KenH
Well-Known Member
"The Apostle Paul spoke of those who preach “another gospel” (Gal. 1:6), which is a false gospel; for there is only one true Gospel. He also spoke of those who attempt to corrupt the minds of professing believers “from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3). Jude also wrote of false preachers who have “crept in unawares” (Jude 4), claiming to preach the truth but preaching lies in the name of Christ instead. How may we know that the message preached is the true Gospel of God? Here are seven questions to consider. Some will argue that these seven are too many; others, that they are not enough. But consider them as questions by which we can test the spirits and know whether or not if a man is preaching the true Gospel according to God’s Word in Christ –
(1) Does it exalt the sovereign, electing love, grace, and mercy of God in Christ as the only source and cause of salvation?
(2) Does it humble man in the dust of sinfulness and inability and reveal his total spiritual deadness and depravity?
(3) Does it show how all salvation was conditioned on Christ Who by Himself fulfilled all conditions to secure the complete salvation of all for whom He died and arose?
(4) Does it point to Christ’s blood as the perfect righteousness imputed to His people as the only ground of salvation before God's justice, enabling God to be just and justifier, and as the only source of spiritual life?
(5) Does it show how all salvation, including faith and repentance, are gifts from God, the fruit of His power and grace, and the work of the Holy Spirit in giving spiritual life to all whom God chose and whom Christ redeemed?
(6) Does it shut every door but Christ, bar every way but Christ, destroy every hope but Christ, and present Him as our life, hope, salvation, and acceptance before the Father?
(7) Does it demand obedience to God’s Word motivated by the free grace of God, by love and gratitude rather than legalism and personal gain?"
- Bill Parker
(1) Does it exalt the sovereign, electing love, grace, and mercy of God in Christ as the only source and cause of salvation?
(2) Does it humble man in the dust of sinfulness and inability and reveal his total spiritual deadness and depravity?
(3) Does it show how all salvation was conditioned on Christ Who by Himself fulfilled all conditions to secure the complete salvation of all for whom He died and arose?
(4) Does it point to Christ’s blood as the perfect righteousness imputed to His people as the only ground of salvation before God's justice, enabling God to be just and justifier, and as the only source of spiritual life?
(5) Does it show how all salvation, including faith and repentance, are gifts from God, the fruit of His power and grace, and the work of the Holy Spirit in giving spiritual life to all whom God chose and whom Christ redeemed?
(6) Does it shut every door but Christ, bar every way but Christ, destroy every hope but Christ, and present Him as our life, hope, salvation, and acceptance before the Father?
(7) Does it demand obedience to God’s Word motivated by the free grace of God, by love and gratitude rather than legalism and personal gain?"
- Bill Parker
