I’m going to step on a lot of toes here but not out of bitterness but rather out of love, so be forewarned. Many will not see heaven because they have believed a false gospel.
First of all, as believers in Christ, those who have read and studied His everlasting word know that not every verse or chapter carries a message that appears positive.
Why is that? To teach us! His love abounds and He wants us to know him through his words so that we may know Him better and live a holy life. Scripture abounds with examples of bad choices people have made, and we have all made them because we are sinners.
But one of the bigger dangers today consists (and throughout history) is that of believing another gospel other that the one Jesus, his disciples, and many others preached. These "other gospels" are what is known as apostasy. Those who led astray are not bound for the heaven they think they are.
Maybe you’re one of them. I pray not.
I have no righteousness of my own, but rather it comes from the shed blood of Christ Jesus who died on the cross for me.
Let’s look at what the Apostle Paul said about apostasy.
”I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” (Galatians 1:6-9, NIV).
The fact of the matter is that many of you have turned to another gospel, but hopefully so very few. Nevertheless, allow me to step on some toes here about some of these other gospels which abound, and yes, I will name churches, denominations, and names, for I fear no man, only God.
Cults abound in the world (some 2,500 plus) and many fall prey to sweet speaking pastors and false teachers, whether they are men or women.
As a prudent believer, you should always compare a speaker’s words with God’s word, because it is the ultimate authority.
Why do I speak what I am about to say? Because of the following verse: “Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from My mouth, and give them warning from Me" (Ezekiel 33:7).
Here are but some churches that teach another gospel:
Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Inglesia de Christo, Ellen G. White’s Adventism, Ambassadors for Christ, Islam, Apostolic Churches, Kingdom of Jesus Christ (Apollo Carreon Quiboloy), Black Hebrew Israelites, Church of Scientology, Philadelphia Church of God, Krishna, United Pentecostal Church, Catholic God's Spirit, and the notorious Word-Faith Movement (Kenneth Copeland, Ceflo Dollar, T.D. Jakes, Kenneth Hagin, and a host of others. The aforementioned are known as prosperity teachers. While they are wealthy, adherents are by and large not.
Have I stepped on your toes, hurt your feelings and questioned your beliefs? I do so only as a warning of the eternal damnation that awaits those caught up in “another gospel.”
Finally, let’s look at some of the many warnings about false teachers and their churches.
“As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14).
“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep” (2 Peter 2:1-3).
“If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to … (1 Timothy 6:3).
“For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:4).
Finally, my friends, I encourage you to really look into your hearts and examine and truly consider what you have been taught and now believe.
Confess your sins of apostasy to God, not to some pagan idol who has no ears, no eyes and who cannot speak.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask. May God touch your heart and guide you in His wisdom and into His true gospel. Amen.
