by Mike Ratliff
1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our entrance to you was not in vain, 2 but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much struggle. 3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. 5 For we never came with a flattering word, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness—1 Thessalonians 2:1-5 (LSB)
The rebellion against God is alive and well…for now. This rebellion began before the fall of Man into sin (Genesis 3). It began when Lucifer attempted to overthrow God and ascend to the throne himself. Because of this, he lost his place in Heaven and became Satan. When he deceived Eve in the Garden and Adam followed her into sin, they actually became recruits in his continual war against God. All of their descendents were born into this army as children of wrath. After God interceded after the fall, He prophesied that there would be a seed of the woman who would be bruised by the serpent, but He would, in turn, crush his head.
Satan held power over God’s creation, Man, after this. He made it known to God that for Him to pardon the iniquity of Man would violate His Justice, which God would never do. It was as if Satan held some sort of ‘deed,’ which eternally condemned Men to sin and death. However, at the Cross, Christ nailed this ‘deed’ to it and, in turn, crushed Satan’s power and hold over Man. He suffered and died under God’s justice against His elect’s sins. He paid the price. All those whom God elected before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1) were redeemed by the Saviour at the Cross as all of the elect’s sin were imputed to Him. When God saves a person by drawing them to the Son, regenerating him or her, then justifying them as they believe and repent, He imputes Christ’s perfect righteousness to their account.
However, the rebellion against God is still going on and it has overrun the visible Church on many fronts. There are many false gospels out there, but they all have one thing in common. They are, in varying degrees, focused on the sovereignty of Man’s Free Will. This is just another part of the rebellion. My friends, my brethren, God is Sovereign and He has never relinquished any of it to His creation. He knows that the Fall of Man caused our race to become spiritually dead and unable to know Him or choose Him. Not one of us deserves salvation. We are all children of wrath. However, those whom He saves from the wrath to come are new creations. They can know Him because they are righteous in His eyes and He makes Himself known to them through the Son, the Holy Spirit, and His Word.
The Gospel is quite simple. However, at its center is something called the Cross, which is an offense to many. It also makes it known to all the hopelessly reprobate state of Man. This is not popular. Therefore, the Free Will version of the gospel removes the offense in order to make it more palatable to people. This is done in order to get them to become part of a local church body. They can attend, but never be confronted by the reality that they are sinners in desperate need of a Saviour. No, instead, they become part of just another works righteousness religious system that is a ‘different gospel.’
6 I marvel that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ for a different gospel, 7 which is really not another, only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to the gospel we have proclaimed to you, let him be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is proclaiming to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be accursed!
10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a slave of Christ. Galatians 1:6-10 (LSB)
This should be obvious to all my brethren. All false gospels have one commonality according this passage. What is it? They all are designed to please man. In other words, they in one way or another encompass the sovereignty of Man’s Free Will. This is just another form of the rebellion against God. These false gospels will always substitute some form of ‘works’ that are required in order to be justified by God. Paul tells us here that those who preach and teach this sort of thing are ‘not servants of Christ.’
Remember, my brethren, those still in the rebellion may indeed want to spend eternity in Heaven with Christ and love the Jesus that they hear about in their religiosity, but they are trusting in their own actions or works to save them. Our Lord gave us a look into the final judgment during His Sermon on the Mount as he spoke of false prophets.
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, in Your name did we not prophesy, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ Matthew 7:13-233 (LSB)
The key to being part of the Kingdom of God is to be known by the Saviour. No one becomes one of His through self-effort, self-righteousness, or any other form of unbelief. No, the only ones who come to the Saviour are those given to the Son by the Father (John 6). These believe, repent, and become part of God’s Kingdom by His grace through the faith of regeneration.
Some reading this are rejoicing right now because you know the Saviour and He knows you. Amen! Yes, rejoice! However, some of you right now are in a state of fear or dread or doubt. You are not sure if you are part of the Kingdom of God and since no one can become part of it through works then you find yourself in this state of perplexity. Well, fear not! If you know you are a sinner and you recognize that there is nothing you can do to save yourself then you are right where God wants you. You are being drawn to the Son in humility. I counsel you right now to fall before the Lord in prayer and plead with Him for your Soul. Believe that He has died for your sins as you confess that you are a sinner to Him. Then forsake those sins as you receive Him as Lord and Saviour. God is working in your heart right now to bring you into His Kingdom.
On the other hand, some reading this are still in unbelief and you resent this message. You are convinced that you are saved because of some choice you made and that you are a Christian and you prove it by your religiosity. Well, I counsel you to repent of this. Until you understand that not one of us can do one thing to save ourselves then you are still part of the rebellion. I take no joy in saying this and I pray that you will repent and come to the Saviour in humility as He draws you to the Son.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Possessing the Treasure 