ONLY ONE GOSPEL

When you read the Bible, if you want to understand what is being said you must ask yourself: (1) who is saying it, (2) who are they saying it too, (3) what is the context or what is going on, and (4) why is this important spiritually. If you do not answer these questions then all you have done is add to the confusion and bewilderment that represents the vast body of misinformation that makes up doctrinal positions for most of the denominational world. I am ever amazed to the ever increasing contradictions in the nominal "church" world even down to the basic question of our salvation. The Pentecostals say one thing and they have their favorite verses, for example the United Pentecostals Church (UPC) believe if you are not saved through Acts 2:38 you are destined for hell, while the Baptists will say you must walk the Roman Road, while dismissing the gifts of the Spirit and if any of their churches do believe in some way about the gifts of the Spirit they have sucked the life of God out of it. The more main stream mainline denominations really have no specific verse in the Bible, they are more concerned about ritual or tradition, communion (and not relationship with God) seems to be the large part of what they practice for salvation. And of course the Catholic Church believe only Catholics are going to heaven and only if they keep the sacraments. But, what does the Bible have to say? Most Christians and some Believers I know have no clue what the Bible has to say about being saved because they just do not read the Bible. Well, the Bible is very clear on how to be saved, but sadly most denominations have their own slant and manipulation of the Scriptures that yoke their people into believing like them or that is right . . . you are going to hell. With all of the confusion and control it is almost a miracle anyone comes to know the LORD. Now do not get me wrong our expression of worship and belief is along the Pentecostal lines, I speak in tongues and operate in at least two gifts (maybe three sometimes) of the Spirit often and I like Brother Peter, but, at the first, he did his very best (until the end of his life see 2 Peter 3:14-16)) to stop Brother Paul (see Galatians 2:11) from taking the Gospel message to the Gentiles. Not only Peter, but all of the disciples resisted Paul and the work of the Holy Spirit in fulfilling the great commission of "teaching all nations" of which Peter and the other disciples did not do, they went "to the Jew only." I am not going to cite the verses there are just too many, read the Bible my friend and see the anger and downright contempt at times Peter and the disciples had for Paul. Bet you never heard that preached on Sunday. I am not sure why any denomination would cite what Peter said in looking for salvation. How many times did Peter rebuke Jesus, how many times did Peter deny Jesus? In John Chapter 21 after Jesus restored Peter back to fellowship (see John 21:15-17) Peter gets offended at John (see John 21:20-23). My friend Peter (like us all at times) was very unstable and double minded. I would think any denomination that stressed Peter's teaching for salvation would also be double minded. After all Peter never received revelation like Paul did during three years on the back side of Arabia, I believe where Moses received the 10 Commandments. Paul writes, "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. 20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not." (Galatians 1:15-20) Where Paul received the revelation where we are saved by grace through faith from God. In Ephesians Paul writes, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) The way all (Jew and Gentile alike MUST now come to salvation. Again, nowhere in the Bible is it recorded where Peter ever received revelation (like Paul) from God. As a matter of fact on the Day of Pentecost Peter was parroting John the Baptist's doctrine because he had nothing from God. In Matthew, "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins." (Matthew 3:1-6) How many Gentiles do you think were baptized by John the Baptist? That is right none, salvation at this time was for the Jew only. Even Jesus ministered to only two Gentiles during his entire earthly ministry. Bet you never heard that during Sunday preaching. On the Day of Pentecost when Peter preached how many gentiles do you think were listening? That is right, none. Peter was talking to his Jewish brothers, "And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." (Acts 2:5) and they did not want to be saved or even believe Jesus was the Messiah, oh no, all they wanted was to be able to speak in a foreign tongue too. "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:37-38) Does that not sound like John the Baptist speaking? How many Gentiles do you think were present? That is right Peter called them "Brethren" there were no Gentiles in the crowd. Why would a Gentile not be welcomed by a Jew to listen to Peter? Answer, the Jews wanted nothing to do with Gentiles and that carried on over into the ministry of the disciples for more than 15 years. But of course, Peter knew nothing of salvation by faith through grace because Paul had not yet be commissioned by God to bring a new revelation that allowed all (and not just the Jew) to come to repentance and salvation. Read your Bible my friend, this is why Peter and the other disciples continued in Judaism, continued going to the temple (and not to try to convert people, but to be a good Jew), continued in Jewish worship, and yes continued under the law. It is all there, all in your Bible just read it. Many of the present day Pentecostal denominations are just as confused as Peter was. We went to a UPC in Georgia, but it folded like a deck of cards when the pastor sold the church building out from under the board and members for $100,000. Foolishly, we then started a new church out of our home, but I would not allow it to be UPC. It grew and we moved into a store front, ultimately we build a building, but here is where the story gets ugly. Me being in the Navy at the time I took ordered to Stuttgart, Germany (God did wondrous things for us there) and with me out of the way they became a UPC. What a mess it. Well, I will not go into the details, but they too folded like a deck of card within years. If you look at the history of the UPC you will find their founders disagreed with the Assembly of God over the oneness doctrine and they started their own denomination, a typical reaction of rebellion. Their foundation was built on works: must repent, must be baptized in only Jesus' name and not what Jesus said, "in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," must speak in tongues or you are not saved, all works salvation. We went to a UPC recently and man were they off track. I really believe (very common for churches that have false teaching) many were even demon possessed. My friend, this is what Paul received, this is the only way we can be saved, it is the one and only Gospel message whereby man can be saved, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for ours sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) Any other message even if taken from the Bible to form doctrine is off track and will lead to confusion and destruction as we see all over the nominal, apostate church of today. My friend there is only "one" Gospel message, anything else is a lie. Paul in Ephesians lays this solid foundation, "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:4-6) And that salvation message is only found in, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) Again any other doctrinal statement is a lie. Sadly, the "boasting of man" is often seen in the works based religions and denominations. You know, I guess the LORD knew all of this religious based religion would take root in the lives of man, probably why the Holy Spirit wrote such words as, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:" (Colossians 2:8-10) The Book of Colossian was written by Paul to combat such thinking and practices in the young church of his day. And sadly, such wrong thinking is still alive and well in our day. Take heed my friend and be not deceived. Written by David Stahl