apostle was exposing the Judaizers, who were from the Jewish religious
community, wanting to give more prominence to the legalistic observance of the
Mosaic Law, rather than fulfilling the spiritual requirement of the Law of God.
Paul was accusing them of “perverting the gospel of God.” The word “pervert”
means “to turn about, to change into an opposite character.” The word could
mean “to reverse.” In other words, the Judaizers had reversed the gospel in
such a way that they have taken it back to a work-centered righteousness rather
than Christ-centered righteousness. They taught that the Mosaic Law was binding
upon Christians and that justification must be attained by the works of the law
as well, and not by believing in Jesus alone. For them, the Law and the gospel
went together, “Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot
be saved” (Acts 15:1). Therefore, they urged the Gentile Christians to be
circumcised, without which, according to them, they would not be saved.
Paul
calls this, not another gospel (another of a same kind), but a different kind
of gospel altogether. In other words, Paul is saying that Galatians are turning
to a different gospel, which is not to be put alongside of the gospel that has
been already preached by him (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The aforementioned gospel
is not really a gospel at all.
The False Gospel of
Carnal Christianity Today
Like
Paul’s day, the true gospel is under vicious attack today. There is a
man-centered gospel, a false gospel of carnal Christianity, rampant today in
the Christian churches. This gospel says you can be a Christian, a disciple of
the Lord Jesus Christ, without surrendering your life absolutely to Him.
According to this gospel, what you need to do is just to pray a prayer of
confession of your sins, led by an evangelist or preacher, and receive the Lord
Jesus Christ into your heart, and thereafter, live a life without bowing
yourself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This false gospel has deceived many
souls today.
The
false gospel of carnal Christianity is characterized by the following things:
(1)
Easy-believism, no understanding about the cost of Christian discipleship. This
is the attitude of saying, “a little sin won’t hurt, I am just a ‘carnal
Christian’, and besides, doesn’t grace cover it all?” On the contrary, true
Christian discipleship requires a surrendered life, following the steps of the
Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:21; Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus says in Matthew 7:21,
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
(2)
Power Evangelism or Power Preaching Today. It is focusing on the
power manifestation of the Holy Spirit externally! The church need to be rather
concentrating on Conversion and Transformation of human lives
internally. Therefore, it is not Power Evangelism, but Personal Evangelism,
that is, bringing people’s lives under the Power of the Gospel that their lives
will be converted, and transformed.
(3)
Health and wealth gospel, no willingness to suffer for Christ. This false
gospel says that Jesus will forgive all your sins, heal all your diseases,
bless and prosper you materially, and solve all your earthly problems etc.
Contrary to this, Jesus reminded His disciples, “In the world ye shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Similarly, the
Apostle Paul reminds the Philippian church, “For unto you it is given in the
behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake”
(Philippians 1:29).
(4)
Man-centered gospel, no glory to God. According to this, there is some goodness
in man that enables him to choose that which is right and to come to God for
salvation. On the other hand, the Bible says, “all have sinned, and come short
of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Man’s will is depraved, completely under
the bondage of sin, and he has no ability whatsoever to choose that which is
good (Romans 3:9-18). Again, the Bible says in Genesis 6:5, “And GOD saw that
the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
(5)
Mere traditionalism, no willingness to obey the Word of God. It says traditional
rituals and practices will open the door of heaven for a man if he faithfully
practices them. In contrast, Jesus says of the traditionalists Pharisees and
Scribes, “except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the
scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven”
(Matthew 5:19). And
(6)
Moral decay, no repentance, no holiness, just following the lust of the flesh,
lust of the eye, and the pride of life. Quite opposite, Jesus says, “Be ye
therefore perfect, even as your heavenly Father which is in heaven is perfect”
(Matthew 5:48).
The
Bible clearly warns concerning the false gospel of carnal Christianity, saying
that walking in the way of the false gospel is the way of destruction. Jesus
warns in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the
gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be
which go in thereat: Because strait is
the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that
find it.” The false gospel of the carnal Christianity leads one into the broad
way, which leads to destruction. The path of the true gospel is the narrow way,
and it leads to life everlasting. The Apostle Paul warns the Galatian
Christians, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh
reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life
everlasting” (Galatians 6:7-8).
Sadly,
the vast majority of Christendom today is deceived by this false gospel. What
is preached from most of the pulpits today is the justification in Christ,
without giving adequate emphasis on holy living. As a result, the hearers of
this one-sided gospel are left in the dark as to God’s requirement of the
necessity of a holy life. And, consequently, God’s grace has been turned into
lasciviousness.
The True Gospel of
Christ
The
true gospel is Christ-centered, which proclaims that by grace through faith we
are saved. The Apostle Paul explains this in Galatians 2:16, “that a man is not
justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ.” This
gospel concerns the eternal Son of God who became incarnate in order to become
the propitiation for the sin of the whole world (1 John 2:2). His finished work
at Calvary enables God to be just and the justifier of him who believes in
Christ (Romans 3:26). This is the true gospel that brings salvation to a
condemned sinner (Romans 3:23-24; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 3:4-7).
According
to the true gospel of Christ, three things are central to Christ’s redemptive
(or salvific) work: (1) His perfect life on earth, through which, He fulfilled
all the legal requirements of the Law. As He obeyed the Law fully (only He
could do it as He was the Son of God), He obtained the righteousness that was
required by the Law. As a result, a sinner, who believes in the Lord Jesus
Christ, is clothed (or imputed, means, “placed in the account of”) with the
righteousness of Christ. The Bible says, “Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to everyone that believeth” (Romans 10:4); it adds in Galatians
4:4-5, “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son,
made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law,
that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Paul explains this truth
beautifully in Romans 5:18-19, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment
came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free
gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were
made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” By
Adam’s disobedience (“by the offense of one”) all humanity became sinners, as
it was imputed on them, and at the same time, by the perfect obedience of
Christ (“by the obedience of one”) many became righteous. (2) His death on the
Cross, by which, Christ took upon Himself the punishment of sin which a sinner
committed. As Christ shed His blood on the Cross, God the Father was pleased,
and His wrath was appeased, and remission, that is, forgiveness of sin was
granted to the sinner. Paul explains this in Galatians 3:13, “Christ hath
redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is
written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” The author of Hebrews
adds, “and without shedding of blood is no remission. . . So Christ was once
offered to bear the sins of many” (Hebrews 9:22, 28). And (3) His resurrection
from the dead, by which, eternal life was guaranteed to the forgiven sinner. Paul
says in 1 Corinthians 15, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye
are yet in your sins. . . . But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become
the firstfruits of them that slept” (verses 17, 20).
At
the same time, it is also equally important to know that the gospel journey
does not end here, but it only begins here. We, those who are forgiven by the
sure mercies of God, need to respond to God with a repentant, holy, life. The
Christ-centered gospel calls upon a sinner to repent and live a life that is
acceptable and pleasing to God. True repentance is not just feeling sorry for
one’s sin, but having felt the burden of sin, forsaking it, and turning to God.
Paul explains this in 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, “Now I rejoice, not that ye were
made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a
godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow
worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the
world worketh death.” In other words, when a person truly repents and turns to
God, he will experience a desire from within, by the power of the indwelling
Spirit of God, to live a holy life. The Apostle Peter explains this truth to
the Jews in Acts 3:19, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins
may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence
of the Lord.”
A
truly repented life turns from the self as the center of his life, from doing
his own will, and from walking his self-chosen way. A truly repented life would
withstand the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life.
Turning to God means loving God with his whole heart, making Him the center of
his life, and doing His blessed will in his life. When he draws near to God
with a repentant heart, he would receive the power of the Holy Spirit, which
would enable him to deny himself daily and live a life that is God-centered. The
Spirit of the Lord would help him to walk in the narrow way and skip the broad
way.
The Reformers and the
Defense of the Gospel
Interestingly,
the Protestant Reformers of the 16th Century were committed to the
re-discovery and preservation of the pure gospel of Christ against the false
gospel of the Catholic establishment. The gospel of the Catholic Church was a
humanistic or work-ritualistic-centric gospel. Their gospel centered around
penance, confessions, and Eucharist, rather than the once-for-all, vicarious,
redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Reformers, on the other hand,
understood the true gospel as Christ-centric. For them, the gospel was all
about the glory of God because it was God who reached out to man in his totally
depraved condition of utter hopelessness. Since God took the initiative to save
man from the ruin of sin, they wanted to live a life of complete gratitude to
God, giving all glory to God, for His unmerited favor toward them.
The
heart of the Reformed faith, commonly known as the Five Points of Calvinism, is
nothing but a succinct, precise, presentation of the true gospel of Christ and
His Apostles. The first point, Total Depravity, explains that man by his very
own nature is totally incapable of doing any good that would merit him
salvation. In fact, this is the first principle of the gospel message. The
Apostle Paul explains in Ephesians 2:1 the real spiritual condition of a
sinner, prior to the salvation experience, “dead in trespasses and sins.” A
sinner is spiritually dead in the sense that “the sinner is lacking all good,
any ability for good, and both the power and the inclination to effect a change
in this condition” (also read Romans 3:1-23; 8:7-8). The second point,
Unconditional Election, explains that a sinner comes to believe in God because
God, in eternity past, out of His absolute sovereignty, and unmerited favor
toward him, chose him to believe in Him. Jesus said this truth very clearly to
the crowd gathered around Him that “no man can come unto me, except it were
given unto him of my Father” (John 6:65). This truth is clearly stated again in
Acts 13:48, “and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” A sinner
is saved by God’s grace alone. Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:9, “Who hath saved us,
and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according
to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the
world began” (also read Ephesians 2:8-10; John 15:16).
The
third point of Calvinism, Limited Atonement, explains that the effect of
Christ’s death on the Cross, though sufficient for all people, is efficient
only to the elect of God. Although God has offered His gospel to the whole
world (John 3:16), in effect, the Bible says, only those whom God has chosen,
before the foundation of the world, to salvation, will be saved. Jesus Himself
taught this about His own death in John 10:11, saying, “I am the good shepherd:
the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” In John 10:15 He adds, “As
the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for
the sheep.” A little later, in the same chapter, Jesus specifically states that
some men are not included among “the sheep,” “But ye believe not, because ye
are not of my sheep, as I said unto you” (John 10:26). This means, the
Scripture clearly teaches that the effectiveness of the gospel is not for all
men, but only to those whom God wills, and those who respond to Him accordingly,
through believing in Him. The fourth point, Irresistible Grace, means when God,
according to His sovereign election, effectually calls a sinner to bestow upon
him the gracious salvation, that person can never resist God’s gracious offer
of salvation. Since the sinner is “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians
2:1), the Apostle Paul goes on to teach irresistible grace in Ephesians 2:4-5, “But
God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when
we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are
saved).” Jesus explains this aspect of the gospel in John 6:37, “All that the
Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise
cast out.” Salvation takes place in a believing sinner as it takes place by the
sovereign drawing-power of God, as Jesus explains in John 6:44, “No man can
come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him
up at the last day.”
Finally,
the fifth point, Perseverance of Saints, explains that God preserves His elect
person as he responds to His salvation offer, and enabling him to persevere
till the end, enduring temptation, fight the battle of faith, and obtain the
final victory in the Day of the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s grace and strength,
His sovereign and providential protection and guidance, will always be
available for a saved sinner to live a holy and victorious life. Again, the
Lord Jesus Christ explains this glorious aspect of the gospel, saying in John
10:27-30, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I
give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man
pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all;
and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are
one.” David J Engelsma, a Reformed theologian, explains this point, “It is
impossible that anyone could pluck a saint out of God’s hand, that is, cause a
regenerated child to fall away to perdition. The reason is not the strength of
the saints, but the power of the grace of God (“my Father . . . is greater than
all”). These words of Jesus make plain that the comforting truth of
perseverance depends upon election and irresistible grace. The saints
persevere, because the Father gave them
to Jesus and because Jesus gives
(not: tries to give, but: gives) them
eternal life.”
In
summary, a sinner’s response to this gospel of salvation is seeking God in
faith, and when he does it, God reaches out unto him, according to His
sovereign will toward him. Since the gospel work begins with God’s eternal
plan, as it is God-centered, a sinner can only respond to God in faith as the
Lord has willed for him. A summary of this glorious truth of the gospel is
presented by the Apostle in Romans 8:28-34, “And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according
to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he
called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against
us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall
he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the
charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It
is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right
hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
Truly,
this is the pure and the complete gospel of salvation which Christ and His
Apostles succinctly taught, the Protestant Reformers earnestly defended, and
the 21st Century Christians providentially inherited through the
faithful preservation of the truth of God. This is the biblical gospel both the
Old and the New Testaments teach. This is the Christ-centered, and God-honoring,
gospel that need to be earnestly contended for today (Jude 3).
The Six-fold Gospel
Mission of the Church Today
A
true, Bible-believing, church of the Lord Jesus Christ must be committed to,
and propelled by, a six-fold gospel mission plan, namely,
1.
Understand
the gospel clearly: The message of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is what
Paul has mentioned in Romans 1:1-4, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to
be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore
by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our
Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared
to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the
resurrection from the dead”, which Paul explains later in Romans 1:17, “For
therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is
written, The just shall live by faith.”
2.
Experience
its power effectively: This is being influenced by the message of the gospel.
Paul says in Romans 1:16 that the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto
salvation. It converts sinners into saints, liberating them from the power of
darkness, the devil’s empowerment, by giving them a new life in the Lord Jesus
Christ.
3.
Live
a life, exemplary to the gospel: This is the application of the message, which
would result in a transformed life, a life of worship and holiness. The Apostle
Paul explains this in Rom 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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.”
4.
Heralders
of the gospel: This is sharing the message of the gospel as the Lord called His
disciples to do through His great commission, mentioned in Matthew 28:18-20,
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the
end of the world. Amen.”
5.
Safeguarding
the gospel: This is defending the message of the gospel from all the false
teachings as Paul has reminded the church in Galatia in Galatians 1:8-9, “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. 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.”
6.
Pass
on the gospel torch: This is preserving the purity of the gospel message from
one generation to another as Paul has reminded Timothy to do so in 2 Timothy
2:1-2, “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit
thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
Conclusion
The
battle today is not between personalities, or denominations, but between the
truth and the error—the true and the false gospel. This has been the battle all
through the centuries of the Christian Church. When the battle wages on, God
raises, time after time, faithful men to faithfully declare and defend the
gospel truth. As the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ solemnly remembers the 500th
anniversary of the Protestant Reformation of the 16th Century
(1517-2017), our earnest desire is to be part of the great company of men and
women who stood in the past for the defense of the true gospel of Christ. That
was Paul’s desire for the Philippian Christians as he wrote, “Only let your
conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and
see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in
one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”
(Philippians 1:27). When we do it, Paul says, we are partakers of his grace,
“in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my
grace” (Philippians 1:7).
Our
mission through the Reformation Now
publications ministry is the gospel mission—faithfully proclaiming and
defending the truth of the gospel. We are thankful to the Lord that He has
enabled us to do this for the last five years, as we began this initiative in
2013. This year, 2017, we go one more step further in accomplishing the gospel
mission through the establishment of a Reformed Bible College in Bangalore,
namely, India Reformed Biblical Seminary (IRBS). The motto of IRBS is “striving
together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27). This is an initiative
of Covenant Reformed Church (Covenant BPC), Bangalore, together with number of
Christian brethren in Bangalore, who have the same Reformed convictions. We
thank the Lord for Anugraha Reformed Presbyterian Fellowship, Bangalore,
(Pastored by Rev Venkatesh Gopalakrishnan), and Calvary Reformed Church,
Bangalore, (Pastored by Rev Lazrus M), partnering with us in the establishment
of IRBS. We look forward to Rev John Rakshith Prabhakar, who recently graduated
from Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS, USA), and many other local Pastors,
joining us for the same gospel cause. Our desire is to set up a teaching
faculty, mainly involved of Indians, with Reformed convictions, so that, we,
the Indians, can do lot more in the proclamation and defense of the truth of the
gospel in our land. May the Lord help us!
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