OUT OF THE BOX

In light of the current rise in the influence of new age and eastern religion in our nation and in the church, I have written a series presenting the true Gospel as a means of dealing with deception. There is serious error entering both evangelical and charismatic churches that undermines two basic foundational truths: The person and work of Christ and the Bible as the true word of God.  Below is a series of  posts dealing with the true Gospel as preached and practiced by the first apostles and by the first Christians. With so many voices and spirits speaking in the world today, it is important that true Christians know exactly what the message should be. The articles include the following titles: "Characteristics of Heresies" "The Gospel as Preached by the First Apostles and the first Christians" "The Gospel in the Book of Acts" "The Unchangeable and Everlasting Gospel and the Lamb in the book of Revelation" "The Emergent Church Heres...

Characteristics of Heresies In 1972 I was on staff at a church in Southern California that had sprung up during the Jesus Movement. The spiritual hunger of those days produced a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit causing churches overflow with young people and hippies who had surrendered to Jesus Christ. There was also a rise in false religions, new age, and occult practices. One of the heresies of the day was the Moonies. A few of them visited our fellowship one evening and tried to convince me that their group’s beliefs were based on the Bible. I quoted the Bible pointing out a number of their teachings that contradicted scripture. They seemed a little stunned and had no real answer, except that they would discuss these issues with their leader. The next week they returned. But this time their argument was that “the Bible is just another book and full of errors,” and they had revelation higher than the scripture. This is the pattern of deception. The leaders tell the unstable, ...

The Gospel Message as Preached by the Early Church. The Gospel as given to us by the Apostles is everlasting and unchangeable. Below is a list of Bible verses that give the basic and foundational gospel message that was delivered to the apostles and preached by the first Christians. This message was proclaimed throughout the book of Acts and in New Testament Scripture. It is the message the true church proclaims today. Paul’s Gospel 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4 “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you---unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over fiv...

The Gospel as presented in the Book of Acts. The verses below show us the message preached by the first Christians. This is the Gospel we preach today. Luke 24: 45-49 “And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”   Acts 2: 37-39 “Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 3: 16, 19 “And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all…. Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins ...

The Eternal Gospel and the Lamb in the book of Revelation The verses below highlight the fact that Jesus Christ is the lamb of God sacrificed for our sins. His blood was shed for us.  John the Baptist proclaimed, "Behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world." That Jesus was referred to as "the Lamb" so many times in the book of Revelation shows us the centrality of Jesus' death on the cross. He was raised from the dead as Lord and Savior. He is King, but He is also the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.    Revelation 1: 9         “I, John, both our brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island of Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 5: 1-12 “And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or even to look at it. So I wept much, because no on...