“A false prophet is known by two things: the fruit that they bear, and the gospel they preach.” Paul Washer

I want to pose a sincere question in hopes you will ask yourself this fundamental question. Actually, it is a two-part question. What is the gospel and could you share the gospel based on Scripture to someone else? You might be thinking this is rather elementary, and you may be contemplating exiting this blog right now. After all, everyone has heard the gospel, right? I would propose there are those who have heard a gospel, but not THE gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. What I am about to share with you will shed light as to why I am writing this and the sincere concerns I have for those who are listening to influential people in specific movements claiming extrabiblical revelation, angelic visitations, trips to heaven, and prophetic insight while either not proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ or presenting another gospel foreign to Scripture.

This should go without saying: getting the gospel right is critical. We are talking about eternity. If we have the wrong gospel, then we have the wrong Christ. Paul warned the church of Galatia about receiving another gospel when the Judaizers came to them, telling them salvation required following the law and circumcision. The apostle Paul expressed his astonishment that the believers were deserting Christ and turning to another gospel. Interestingly, Paul made it clear there is not another gospel, but there were some who troubled them and wanted to distort the gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:7-8). They were not alone in this. Paul also brought correction to the Corinthian church for their tolerance of another Christ and another gospel through smooth talking super apostles. Dangers and concerns are no different today when hearing ways of salvation contrary to the testimony of Scripture. There is no other good news. Yet there are some who will bring another gospel, and the pattern bears the image of a man centered gospel rather than the Christ centered gospel, which is the true gospel.

Salvation Portals with Atmospheric Words

The reason in doing such a post came from listening to a few fairly recent interviews where salvation was discussed. In one interview, a self professed prophet appealed to her trips to heaven and in doing this, she was asked about family members not making it to heaven and if those in heaven are sad. She stated that if an individual had prayed adamantly for a family member to know Christ then it gave Christ the ability at the time of his/her death to ask that loved one if they wanted Him. She said ninety percent of the time that person is going to make it to heaven because of another’s prayers and declarations. She then went on to state how Jesus told her the prayers and declarations give Him permission and to let the people know this. She also described how departed loved ones are praying and declaring for those still on earth who are unsaved. She said they go to portals in heaven to see their loved ones and to decree and declare over them for their salvation.

I sat listening to this and rewinding it, dumbfounded as to what I was hearing. Jesus needs permission? Another person’s prayers gets someone into heaven? There was no mention of the gospel, no mention of sin and rebellion and the need for the Savior. There was no urgency in talking about the wrath of God abiding on those who reject Christ as their Lord and Savior. There was no appeal to Scripture in understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ. She appealed to personal experience, and this Jesus was given the ability by a created being’s prayers to then go at the time of death to a person and ask, “Do you want me?” I do not know this Jesus. This is not the God of the Bible.

I listened to another lady who told a studio audience and those watching at home to decree for household salvation, which we should be praying for family members to come to saving faith in Christ. However, she too spoke of the power of our words and how our mouths are the key to family member’s getting saved by what we put into the atmosphere. I noticed again how there was no mention of the gospel, no focus upon Jesus Christ, no call to repentance. This was very much Word of Faith and the power of man to speak things in like God. This is a man centered gospel. This is another gospel.

The Gospel is Christ Centered

Another gospel plus another Christ equals no salvation. The true gospel is God centered. This one author defines the Christian doctrine of salvation as “The deliverance, by the grace of God, from eternal punishment for sin which is granted to those who accept by faith God’s conditions of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus.” Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). We are saved from the wrath of God because of Jesus being a propitiation for our sins (Romans 5:9). There is no other way to the Father but through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). This includes another’s prayers, another’s alleged portal prayers from heaven, or setting the atmosphere with verbal decrees. There is salvation in no one else for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) Titus 3:5 says, “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” Thanks be to God!

The God of the Bible doesn’t need my permission. He doesn’t need your permission. Whenever I hear an individual use these kinds of phrases when talking about God, I cringe because I do not know the God of whom they speak. Whenever I hear the mention of portals in heaven where departed family members go to pray for the salvation of loved ones still on earth, I cringe because this is not Scriptural in any way. It testifies of another gospel. And there are people being led astray by these teachings.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is centered upon Him. It is centered upon what God has done, the finished work of the cross by Jesus Christ and the resurrection from the dead. Jesus Christ satisfied the wrath of God, and He clothes those who are His with His righteousness. He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Through His atonement, we are saved from the penalty of sin. Through sanctification, we are saved from the power of sin, and when this life is over, through glorification, we are saved from the presence of sin. It all comes back to the gospel being centered upon God. Any gospel centered upon what man or woman can do is not good news, and it is another gospel. It is to be rejected for the poison that it is.

Someone once said, “If the Bible is silent, you be silent.” The Bible is silent on portals and God needing our permission. It should remain that way. The call has not changed. Repent and believe in Christ to save you and to give you eternal life.

For a more in depth look into this topic, check out the latest episode of The Lovesick Scribe Podcast