Distorted Gospel: Origins and Redemption
Revealing the Divine Origins and Consequences of Distorting the Gospel
Only One True Gospel
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. Galatians 1:11–12.
The Divine Origin of the Gospel
The gospel, God’s plan for our salvation, comes directly from Jesus Christ. No human created it, but God revealed it. From the beginning, God took the first step in the Garden of Eden to restore the broken relationship between Himself and humanity. He came to rescue Adam and Eve from their disobedience, showing the profound importance of the gospel.
The apostle Paul, a key figure in the early Christian movement, played a crucial role in affirming the gospel’s divine origin. He clarified that Jesus Christ directly revealed the gospel he preached to him, and it did not stem from any human teaching. This resolute stance underscores the gospel’s divine origin, distinguishing it from human ideas or religions.
Contrasting the Gospel with Human Philosophies
The gospel stands in stark contrast to human inventions or philosophies. From the promise of a coming offspring who would defeat evil in Genesis to the Messiah Jesus, the gospel has always been God’s plan and provision. It is a beacon of truth amidst the complexities of human thought.
Paul fiercely defended the divine origin of the true gospel against any corruption by human traditions or requirements. There is only one valid gospel - the one revealed by God through Jesus Christ and the Scriptures. Any “different gospel” that adds human works or rules perverts the truth.
The Power of the True Gospel
The gospel, a divine revelation, is a message and a transformative power for salvation. It is not a product of human wisdom or effort, but a result of God’s grace and Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. It surpasses the need to obey laws, rituals, or human philosophies. The true gospel exposes our inherent inability to achieve righteousness through our efforts and directs us solely to God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus. It is this transformative power that makes the gospel unique and exciting.
Adding rules perverts the gospel.
Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. Galatians 5:2.
The Danger of Adding Human Requirements
The Jews added requirements like circumcision or keeping the law. Today, individuals have imposed many other rules to follow in order to be saved, stay saved, or show their salvation. However, this is not what the Scriptures teach. Adding rules perverts the gospel, making it no longer “good news.”
Paul bluntly states that if the Galatians accept circumcision as a requirement, Christ will be of no benefit to them. This powerfully illustrates how adding man-made rules and requirements perverts and nullifies the true gospel.
The Judaizers and Circumcision
During Paul’s time, a group known as the Judaizers imposed their beliefs on Gentile believers. They required these new converts to undergo circumcision and follow the Mosaic law “to be truly saved.” Paul refutes this, stating that it makes Christ’s work of no effect. This requirement obligated them to keep the entire law perfectly for justification, which no one can accomplish.
The Perversion of Adding Human Works
Adding any rule, ritual, or human work as a requirement for salvation perverts the gospel to its core. The “good news” is that salvation is by grace, through faith in Christ alone. Our works or rule-keeping do not earn God’s free gift.
Many still try to add extra requirements today—specific prayers, baptisms, confessions, acts of penance, or obedience to man-made rules and traditions. But this negates the sufficiency of Christ’s finished work and cheapens God’s grace.
The True Gospel of Grace
The gospel is the power of God for salvation, not a human moral improvement program. Rules can never take away sin or make one righteous before God. Only the perfect life, death, and resurrection of Jesus can justify us by faith.
Any ‘gospel’ that adds human works, rituals, or rules to God’s free gift of grace is not the true gospel. A false, perverted message that adds human works, rituals, or rules to God’s free gift of grace nullifies the truth and must be rejected.
The true gospel exalts God’s grace and Christ’s all-sufficient work alone as the basis of salvation. Adding rules perverts this gospel of grace into a performance-based “gospel” of human effort, which is not “good news.”
The Law was temporary.
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Galatians 3:19.
The Temporary Purpose of the Law
God never intended for the law to be permanent. Its purpose was to prepare for and point toward the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
The law was like a teacher or guardian who took us to Christ to be rescued. We were unaware that we had lost ourselves in our sins and needed help. God used the law to show us our need and lead us to Jesus.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Galatians 3:24-25
The Law as a Temporary Guardian
Paul uses the metaphor of the law as a “tutor” or guardian who supervised and led the way to Christ. But once Christ came and revealed faith in Him, believers no longer needed to be under the supervision or guardianship of the law. Christ fulfilled its temporary purpose.
The law was a guardian or disciplinarian for God’s people until the promised Messiah arrived. But after His coming and the revelation of justification by faith, the believer’s relationship with the law changed from being under its watchful supervision to being free in Christ.
The Law’s Role in Preparing for Christ
After sin entered the world, God introduced the law temporarily and never intended it to be His permanent way of relating to humanity.
The law exposed sin, made people conscious of their inability to keep it perfectly, and revealed their need for a Savior.
Once faith in Christ came, the believer’s relationship to the law changed drastically. Believers are no longer under the strict supervision and condemnation of the law but are free in Christ, justified by faith in Him rather than works of the law.
The Law’s Temporary Purpose Fulfilled
The law was temporary, added until the permanent solution of Christ arrived. It was like a harsh governess strictly watching over children until the son and heir reached maturity. But now that faith in the Son has come, believers are born sons and are no longer subject to the law’s oversight.
The law prepared the way for and pointed to Christ. But now that Christ has come, Christ has fulfilled the temporary purpose of the law. Believers have found glorious freedom in Jesus Christ, which has liberated them from the burden of the law.
Absolutely the gospel of grace plus something else is not the gospel at all, praise to gracias Lord
Hello Guillermo! What a blessing has been reading your article! We met in Querétaro, when you were studying Spanish. Now, I’m serving our Lord in Spain. Looking forward to read your next article. Lord bless you!