False Gospel

God’s Saving Grace That Requires People’s Works = False Gospel

I’ve been in a season of seeking how to increase my connection to God, but it’s left me feeling disconnected and exhausted. In prayer, He showed me a large white stone cross with two extra crossbars the same size, lying on its side. I could not pull it up from the ground no matter how hard I tried. The scene changed, and it sank to the ocean floor and while it sank, I panicked feeling that I needed to save the cross. When it finally hit the bottom and embedded into the sandy floor. I realized there was no possibility of saving it.

I asked the Lord, “What does this mean?”

He then explained the word picture to me. “Listen so that you might understand that it was a false cross and why, to enable you to discern false doctrine easier next time. The second arm you saw represented works that should never be added to the cross. Notice it laid down and did not stand up. The cross should always stand so that all people would look up toward it. And finally, that you were trying to save it instead of it saving you.

“How do I stop this from happening again?”

“Why did you want to keep the false gospel? To try and save it?

“I guess because I thought I was supposed to. To help or something.”

We sat in silence for awhile, me searching my heart for the deeper truth.

“I guess I like the idea that I can help, and it makes me feel like I have some control.”

"Oh, sweet daughter, the true saving cross, where the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ took place, stands for all people. Your salvation is entirely by grace. I don’t need you to save Me. God doesn’t need humanity’s help to protect or defend Jesus. Let the false gospel die and receive a full connection to the truth. Then you will be free to enjoy a deeper connection with Me and what I have provided for you by grace and not works.”

***

In prayer the next day, He had me repenting of adding to the gospel. The gospel needs nothing added. Anything attached to it creates a false gospel. He had me look closer at different Christian topics/concepts to see the consequences when you added works to them.

The definition of works I’m going with is using human effort, intelligence, willpower, and strength to carry out task without the Lord's consent or guidance.

Works + Healing= Means you must work to be healed and if God doesn’t heal you immediately, you did something wrong and you need to try harder. To add works to healing spits in the face of the following verse. 

“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5, ESV)

Our healing is already available and will be given as He sees fit. We do need to agree with it in faith, but not in works. (and there is quite a difference between the two)

Works + Giving = (prosperity gospel) if your motivation to give is to get more money or some other provision than you are operating from a works mentality. If you believe you must do something to earn God's heart and only then, He will desire to bless you. Then you are bound with the idea that a love relationship with God is a quid pro quo transaction and that He desires only to bless you when you “give” to Him.

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].” (James 1:17, AMP) He gives to us because it is part of His very nature.

Relationship with God + Works= If you believe that a good relationship with the Lord is based on your works and not on God's faithfulness and graciousness. Then after you have performed some “duty” or work, you will demand closeness without surrender because you believe you are entitled to/ earned a deep relationship with Him.

“But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22, NIV)

The truth is, God doesn’t need you to perform certain tasks and offer Him a sacrifice of time, effort, and money. He desires your obedience.

Grace + Works= If you believe you must work to reach your salvation instead of relying on the grace of God, then you have a perverse gospel.

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

Deliverance or discipleship because of a desire for rewards and not out of an overflow of God’s love = misunderstanding of the purposes of God’s freedom in deliverance. If you deliver people as a means of works because you believe it will earn you a higher status in the Christian community, then you have missed the scriptures stating we need to do all things from a place of love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3, NIV

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”

I advise you to read the whole chapter.

Prayer by means of works and not love. If you pray to earn a higher status in the Christian community, then your words become lofty, and you demand higher assignments and places in the church. Instead, prayer should flow from a relationship with God and His desires for that person or circumstance and not your own limited understanding.

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:5-6, NIV)

I’m sure there are many more Christian concepts and principles that if you add works instead of God’s grace, they would become perverse, but I started with these. In your own study, you might find there are other things you have inadvertently added works into instead of maintaining faith in the grace of God.

How are you doing with letting go of the lie of works and earning your salvation?

I think I still fall short. Any prayers would be appreciated. And if you would like prayer please put a note in the comments.

Prayer for you and me: Lord, help. Our society lifts works above surrender and obedience, and we can sometimes get swept into this wrong doctrine. Help us remove these old lies and replace them with Your perfect scripture. We know you won’t leave us stuck and You will bring us the fullness of Your grace. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.