Alan Lewis
Elon, North Carolina
September 2024
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
Today, we are going to look at false gospels as we come to one of the most important chapters of the Bible. Because this chapter is so important and so long (58 verses), we are going to spend several weeks looking at it.
The Most Important Event
This chapter contains the most important event in human history. It was an event confirmed by eyewitnesses. Paul was one of the witnesses. This event was verified historically by hundreds of people in Paul’s day.
The most important event in history was not some war. It was not some great invention or discovery. It was not some political revolution. The most important event in history is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
Christianity is based on these three historical events. Christianity is different from other religions. Hinduism is not based on historical events. Buddhism is not based on historical events. Christianity is.
No other religion is based on historical events. No other religion is based on the bodily resurrection of its founder. Christianity is based on historical events which were verified by witnesses.
If Jesus never lived, as some atheists claim, then the whole religion collapses. It would be based on a myth. Paul connected Christianity to certain historical events.
These events are not just true but can be proved. Jesus died and was buried. His burial is proof that he died. Paul says that Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to all kinds of people. The appearances are proof of the resurrection.
The resurrection is not only true; it is the best attested fact of history. Skeptics today mock it. They deny it.
Paul did not have any doubt that Jesus rose from the dead. He saw Jesus with his own eyes. Jesus talked to Paul audibly. He appeared to him supernaturally.
Paul does not just list these three events. He interprets them. He interprets them biblically. He does not just say that Jesus died but WHY He died. He died for our sins. Paul does not just say that Jesus died for our sins. He proves it with the resurrection.
The Most Important Message
1) It is an IMPORTANT MESSAGE.
The gospel is the most important message that you will ever hear. Your eternal destiny is based on this message. How you respond to this message determines where you will spend eternity.
It is a message all about Jesus. It is focused on His death, burial and resurrection. Paul called it a message of FIRST importance (I Corinthians 15:3 NIV). message leads to salvation. Not everything is of first importance.
Some things are not essential. They are minor, like the mode of baptism. Should it be by immersion or sprinkling? Other doctrines are major. They are essential.
You can be wrong about tongues and still go to heaven. You can be wrong about the rapture and still be saved. You can’t be wrong on who Jesus is and go to heaven. You can’t be wrong on the gospel and go to heaven.
We need to put first things first. There are plenty of doctrines that are not first. They are not even second or third. Some Christians put last things first, rather than first things first.
2) It is a GOOD MESSAGE
That word “gospel” (εὐαγγέλιον) means good news. This is good news for sinners. They can be saved. Sinners who deserve Hell can now be saved. It is the greatest news in the world.
3) It is a POWERFUL MESSAGE
It saves the worst sinners. Paul said, “It is THE POWER OF GOD that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16 NIV).
4) It is a DIVINE MESSAGE
No human came up with it. Paul did not come up with it. He did not invent it. He received it (I Corinthians 15:3).
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:11-12 NIV)
Human messages can be important. The weather man can warn of dangerous weather. A doctor can warn you of cancer. A spouse can tell you he or she loves you. All of those are important but a message from God is more important.
5) It is an UNCHANGEABLE MESSAGE
Apostles cannot change it. Angels cannot change it. Church leaders cannot change it. Denominations cannot change it.
Preachers cannot change it. Scholars cannot change it. Scholars at Harvard or Princeton may try to change it, but this message is unchangeable.
It is unalterable. It does not need to be revised for the modern era. It does not need to be updated. Beware of anyone who tries to change, modify or update the gospel.
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8-9 ESV)
Three False Gospels
There are thousands of false gospels in the world today. This morning, we are going to look at three false gospels. Some of these are preached in churches. Next week, we will look at three more.
1) The Full Gospel
This teaches that the gospel is all about HEALING. It is all about physical healing. That is the good news. They believe that it is an integral part of the gospel. They believe that healing is in the atonement, based on Isaiah 53.
They believe that it is always God’s will to heal you. If you are not healed, it is because you do not have enough faith. They believe that you can claim your healing. You can name it and claim it.
We discussed in our class how this is false. Lack of healing is not always due to a lack of faith. Even charismatics get sick. Bethel Pastor Bill Johnson’s wife recently died of cancer, and it was not because of a lack of faith.
Isaiah 53:4 says, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering” (NIV). The NT quotes that passage but applies it to his healing ministry on earth, not his death.
When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases (Matthew 8:16-17 NIV)
I Corinthians 15 is the passage of the Bible that tells us what the gospel actually is. It tells us what Paul preached. It gives a detailed explanation of the gospel but, he does not say anything at all about healing.
Many say, “You believe in the simple gospel, but we believe in the full gospel.” Paul believed in the simple gospel. That is the gospel he preached in I Corinthians 15.
Paul says many times that Jesus died for our sins but never says that Jesus died for our diseases. He says that Jesus became sin for us (II Corinthians 5:21). He does not say that Jesus became sickness for us.
Paul believed in healing. God does heal people today. He did not stop doing miracles in 70 AD. Healing is one of the spiritual gifts in the NT. Some Christians have this gift, but it is not part of the gospel. It is NOT a message that you have to believe in order to be saved.
2) The Prosperity Gospel
This teaches that the gospel is all about PROSPERITY. The good news is not about healing but about financial prosperity.
This message says that God wants you to be prosperous. It is His will for every Christian to be rich. This is a lie from the pit of Hell, but it is very appealing.
Who does not want to be rich? This gospel will stroke your ego and make you feel good about yourself. It is a nice feel-good message. It is a self-centered gospel. It is all about you.
There are many prosperity preachers in our land. One called the Bible “the greatest prosperity textbook that has ever been written”[1].
There are verses that prosperity preachers use but they are taken out context. God does bless believers and often blesses them financially.
Many of the saints in the Bible were wealthy. Some were extremely wealthy. Proverbs 10:22 says “The blessing of the LORD brings wealth” (NIV). God blesses people with wealth, but He blesses people in other ways. He blessed Joseph in prison.
The gospel is not a get rich scheme. It is not a means of financial gain. Paul called people who believed this “false teachers.” This is false doctrine.
They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth AND WHO THINK THAT GODLINESS IS A MEANS TO FINANCIAL GAIN. (I Timothy 6:4-5 NIV)
The gospel is not a message that, if you believe, you will get rich financially. It is a message that, if you believe, you will get saved.
3) The Political Gospel
This teaches that the gospel is POLITICAL. It is all economic and social, rather than religious and spiritual. It is a message for the downtrodden and oppressed members of society. This is another term for Marxism.
According to this gospel, man’s greatest need is not sin. According to this gospel, the solution to man’s problem is political, not spiritual. The answer is not God, according to this gospel, but human government.
We have an election coming up very soon. It is not wrong to have an opinion about the issues or the candidates. It is not wrong to be excited about the election or involved in it. I have served as an election judge.
Politics is important. The church should make an impact on society, but this gospel teaches that the primary mission of the church is to feed the poor and fight for social reform.
We should say what the Bible says. We should bring the Bible to bear on modern issues and topics, but some pastors preach more politics than Scripture.
We are told by some, for example, that climate change is a gospel issue. Some actually say this.[2] Driving a gas-powered car is somehow unchristian. Next week, we will look at three more false gospels.
[1] Catherine Ponder, The Millionaire from Nazareth: His Prosperity Secrets for You (DeVorss & Company, 1979), p. 6.
[2] https://www.matthewdgroves.com/climate-change-is-a-gospel-issue
