Beware The False Gospel
Luke 20:45-21:4
September 6, 2020
• I realize it has been a few weeks since we have been in Luke’s gospel together.
• I hate it when we are forced to have such interruptions that break up our continuity and flow, but some things are beyond our control.
• Nevertheless, this morning we want to jump back into our study of Luke’s gospel.
As you have studied with us, you know that
There is a real feel here in Luke’s gospel
That he is really narrowing his focus in on the gospel.
Certainly Jesus is focused in that regard, and Luke has picked up on that.
We have said that ON ONE HAND Jesus is securing a crucifixion.
We’ve seen His behavior noticeably change to that which is far more confrontational and direct towards His enemies.
• Things like purposely fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah by entering Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt.
• Things like turning and condemning the crowd that cheered Him on during that parade.
• Things like declaring to the Pharisees that a failure to honor Him would secure judgment.
• Things like clearing the temple of the corrupt money trade there.
• Things like seizing the temple as His own place of preaching the truth.
• Things like condemning everyone who questioned what He was doing.
There can no longer be neutral ground.
You are either for Jesus or you must be against Him.
He is not allowing for men to be on the fence.
He is securing a crucifixion because apart from His death
No salvation can be purchased for the children of God. He has to die.
But ON THE OTHER HAND as Jesus is forcing the hand of the religious elite, Jesus is also preaching and clarifying the gospel.
In fact, Luke pointed that out for us.
Luke 20:1 “On one of the days while He was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel…”
That is what Jesus has been doing.
He has been “preaching the gospel”.
And it has afforded us a tremendous look at the gospel Jesus preached.
He began with THE NECESSITY OF REPENTANCE
(20:1-8) the religious leaders sort of surprise attacked Him asking who He thought He was to set up shop and teach in the temple.
• He responded by questioning them about the baptism of John, which spoke to the necessity of repentance.
• It was, by the way, a repentance which they had rejected.
He then spoke of THE NECESSITY OF FRUIT AND SUBMISSION TO GOD’S SON
(20:9-18) was the parable of the vine-growers who refused to produce fruit that the vineyard owner demanded.
• When the Son came, they killed Him, which is exactly what they would do to Jesus.
He then spoke of THE NECESSITY OF RENDERING TO GOD WHAT HE DESIRES
(20:19-26) as Jesus was questioned about paying taxes to Caesar
• He reminded that man must “render to Caesar that which is Caesar’s and to God that which is God’s”
• It was a reminder that they owed God a debt of righteousness that they had failed to pay.
He then spoke of THE NECESSITY OF CONTEMPLATING THE COMING JUDGMENT.
(20:27-40) the Sadducees confronted Him about the resurrection with a bizarre hypothetical story.
• Jesus reminded that heaven is only for those who are worthy and that all will rise from the dead to give an account before God.
• These people were not ready for judgment.
And as we noted, every one of those messages
Produced the exact same result in the crowd.
ALL OF THOSE MESSAGES CONDEMNED.
In fact:
Luke 20:39-40 “Some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” For they did not have courage to question Him any longer about anything.”
The first leg of the gospel is always to show men
Their need for the gospel, and Jesus effectively did that.
He then spoke of THE SALVATION WHICH COMES ONLY THROUGH HIMSELF.
(20:41-44) Jesus preached Psalms 110:1 about Himself as the Person of the Gospel. He is both God and Man.
• He is David’s Son the perfect human and rightful King, and substitute for humans.
• And He is David’s Lord, the God of all creation capable of paying an eternal debt.
And so if we were to sum up the gospel which Jesus has been preaching,
IT WOULD GO LIKE THIS.
• All the requirements of God are fulfilled only in the God/Man Jesus Christ.
• Sinners therefore must repent of their sin, and trust in Him
• That they might be made pleasing to God and escape the coming judgment.
That has been His message. That is the true gospel.
• Man is sinful, deficient before God, and headed to judgment.
• Christ alone is the only human to ever satisfy God’s righteous requirement, and therefore the only means of salvation to sinners.
• This salvation occurs when we repent, and confess Christ as Lord as David did, and are therefore justified through Him in God’s sight.
That is the gospel and that is what Jesus has been preaching.
But no sooner does Jesus finish articulating the true gospel than does He GIVE A VERY SOBER WARNING about those who preach a false one.
We read (45-46) “And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, “Beware of the scribes…”
It is apparent that from Jesus perspective
There is a great threat which exists among the people.
It is actually the threat of a false gospel.
And it is a threat that brings with it THE MOST OFFENSIVE AND CONFRONTATIONAL SERMON that Jesus ever preached.
You are likely more familiar with MATTHEW’S VERSION of the sermon.
• It is recorded in Matthew 23 where 8 times Jesus uses the phrase, “Woe to
you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites…”
• Jesus turns His gaze and fixes His sites right on the religious elite who are
standing in the temple.
• And He casts condemnation and woe upon them to the degree that He never
does any other time in Scripture.
And the reason?
They promoted a false gospel.
Matthew 23:15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”
In short, they preach a message that condemns men to hell.
And just to make sure we understand the gravity here.
Our world gets caught up in all sorts of justice scenarios today.
• “Social Justice” has been the dominating headline now for over a month.
• Certainly for years now we have been concerned about the grievous sin of abortion and the unjust slaughter of the unborn.
But as bad as things like racism or political corruption or even abortion actually are, they still cannot be compared
To the heinous crime of preaching a false gospel.
There is no greater sin you can commit against humanity than that.
For while there are certainly wrongs and injustices that are committed against humanity today which make life miserable and even bring death
A FALSE GOSPEL ACTUALLY CONDEMNS MEN TO HELL.
And perhaps that helps you understand why
• When Jesus went on His most vicious attack, it WASN’T against the
corruption of Rome or the injustice of racism.
• When Jesus went on His most vicious attack it WAS aimed at those who
distorted the gospel.
That is where Jesus pronounced His woe.
That is where Jesus pronounced His judgment.
And in Matthew’s gospel, it reads like a machine gun blasting
Of the religious leaders who propagated this false gospel.
Now LUKE’S GOSPEL at first appears to be a little scaled back.
When you read the same sermon in Luke’s gospel it doesn’t come with
The ferocity of pronouncing woe or calling men hypocrites.
And so the blow feels a little softened here.
But that is not the case.
Rather, Luke uses a different tactic
Which is meant to move the reader to absolute horror.
Luke shows you an example of a victim of the false gospel.
That victim comes to us in the first 4 verses of chapter 21.
And when you rightly understand what is going on in this woman’s life,
You will then understand why Jesus is so angry at the false gospel.
And hopefully you will also be moved to disdain and disgust
And therefore heed the warning that Jesus is giving.
So let’s talk a little bit about this false gospel Jesus is now warning against.
We can break our text down into 2 main points.
#1 THE WARNING
Luke 20:45-47
As we noted, Matthew’s gospel gives much more detail to the sermon,
And we will reference it,
But at its core the sermon is simply a warning to the disciples
About the damning effects of the false gospel.
AND EVEN MORE THAN THAT,
Jesus shows us exactly what the false gospel looks like.
And to answer quickly: IT LOOKS LIKE RELIGION.
(45-46a) “And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, “Beware of the scribes…”
Interesting to note that up in verse 39 it was the scribes who commended Him for silencing the Sadducees.
• But Jesus refuses to side with them.
• These men are clearly the enemy, and even though they have ceased questioning Him, Jesus is not finished.
The entire crowd, and especially the disciples
Need to know the truth about who they are.
And Jesus pulls no punches.
You can see 5 clear truths about these scribes that Jesus warns the disciples about, and they are all warnings that add up to a false gospel.
1) WHAT THEY DISPLAY (46a)
“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes…”
The scribes, by the way, were the notorious scholars of Israel.
They were the great theologians and experts on all things regarding God.
There was even sort of a heretical story floating around about a matter in heaven in which God was debating a person in heaven regarding a question about purity. To answer the debate a scribe was called to heaven to answer and settle the debate.
These men were firmly seated as models of orthodox theology
And there were never questioned.
That is until Jesus exposed them as preachers of a false gospel.
And the first point He made
Was with regard to their overly pious display before the people.
If you read the more detailed account in Matthew’s gospel you read:
Matthew 23:1-5 “Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. “But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.”
• They were men who constantly enforced rules upon others that they themselves were unwilling to follow.
• Their goal was simply to put forth a very pious and impressive display of their own righteousness by which they would impress others.
• Jesus mentioned there even the broadening of the phylacteries and the lengthening of the tassels on their garments.
That is what is pictured here in Luke’s gospel
When Jesus says they “walk around in long robes”.
Numbers 15:37-41 “The LORD also spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. “It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot, so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God. “I am the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the LORD your God.”
This blue tassel was to be sewn on the hem of the garment
As a visible reminder of the importance of obedience to God.
The scribes, seeking to make a great show,
Lengthened their tassels so as to put on a greater display.
It was their way of saying that obedience was more important to them
Than it was to the average person.
• They liked to be noticed for it…
• They liked to be recognized as strict proponents of obedience to the Law…
That was their display.
2) WHAT THEY DESIRE (46b)
“and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets.”
Again, Matthew’s gospel fills in the gaps.
Matthew 23:6-12 “They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. “But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. “Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. “But the greatest among you shall be your servant. “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”
Matthew’s gospel makes it clear that their objective was to receive for themselves the glory that only God deserves.
• They wanted to be called father, though only one is our Father.
• They wanted to be called teacher, though only one is the Teacher.
• They wanted to be called leader, though only one is the Leader.
Their goal was to clothe themselves
In the glory and honor that only belonged to God.
• They wanted to be esteemed, they wanted to be honored, they wanted to be glorified, and even worshiped.
• Men needn’t look to God for an example of holiness, men only needed to look at the Scribes…that was their mentality.
And Jesus said that is all they want.
They use their religious piety to gain human glory.
3) WHO THEY DEVOUR (47a)
“who devour widows’ houses,”
We will elaborate on this one more in a moment, but THE POINT was that
In their religious power and esteem, they preyed upon the weak.
All throughout the Old Testament, the prophets were clear that
God’s will was to care for the widow and vindicate the orphan,
But these men did just the opposite.
They took advantage of the weak and unsuspecting.
Matthew 23:13-15 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. [“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”
In short, their quest didn’t stop with simply their own personal glory.
In their hypocrisy they also devoured the weak.
• They kept men out of heaven…
• They devoured widow’s houses…
• They led men straight to hell…
They weren’t innocent, they were defiling.
Jesus would later compare them to whitewashed tombs that looked beautiful on the outside, but inside were full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.
Hence, they looked beautiful,
But all they offered was death and defilement to others.
Their fame and glory grew at the cost of the weak
And on the souls of condemned men.
To Jesus they were not beautiful, they were the worse form of evil.
They looked religious while they sent men to hell.
4) HOW THEY DECEIVE (47b)
“for appearance’s sake offer long prayers.”
They’re manner of hooking the unsuspecting
Was through their intense religious zeal.
Matthew 6:5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”
In short, they impress men with their religious lingo and jargon.
• They dress religious
• They walk religious
• They talk religious
• They even pray religious
But it is all a sham.
• They are not pleasing to God.
• They will not be rewarded by God.
THE ONLY THING THEY ACHIEVE through their hypocritical religion
Is to deceive men that they are devout.
All of their praying and preaching and benevolent work
Is only that they might convince the unsuspecting
That they are legitimate.
They deceive men by acting pious.
That is why Jesus favored the word HUPOCRETES
When speaking with them.
It was a word that meant “actor” and it is where we get our word for hypocrite.
Jesus knew their heart and He knew everything they did
Was only that it might deceive their audience.
5) WHAT THEY DESERVE (47c)
“These will receive greater condemnation.”
Be sure and notice the word “greater” there.
They will not just be condemned in hell, but they will receive the worst condemnation in hell.
• Worse than the rapists…
• Worse than the murderers…
• Worse than the sex traffickers…
I recently saw a quote by Paul Washer: “When Jesus comes back it’s not the liberal politicians who ought to be trembling, it’s the pastors…because so many have built their ‘ministries’ on the dry dead bones of unconverted church members.”
These religiously devout proponents of a false gospel
Will receive the hottest corners of hell.
Their punishment will be the most severe.
Because these men send people to hell with their false gospel.
WHAT IS THEIR GOSPEL?
That man pleases God through religious effort.
Is that not what they preach?
Is that not what their lives demonstrate?
• If you want to go to heaven then you must be religiously devout.
• If you want to go to heaven then you must work harder.
• If you want to go to heaven then you need longer tassels, longer prayers, more giving, greater devotion…
That is exactly what Jesus was exposing in the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5:20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
They taught men that salvation was through strict observance of the Law. We call that legalism.
That if you are to be saved then you must earn it through your own devotion.
And that is what these men put forward every day of their lives.
And all they ever did was condemn themselves and their hearers.
Their legalistic message remains the worse message
This world has ever been taught.
• Worse than socialism…
• Worse than communism…
• Worse than racism…
WORSE THAN THEM ALL IS LEGALISM
And incidentally, you see this all throughout the New Testament.
Remember early on in the life of the church, there were some Judaizers who sought to get the Gentiles to be circumcised and come under the Law.
Acts 15:1 “Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Again:
Acts 15:5 “But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”
They were in effect telling the new Gentile believers that
“Believing in Jesus was fine, but if you want to be saved
There is some work that must be done on your part.”
Remember Paul’s response?
Galatians 1:6-9 “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”
The infamous “I DIDN’T STUTTER” passage.
Men who distort the gospel by adding works will go to hell.
Paul said it twice to make sure you get it.
When Paul wrote to the Corinthians to defend his apostleship.
You will remember they were also plagued with false teachers.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.”
There they are again, just like the scribes Jesus confronted.
Men who act righteous and act religious but are actually servants of Satan.
Which is why Paul also warned the Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 11:1-4 “I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me. For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.”
• It was a message about the Spirit and about Jesus, but it was the wrong message.
• It was a deceptive message of legalism preached by people who disguise themselves in good works.
Or go to Paul’s letter to Timothy.
Remember Paul warned Timothy of a problematic message.
1 Timothy 4:1-4 “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;”
Paul said those were doctrines of demons where men were told that in order to be pleasing to God they needed to abstain from certain foods or not get married.
It was legalism and Paul said it came straight from Satan.
Or look at Philippians.
Philippians 3:1-3 “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,”
Paul there warned of dogs and evil workers and “the false circumcision” (phonies) who teach men to put confidence in the flesh.
Is that not what the scribes did?
They walked around certain they were pleasing to God
Because of their long robes and longer prayers.
They taught men that the way to heaven
Is through strict religious adherence.
Even to the Colossians Paul wrote:
Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”
Paul warned them of spiritual pirates
Who lead you away from reliance upon Christ.
And this is so false and so detrimental.
Here is why:
Colossians 2:9-14 “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
Salvation only comes through the person and work of Christ.
• Only He satisfied God’s righteous requirements…
• Only He appeased God’s holy wrath…
But these men try to get you to work for what only Christ can give.
It looks good because it is so pious and religious
But the end is nothing but hell and destruction.
Paul would go on to say to the Colossians.
Colossians 2:16-23 “Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day — things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” (which all refer to things destined to perish with use) — in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.”
They look good, but they can’t save.
If you try to make any human work a condition for salvation
You are distorting the gospel.
And that includes things like bible reading, prayer, church attendance, baptism, communion, giving, evangelism, etc.
Those are all good things as EFFECTS OF salvation,
But if you try to make any of them conditions for salvation
Then you are preaching a false gospel
AND ACCORDING TO JESUS AND PAUL YOU WILL GO TO HELL FOR IT.
The true gospel receives all merit from Christ and Christ alone.
THERE ARE NO HUMAN WORKS THAT HELP TO SECURE IT.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Titus 3:4-7 “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Romans 3:28 “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”
AND SO YOU SEE THE ISSUE.
Jesus has come into the temple preaching the true gospel.
• That sinful man must repent and trust in the Son in order that they might be
made pleasing to God.
The scribes have been preaching a message
• That says you must be more religious in order that you might please God.
AND JESUS EXPOSES IT AND CONDEMNS IT.
Now, as we said, Matthew’s gospel was much more detailed and appears at first to have been much harsher, but that isn’t necessarily the case.
Luke’s punch in the gut comes
When he shows you a victim of this heinous gospel.
So first you see the warning.
#2 THE VICTIM
Luke 21:1-4
Now, I know that likely your whole life
You heard this story as a crowning example of sacrificial giving.
Someone likely asked you to give and then probably brought up the widow who gave her last two cents and then held her up as a shining example of sacrificial giving.
That is not at all the point of this story.
1. Jesus hasn’t been talking about giving at all, He’s talking about the gospel.
2. Jesus does not commend this woman, He merely points her out.
This woman IS NOT an example for everyone to follow.
This woman IS a victim of the false gospel Jesus just condemned.
She is one of those widows who had been devoured back up on verse 47.
Let me show you.
(1) “And He looked and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury.”
Now these are all people who have bought the preaching of the scribes.
• They are all in effect blasting a trumpet when they give.
• They are following the lead of the religious elite.
• They are proving their piety through their outward display.
• They are in effect earning God’s favor through their giving.
(or so they think)
The false gospel of the scribes had been effective.
The problem is that there was no other means of salvation than this.
AND THAT PUT ONE WOMAN IN A TERRIBLE PREDICAMENT.
(2) “And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins.”
Important note here is the word “poor”
It is PENICHROS in the Greek.
And it speaks of “one who is poor but not one who is destitute”.
That is how this woman entered.
• She was poor, but she did have two pennies.
• And then, because she was told that salvation hung in the balance,
• She gave those two pennies to the treasury.
And then Jesus said:
(3-4) “And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.”
That should ring a bell.
Matthew 23:4 “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.”
That’s exactly what they had done to her.
Now, Jesus calls her “this poor widow”
Only this time for “poor” He uses the word PTOCHOS
Which means “totally poor; reduced to begging.”
Now do you see what the gospel of the scribes did to this woman?
• They had convinced her that her only hope of salvation was through
giving her last two pennies.
This was not a commendable example of giving.
This was a tragic victim of the false gospel of the scribes.
Through their legalistic standards they had devoured her house
And laid upon her a burden none of them would bear.
THIS STORY IS SUPPOSED TO PUNCH YOU IN THE GUT.
• It is supposed to move you to pity.
• It is supposed to make you hate the effects of the false gospel.
(It’s like those wheel chairs that show up at a Benny Hinn crusade, and after taking their offering, they are ushered off to the side so that they will never make it on stage)
This woman is one of those people, and it’s supposed to make you sick
When you read about how they manipulated her.
BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT THE FALSE GOSPEL
DOES TO EVERYONE…EVENTUALLY.
And such is the reality of all legalistic preaching.
It puts on people a burden they cannot bear.
• You can give all you have…
• You can serve tirelessly…
• You can pray without ceasing…
And you will never satisfy God’s holy requirement.
You will end up poor, destitute, and still condemned.
That is the tragedy of the false gospel.
Perhaps you remember the story of Martin Luther and Yohan Tetzel.
• Remember he was the preacher who came to town selling indulgences that he might pay for his mighty cathedral.
• He would say, “whenever a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs”.
In the movie “Luther” there is actually a scene of a young single woman with a daughter who is poor and destitute. One day in great joy she runs to Martin Luther to show that she has spent all she has to purchase and indulgence for her daughter. Luther is grieved, he gives her back the money she spent and says regarding her certificate, “This is worthless”
Friend, I would remind you again of the gospel.
Salvation is a free gift through Jesus Christ
To those who trust in Him,
Not those who work for it or sacrifice for it.
Those who try to earn their salvation only end up being condemned to hell
For no man can pay the price that Christ alone was able to pay.
TURN TO: ISAIAH 55
That is the gospel.
• What gospel do you believe?
• What gospel do you preach?
