I Want the Whole Gospel

Dr. MacDonald-
Thanks again for your stance on the authority of God's Word. You give me hope for the future of the church.
I'm the seminary student (probably one of many) who stopped you in the exhibit hall at the SBC. Thanks again for the great message there.
I'm starting to gush, so I better go study something.

Word!
Jeff

Pastor James,

I am confused about what you mean about wanting the "whole gospel." Are you talking about explaining to people prior to conversion about the free gift of salvation by faith and also the cost of discipleship and the narrow road?

It's the whole gospel or no gospel, baby. Amen!

I hope that's what he means, JL.

A man-centered gospel is not good news, but a lie from hell. If we don't surrender to Jesus as Lord, we don't get to receive him as Savior. If only more people heard this gospel...

Friends,
James wrote a poem here, using someone else’s voice. He looked at the reasons why we need to preach the Whole Gospel, and then he played with words and phrases, and turned it into a poem that the reader could either interpret as multi-voice, or an individual lost person’s need to hear the whole Gospel.

This kind of writing is aimed at getting you think about what kind of Gospel you're proclaiming.

Yes, James the "Whole Gospel" really does all these things.

So, what is the whole gospel? What must I do to be saved?

Ed. Note: You'd like to know more about the gospel? To find out what God has done to provide you with His amazing salvation--go to:
http://www.walkintheword.com/Article_peacewithgod.aspx

James also describes it in detail in the Walk in the Word series, "God's Amazing Love for You." http://www.walkintheword.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=GAL&Category_Code=Series

Thanks everyone, however, I still don't understand what James means by the "Whole Gospel." In fact, according to this link: http://www.walkintheword.com/Article_peacewithgod.aspx

then I will conclude that I agree that this is the "whole gospel" and pastors in Toronto (where I am from) preach this all the time. So what is the issue?

I am confused, and believe me, I have been a Christian for many years.

If the "whole gospel" is faith and repentance and Lordship, then I'm all for it :)...Pastors from where I am from preach it all the time...

so what is the issue??
Sorry for the stupid questions..I just don't get it!

JL,
I'm not sure how much contact you have with people from different religions or unbelievers or even certain Christian denominations, but as for myself, when I go out into this world of darkness with the light of the Gospel, I am still amazed at some of the beliefs that people hold to.Almost everything I hear has so much truth in it,yet there is almost always something missing or added which renders it a false Gospel.I hear such things as the need to speak in tongues to be a true believer, the need to be in the "only true" church(a certain denomination) to be saved,I hear that repentance is not necessary, you would be surprised how many people are such "devoted" christians but have no assurance of their salvation whatsoever.There are countless people who say that they fully understand the Gospel,yet when asked "when you die,would God let you into Heaven" the majority answer by far is "I hope so, I tried to be a good person and live a good moral life".I've heard people say that they are Christians and say that Jesus was not God in the flesh.I've heard that God is mysterious and unknowable,just yesterday I heard someone from biblical history called "The primary figure in salvation" and it wasn't our Lord Jesus Christ.Yes, there is much false Gospel out there, the scary thing is, it's coming from inside church doors and it heavily outweighs what the Bible teaches as truth.We know that Satan will use some truth,but will always cunningly add or subtract or twist or tweak just enough to deceive those who are undiscerning.
Harry

Harry,
Thank you for your response. I find that Christians use a lot of very "churchy" language.

To those who are reading this blog, I'm so sorry for the "stupid" questions.

Harry, to tell you the truth, I only consider those who believe Christ as the only way to salvation my fellow believers and I personally only partner in ministry with those Christians that actually beleive in these things...Jesus is the only way...salvation by grace and not by works, etc.

Alright so, Harry, what is the "full gospel" and what exactly is the false Gospel then according to what you have been hearing...and tell me like I'm a four year old please?

JL:
Ok, the article lists the false gospels in our day, the response from Harry lists the false gospels, what are you missing??? Read them and observe them or go to your room without supper. There, how is that for talking to you as a four year old as you request.

james

I guess I was just hoping for better understanding..

It's alright, perhaps I'm just a little slow at processing what you are all saying.

Thanks for reading.

JL

JL,
The issue is this.
We fallen creatures in our flesh are compared to sheep.Without getting into an animal lesson,sheep stray quickly and easily.This is why in almost every Gospel and epistle there is a warning against false teaching.We are exhorted to grow in our faith,not to stray into legalism(Galatians 3:3) or licenciousness(Romans 6:19).I'm sure you know about our itching ears(2 Tim 4:3)also.It is too easy to cause another to stray and stumble(Romans 14:21)if they have believed in Christ at all(1 Cor. 15:1-2).Praise the Lord that you are under biblical,sound doctrine,but it is certainly not the norm.I would say that a false gospel is evident in a persons life;are they growing in sanctification,do they love Gods' Word,do they love the saints,are they bearing good fruit(Matt 7:17-20).It still sends chills through me when I read the rest of Matthew 7.
Harry

James,

Well I wouldn't be writing in this blog, if I didn't understand what you were all really trying to say.

When I said "tell me like I was a four year old" my intention was never to be insulting. I was just trying to get Harry to help me understand better by explaining to me in simple terms, just like if he were trying explain to someone with little or no understanding about God.

Harry, thank you for your latest comments, and I will reflect upon it a little more, and if you want to continue our discussion, perhaps I can pass you along my email address.

I guess from reading all the comments, I can see that I have frustrated a few individuals; sorry. I guess it's just me then, and I'll just figure this out on my own then.

This will be my last comment on this particular blog entry.

Thanks everyone.

JL

Hey JL:
NO hard feelings of any kind and no misunderstanding, just trying to keep it light, and help you keep from over complicating things. People distort the gospel. They do it all the time. They leave out the sin part, they leave out the only way part they leave out the repentance part, they leave out the hell if you don't believe part, they leave out the urgency - you must decide now part, they leave out parts they think will make the gospel better and in the end they make it a gospel of damnation. I want the whole gospel, nothing more or less, and I sense that is exactly what you want too. Let's make sure by God's grace that we don't settle for less, not in our own lives, and not in our witness to others. All Good?? X0 james :)

JL,
No frustration here.I find all the time that I,myself,do not always see the obvious because I am looking for the complicated.I don't know what else to say to explain.The editor recommended to Derick T the WITW series "God's Amazing Love For You" and I also like the WITW message "My Salvation Is Secure" from the series "Anchors That Hold" for the whole Gospel.As for the false,there are countless.Have you ever done door to door evangelism,or public parks or a mall etc. to get a sampling of what this world believes? This may be an opportunity to learn about the false Gospels that many are trusting in as sincere and devoted as they are.We live in an age where everything is fast,easy,painless,effortless,free etc.This is what most people want.When you present a Gospel that doesn't hide the cost(Luke 14:26-33)the common reaction is something to the effect of "God will accept me for who I am";in other words,I believe in Jesus and thats all thats necessary,sanctification may or may not happen,I'll pray and give and work for the Kingdom when it suits me,I'll read the Bible now and then etc.I spent 38 years of my life sitting in a church just nodding my head to what the Pastor said,thinking to myself,that sounds good,that sounds right.If only I had taken the time like the Bereans to search the scriptures to see if these things were so(Acts 17:11).I realize that you will not post anymore to this topic but,again, would you consider public evangelism? You probably won't have to go farther than your own neighborhood to hear a false Gospel.
Harry

Hello!
I have been suffering under the conviction that many of my "christian" friends are not truly saved. I felt called to teach in SS on 2Thess. and now I have been not too kindly kicked out of my class!I went through the descriptions of "those who are perishing" from that book and it offended some. What would you describe as obedience to the gospel?

Julie,
First of all, I thank God for you and your boldness, which is found in the Scriptures. I also thank the Lord that you are concerned about your classmates souls, especially if that concern is out of a real heart's love from them. Thridly, I am thankful that you were obedient to the Gospel,as Paul says to Timothy, "Preach the Word".

May God grant you wisdom, and not discouragement, as you continue to trust in Him.

Pastor James

I am now a missionary surrendered to the preaching and teaching of the Whole Gospel. For many years I worked in a machine shop, this was my secular job until the Lord called me into missions; working with deaf and sharing the gospel with them. How true it is in the world today, that the whole gospel is overlooked and deminished to try and attract others to it. Saddly that many missunterstand that a deminished gospel is a false gospel and gives a false hope.

Dr. MacDonald

Thank you for sharing the truth, and nothing but the truth.

God bless