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Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. |
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. |
Hhhmmm, this sounds serious!
What is meant by Another Gospel?
When we step back from the narrow religious definition of salvation - to be saved from hell fire damnation - and consider its broader meaning, we begin to understand what Another Gospel is.
Salvation is really defined by the teachings of Christ Jesus. Very simply He came → to change the way people think about their Creator, → to deliver them from the guilt and penalty of sin, → to make it possible for them to be Born Again and → to enable them to be filled with His Holy Spirit.
When we look at what Jesus did day to day we see Him healing the sick, casting out devils and generally meeting the needs of the people.
All the while He was teaching them about His true nature and the principles of His kingdom.
In His death He contractually settled all of our debts and made it possible for all of us to be healed.
In His resurrection He defeated the last enemy - death - so that we too can experience Eternal Life and Abundant Life.
In His promise of the Holy Spirit He brought us into full relationship with Himself.
In that relationship we have access by faith to all spiritual blessings in heavenly places which includes prosperity and good health.
From this brief summary, we see that Christ has met all of humanity's needs. There is not one deficiency in the His plan which we call the Gospel. And all the benefits of His plan come to us by Grace Through Faith In Christ Jesus.
So, Another Gospel would be one which addresses any of man's needs outside of Christ.
"Woah! Are you saying that all of man's systems are part of AnotherGospel?"
Yes. But, I am not attributing maliciousness to any person who has created, worked in or supported those systems.
I am simply stating facts based on the Word of the Lord which communicates the perfection and finality of the Gospel.
In defense of those who have created, worked in or supported systems in conflict with the Gospel, they did so because of unbelief which is man's natural state.
They did not believe, and those with whome, for whom and to whom they served in these other systems did not believe.
So, they did the best they could in unbelief.
But that is exactly where humanity was before Christ came. They were doing the best they could in ignorance and unbelief and perished in that state.
Paul is very emphatic in denouncing Another Gospel because he understood that it undermined everything that Christ had appropriated. It undermined the Lord's Plan.
He knew that its foundation was unbelief and that without faith it was impossible to please the Lord or receive anything from the Lord.
Where are we today?
Even the church operates in unbelief, denying the Word (in fact), denying the power of the Holy Spirit and essentially living under Another Gospel.
The power of Satan to deceive is manifested all over the world today. Lying is accepted, self-deceit is encouraged, immorality is rewarded with wealth and honor.
This has happened because we have accepted Another Gospel. Paul cursed with the authority of the Lord those who would espouse Another Gospel because of the corruption that would come from it.
It is time for us to repent:
The "first works" is believing the Gospel of the kingdom of Christ Jesus and following Christ in obedience as a disciple preaching the Gospel to every creature. It is forsaking the Old Covenant and taking into our minds and hearts the New Covenant.
Yes, this is serious stuff.
Judaism and Christianity - are they compatible?
The short answer is 'no'.
Judaism is based on the Abrahamic Covenant and the Mosaic Covenant. It is largely a traditition based false religion. I say false, because Christ Jesus has instituted a new, better covenant based on Him being the Truth and implicitly saying that the earlier covenants are not Truth.
Rather than taking my word for it, listen to what James and Paul had to say about Judaism (or at least the covenants it was based on). 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. |
For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. |
But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. |
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. |
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me), to do your will, O Lord.  |
Then said he, Lo, I come to do your will, O Lord. He takes away the first, that he may establish the second.  |
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. |
Whereof the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, |
Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, |
And having an high priest over the house of the Lord;  |
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching. |
But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions; |
Partly, while you were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, while you became companions of them that were so used. |
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. |
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. |
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