The Real Gospel and the False Gospel

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8)

The religion of Islam tells us that Jesus was a good and moral prophet but He was only a prophet. He was not a son of God because God is not a father and does not have a son (cf. my article on "The Islamic Dilemma"). And because he was a good and moral prophet God certainly did not allow him to be crucified on a cross like a common criminal and, therefore, he was never resurrected.

However, this produces a couple of problems. Jesus most certainly said that he would die on a cross as prophesied (Matthew 27:35, Mark15:24, Psalm 22:16, Isaiah 53:12), would rise from the dead (John 20:9) and called God his Father (John 17). If he said these things how could he be good and moral. If He and the New Testament said these things, then He and the New Testament propogate lies. As C.S. Lewis once said that if Jesus made the claims he made we must conclude only one of three choices: He's either a liar, a lunatic or the Son of God.

Galatians 2:20, 21 says that the Christian's identity is with the crucified and resurrected Christ. As Paul demonstrates here and elsewhere, denial of this fact "sets aside the grace of God." Without the preaching of the cross of Christ and believing that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9, 10) we have no gospel (good news).

Pray: "Dear Heavenly Father, help us never to compromise the simple gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ when we confront those that teach another gospel. Amen"