The true gospel of grace alone

I just finished preaching through the book of Galatians. I feel compelled to proclaim the same warning Paul gave in Galatians 1:8 — "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.”

Paul then immediately repeats the same warning. When the Bible mentions something twice in a row then it is to be considered of utmost importance. The first question to ask is “what is the gospel?”  As stated in 1 Corinthians 15 it is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus as the final sacrifice to pay for the sins of all mankind. 

So the second question to ask is “what is the other gospel that some preach that Paul is warning against?” It is the gospel of works. It is the false teaching that salvation is by grace plus your good works. The true gospel of the Bible is the gospel of grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone, plus or minus nothing. Jesus did it all when he took our sins upon himself and died on the cross. It is arrogant and prideful to think that we could do anything to add to what Christ did. Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe. 

Doing good deeds, taking communion or the eucharist, going to church, keeping sacraments, have absolutely nothing to do with salvation. Any good deed, religious ritual, or ceremony added to the gospel destroys the gospel and turns it into a false gospel. You cant get any clearer as to the truth that salvation is by grace alone than in Ephesians 2:8 — "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [a]this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast." NASB 

There is no mixing of works and grace. Salvation is a free gift from God paid by His Son Jesus who died to save us. We simply repent of our sins and trust Jesus to save us. Paul is saying in Galatians 1:8 that any church leader or individual who preaches that works or religion are a part of salvation is to be accursed. Tough words but Paul says this out of love because the consequences of believing in a false gospel is to end up in an eternal hell separated from God. 

If you belong to a church whose leader preaches salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone then take a minute this Sunday to thank him for staying true to the gospel that Paul preaches and that Jesus provided!  If you are being taught a false gospel in your current church than find a church that teaches the true gospel that Paul taught and that Jesus gave His life for.

Titus 3:4 — "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit."

Pastor Jerry Favor is pastor at Victory Church, 602 Gun Club Road, Sagle. He can be reached at vbcsagle.com.