The gospel Jesus proclaimed was a call to discipleship, a call to follow Him in submissive obedience, not just a plea to make a decision or prayer. Jesus’ message liberated people from the bondage of their sin while it confronted and condemned hypocrisy. It was an offer of eternal life and forgiveness for repentant sinners, but at the same time it was a rebuke to outwardly religious people whose lives were deviod of true righteousness. It puts sinners on notice that they must turn from their sin and embrace God’s righteousness. It was in every sense good news, yet it was anything but easy-believism.
Some churches today have marred the true saving message of our Lord. Much of the social and popular evangelistic message of our age lures people into thinking they are on the heavenly path. Though it presents Christ as the way, the truth, and the life, it says nothing of the small gate or the narrow way. It is full of love and understanding, but there is no mention of a holy God who hates sin, no summons to repentance, no warning of judgment, no call of brokeness, no expectation of a contrite heart, and no reason for deep sorrow over sin. It is a message of easy salvation, a call for a hasty decision which is often accompanied by false promises of health, happiness, and material blessing. This is not the gospel according to Jesus.
Our Lord’s words about eternal life were invariably accompanied by warnings to those who might be tempted to take salvation lightly, which I later found out. He taught that the cost of following Him is high, that the way is narrow, and few find it. He said many who call Him Lord will be forbidden from entering the kingdom of heaven. For as He said, "The gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it." How could Jesus be more clear? It is not an easy road nor a popular one. But it is the only one that leads to eternal glory.
Salvation is a gift, but it is appropriated only through a faith that goes beyond merely understanding and assenting to the truth. True believers are characterized by faith that is as repulsed by the life of sin as it is attracted to the mercy of the Savior. Drawn to Christ, they are drawn away from everything else.
Repentance, as Jesus put it in the parable of the tax gatherer and Pharisee, involves a recognition of one’s utter sinfulness and a turning from self and sin to God. It is much more than a change of mind—it involves a complete change of heart, attitude, interest, and direction.
True faith is never seen as passive—it is always obedient. In fact, Scripture often equates faith with obedience, "By faith Abraham…obeyed". He brings us to faith, then enables and empowers us to believe unto obedience. Genuine assurance comes from seeing the Holy Spirit’s transforming work in one’s life, not from clinging to the memory of some past experience.
Salvation is a sovereign work of God, not of ourselves. Biblically it is defined by what it produces, not by what one does to get it. Works are not necessary to earn salvation. But true salvation wrought by God will not fail to produce the good works that are its fruit.
And as a part of His saving work, God will produce repentance, faith, sanctification, yieldedness, obedience, and ultimately glorification. Since He is not dependent on human effort in producing those elements, an experience that lacks any of them cannot be the saving work of God.
If we are truly born of God, we have a faith that cannot fail to overcome the world. We may sin—we will sin—but the process of sanctification can never stall completely. God is at work in us, and He will continue to perfect us until the day of Christ.
(Some of this has been taken from the book The Gospel According Jesus.)
When I was young, I thought, "I don’t want to go to hell where there is fire and destruction, but I would rather go to heaven, walk the streets of gold and be happy forever." I made this decision to follow Christ on the false premise that by "asking Jesus into my heart", I would go to heaven. I did not believe I really had to change my sinful actions, but rather, I wanted to use this decision as a sort of "safeguard" against going to hell.
As I continued on in my so-called Christian faith, I was very self-willed and became the sole ruler of my life. I was like this because I thought judgment would not come since I prayed for salvation to go to heaven. In actuality, I used this false confidence to excuse my sin, but then it also blinded my eyes to what true Christianity really is.
A few years ago, I did what I thought was "recommitting" my life to Christ. I began to fervently obey many principles found in the Bible. I labored hard on my own to please the Lord through my good works. However, my plan of salvation was not working. Instead, it backfired and caused much disillusionment and emptiness in my heart.
After seeking the Lord regarding the salvation issue for the last few months in my life, much of the information I have shared with you unfolded before me. The realization of what salvation and the gospel message really is began to change my life. I confessed how wrong I had been to take my life into my own hands, and then totally dedicated my life to the Lord. I also purposed to follow Him and obey His righteous ways, not on my own, but only by God’s grace. With the Lord, I am fighting an uphill battle against sin because I still do not do everything I should do. But in His love and by His grace, God is now diligently working on the life-long process of conforming me to the image of His Son.
This book has given me a deeper understanding of what Jesus truly meant when He said, "Follow me". Just as it gave me new insight into the true gospel, so I recommend everyone interested in true Christianity to read this book. I believe it will hopefully expand their understanding and give them a better view of the most critical issues in one’s life: salvation and the gospel message. Finally, I also pray that it will assist them in giving a clear presentation of the true Gospel to fellow men, in obedience to the Great Commission.