“Another Gospel”

First let’s address the question of what is the gospel. Almost everyone believes that the gospel is about the Person of Jesus Christ. Preachers speak incessantly of “Jesus,” His “blood” and His “sacrifice.” Certainly, the true Jesus Christ plays an extremely important and central role to Christianity, but He is not the gospel. The Bible shows that Jesus is preached in conjunction with the gospel. Again, His role is enormous. But He is not the gospel.

It is important to take some extra time at this point to make very plain the clear distinction between the role of Christ and what is the true gospel. Much more is at stake here than meets the eye—and virtually all professing Christians have been badly fooled on what is the very centrepiece of the entire Bible! It is critical that the reader understand how all of this is connected to both another “Jesus” and another “spirit.”

While there are a variety of gospels invented and taught by men, far and away the most popular is the one that centres on the person of Jesus. But if the gospel is not Christ Himself, what is it?

Only the Kingdom of God!

The New Testament is most plain on the subject of the true gospel. The word gospel is found 101 times in the Bible. In scores of verses, the gospel is referenced—defined!—as “the kingdom of God, the kingdom, the kingdom of Christ and of God” or “the kingdom of [not in] heaven.” Sometimes the word is found alone, and sometimes “of the kingdom” follows it. Other times, it includes “of the kingdom of God,” or the equivalent phrase “of the kingdom of heaven.” It is never seen to be or to include the person of Jesus Christ. I repeat: Nowhere in the Bible—in even a single passage—is the gospel described as “Jesus, Christ” or “Jesus Christ.”

Notice Mark’s account: “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of god.” This is the gospel that Jesus preached. It was in this same context that He said, “repent you, and believe the gospel” (Mk 1:14-15). Which gospel?…of the “kingdom of God!”

Mk 1:1 in Mark refers to this message, when it states, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” The gospel of Jesus Christ was about the kingdom of god—not something else! One must believe that gospel—not a humanly-devised counterfeit or substitute. The second question—that of which is the true gospel—stands on top of, and is separate from, the question of which Jesus orthodox Christianity places at the center of its gospel about “Christ.” It is always a different one!

The Bible is absolutely emphatic on the monumental difference between the Messenger—Jesus Christ—and the Message that He brought—the kingdom of God (His coming, world-ruling super government). Many have tried to say that the term “the gospel of Christ” is a gospel about Christ. This is simply false—because the preposition “of” merely connotes possession. The message about the kingdom of God is Christ’s gospel—meaning, it is His—and this is all very basic understanding from God’s Word.

Strong Warning Not to Pervert It

This subject is so important that God inspired Paul to warn the Galatians then and all others thereafter: “I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 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. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be accursed” (Gal 1:6-9).

This is a very blunt statement—and a strong warning to all who will heed it! Note that one chapter later, Paul stressed his hope that the “truth of the [only one] gospel might continue with you” (Gal 2:5). So there is one true gospel—with all others false!

Although some assert that Paul taught a different or additional gospel, it is plain that he never did. Ironically, God used Paul himself to warn against ever allowing such false teaching by pronouncing a double curse on any man, angel or even any apostle—“But though we[apostles]…preach any other gospel…let him be accursed” (Gal 1:8)—who violates this command.

What a powerful scripture—and WARNING!