Page 15 - Youth Discipleship Student Textbook

What the gospel is not.
Adding to the gospel (belief or faith) is a false gospel. It is corrupting the gospel to add
any requirement beyond faith (Galatians 1:6-9). For example, some false teachers will
say, “Trust in Christ and do good works.” If you must do anything personally to achieve
salvation, then that salvation is a result of your works.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and that not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

This verse clearly states that you are saved through faith and not by any personal works.

Some who hold a strong election view over mans’ free will often use this verse to “prove” that even
man’s faith is from God. They say that a man cannot exercise faith on his own; it must come totally from
God as a gift. It is very clear from the Greek that this verse is not referring to faith as a gift from God.
The word that in this verse is the Greek word touto and it neuter in form and cannot refer to faith
(pistis) which is feminine. The antecedent of “it is a gift of God” is the salvation by grace through faith
(first phrase in the verse). It is God’s gift of salvation that is a gift from God, not our faith.

Another way to add to the gospel is to add baptism to belief. Scripture teaches that water baptism is an
outward sign to demonstrate faith in the Gospel and occurs AFTER we trust Christ by faith.

Acts 2:41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to
their number that day.

Confusing a Gospel Presentation (Presenting a false Gospel)

Here are some common phrases used today that quite often confuses those who hear the Gospel:

“Trust in Christ and make Jesus Lord of your life.” This confuses discipleship (following, obeying and
serving Christ) with salvation (trusting in Christ alone). This view is called “Lordship salvation” which
holds that to be saved a person must also promise to fully follow Christ. Following Christ fully is a
process of maturing in faith and takes time. That is what discipleship is all about: helping others
become step by step more like Christ as they immerse themselves in God’s Word.

“Ask Jesus into your heart” This is often used with children but it can only confuse them. What does it
mean to “Ask Jesus into your heart”? The real issues are: I am a sinner, Christ died for my sin and I must
trust in Christ alone. That’s what a child must understand and the decision he/she must make.

The proof text that the “asking Jesus into your heart” folks use is Revelation 3:20. The picture to the left
is often used to illustrate how Jesus is knocking on your heart’s door.

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