Adding to the Gospel

In Revelation 22:18, it says, "I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book." It reminds me of a quote I heard. It went, "Whatever somebody adds to the Gospel is what they emphasize." This has always stayed with me in my experiences talking with Christians about the Bible. I believe that many Christians do not understand the fullness of the Gospel. In my opinion, this leads to many of the beliefs that divide Christians. 

Water Baptism

Water baptism is generally accepted by most Christians as an "outward expression of an inward reality." However, some say the "Bible teaches that the person who has believed in Christ, repented of one’s sins, and confessed one’s faith in Christ must then be baptized by the authority of Christ to obtain the remission of sins. There is no other way but Christ’s way." If you want to believe that, fine. I am not attempting to persuade anybody. But, I do not believe that water baptism is required at any level of a Christian's walk with the Lord. Most Christians do not realize that water baptism didn't begin with John the Baptist, but about 100 years beforehand during the aftermath of the Maccabean War. Therefore, Jesus Christ used it as an example of the baptism that does save; that being the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel is sin, death, forgiveness, and the restoration of the life of God. Adam sinned (Genesis 3:5) and lost the life of God (Genesis 2:17) breathed into him at creation (Genesis 2:7). All humanity is born in the image of Adam (Genesis 5:3); spiritually dead to God in our sins and in need of His life. Before God could restore His life to us, He had to deal with the sin that caused Him to remove His life. Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, died for the sins of the world (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Therefore, when He was raised from the dead, He could offer the life of God as a gift to anybody who would believe in Him (Romans 5:10). In John 3:5-6, Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." Born of water refers to our physical birth (flesh gives birth to flesh) and born of Spirit refers to the restoration of the Holy Spirit which occurs as a result of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Spirit gives birth to spirit). When you understand what the problem is between man and God, spiritual death, and what God's provision is for that problem, spiritual life through the giving of the Holy Spirit, you realize that water baptism is not a part of the Gospel. When you don't understand the Gospel then you add things like water baptism. This is understandable when you see many in the early church not having a grasp of the full Gospel; going to the synagogue, believing Gentiles had to become Jews before being saved, living in subjection to the Mosaic Law, selling all their possessions, etc.

Free Will

Similar to the subject of water baptism is the topic of the free will of humanity. Do we have free will to choose or not? This is a complicated subject. But, as one pastor said, "It is only complicated because we make it complicated." The idea that free will does not exist is summed up in the belief that "a future eternity will be spent either in heaven or hell by every human being and that if someone is brought to heaven (or hell) that is entirely God's doing." In other words, God decides which individuals go to heaven and which go to hell. Again, this comes from a misunderstanding of the Gospel. For example, many Christians believe the Gospel to be, "Jesus died for my sins so that I can go to heaven when I die." This is not wrong, but it is not complete. When you believe forgiveness is salvation you end up having to confront heretical beliefs like universal salvation that teach everyone will be saved. Since the Bible doesn't teach universal salvation and if you believe that salvation is the forgiveness, of sins, you have to get around verses like 1 Timothy 2:3-4. There it says, "This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 

Uh oh. If you believe people do not have the free will to choose to accept or reject Jesus Christ, then how do you explain God's desire for "everyone" to be saved when not everyone is saved? You cannot. The only option is to accept the truth that we do have free will. When I confessed my belief in free will to a Christian who does not believe in it, their response to me was, "You believe you are greater than God!" They have to say that because if I have free will and God doesn't allow me to have it, then I must have divine abilities to be "greater" than Him. If I, specifically, and humanity, in general, do not have the free will to choose then why does John 3:16 say we do? "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Jesus Christ said, "whoever believes." This means whoever accepts as true what God is offering them will be saved. You cannot accept something unless you have the choice not to accept it. When you don't understand that the Gospel is offered to everybody then you must add something like the lack of free will to it to make it work. And in doing so you destroy the Gospel and the love of God in the process. 

What have you added to the Gospel? It may not be water baptism or the lack of free will. But, is it speaking in tongues. Perhaps, you believe a Christian can lose their salvation, therefore, you have added works. You might not believe in the complete forgiveness of sins, so you have added "sacrifices" for sin like altar calls, confession booths, or short accounts. Have you added to the Gospel by saying your denomination is the "true" Church? The list is endless. Everybody believes they understand the Gospel, including me. But, we can't all be correct. That is why I say to go to God in prayer and ask, "Lord, do I understand the Gospel? Have I added to it or taken away from it?" Then allow Him to add to your understanding. Grace and Peace.