What Is the Gospel Jesus Preached?

Why is the true gospel of Jesus Christ neglected in professing Christianity? Why do we hear instead a different gospel from that taught by Jesus, His apostles, and first century Christianity? Why is the message Jesus proclaimed for three-and-a-half years ignored and forgotten? The answer to these questions is simple. A substitute gospel entered the professing Christian world shortly after the early church began and the true message of Jesus Christ has been supplanted ever since.

But how can that be? Surely the messages heard throughout the land on Sunday mornings must be the same as Jesus proclaimed. Sadly, it's not true. Many of you viewing this telecast read your Bible. You know what that message is that Jesus proclaimed... or do you? Is it possible even you have been deceived. I give you this challenge today. Look into what the Bible says and compare it with the message you think Jesus preached during His ministry.

Because I can almost guarantee that the true gospel of Jesus Christ has not been preached in the denomination you grew up in. Does that sound too brash, too arrogant, to say? Is it too politically incorrect to tell you the truth? As we often repeat on this program, don't believe us just because we say it. And don't believe your minister or priest just because he says it. Prove it for yourself, right out of the pages of your Bible. So if you want to hear what the true gospel is, stay with me.

I’ll be back in five seconds. ♪ A warm welcome to all of you from all of us here at Tomorrow’s World. The true gospel that Jesus taught is not being preached in mainstream professing Christian churches. Now I know that is a bold statement and I don't expect you to believe it without biblical proof. If the gospel you've been hearing is not the same as that proclaimed by Jesus, and if you can prove for yourself from the pages of the Bible, what will you do about it? Think about it.

A Christian is supposed to be one who follows Christ, so who will you follow? Christ? A popular denomination, a charismatic teacher, family tradition? Will you continue attending the “Church of your choice,” if it's not proclaiming the gospel brought by Jesus, or will you take another path? This is a serious question that may call for courageous action. How important is it to understand, and believe, not just any gospel, but the true gospel?

Notice what Jesus said at the very beginning of His ministry, as recorded in Mark 1:14-15... "Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Yes, that’s a command straight from Jesus: “Repent, and believe in the gospel.” But how can you believe in something if you've never been taught what it is? Oh, but you are not deceived.

You know what that message was. Don't be too sure, because you're not hearing it in mainstream Christianity. So, what is that message? Do you care to know? Or are you comfortable with a counterfeit, just as the first century Corinthians were? Notice how the Apostle Paul soundly corrected them for their careless attitude in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4. "But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted--[he says] you may well put up with it!" Wow. A different Jesus, a different spirit, and a different gospel. If the Corinthians could be deceived, to whom the great apostle to the Gentiles was sent, how about you? Is it possible that you too could be fooled?

Could you be worshiping a different Jesus and believing a different message from the one He proclaimed during His three-and-a-half year ministry? Paul did not care about political correctness. He called out these deceivers for what they were in verses 13-15: "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works." No, these ministers did not look evil, but they appeared as ministers of righteousness. And do we think it is any different today? There are a lot of charismatic preachers in our world.

Many are kind-hearted and do lots of wonderful works--feeding the poor, carrying on campaigns to “bring people to Christ,” but here is what Jesus said in Luke 6:46... "But why do you call Me “Lord, Lord,” and not do the things which I say?" Notice He also said this in Matthew 7:22-23...

"Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” Many people claim Jesus to be their Lord and Master. It’s easy to claim Him as Master, but not so easy to live as though He were your master. The Apostle John dealt with the same issue of people professing to know Christ, but living their own way.

Have you ever been asked, “Do you know the Lord?” How do you answer that question? Well, here's how John answers it in chapter 2 of his first letter: "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." Now circling back, what were the two commandments Jesus gave at the beginning of His ministry? "Repent, and believe in the gospel.” But how can you believe in something you've never heard? I understand that it is shocking to hear that the true gospel of Jesus Christ is not taught in professing Christianity today. That is why I’m challenging you to prove it for yourself from the pages of the Bible.

The Apostle Paul said anyone preaching another gospel is under a curse. Therefore, it's vital for you to know exactly what it was that Jesus and the first century apostles taught. Today’s free offer, Do You Believe the True Gospel? points you to the scriptures that spell out that message with absolute clarity. You'll be shocked to learn what is plainly stated in the pages of your own Bible, so order your copy of Do You Believe the True Gospel?

Just call the toll free number shown on your screen, or go to TWTV.ORG/Gospel. And when I come back, I’ll show you, in His own words, what Jesus said He came to earth to proclaim. For today’s free offer call... Or go to... This clear and straight-forward resource will help you understand this vital truth-- straight from the pages of the Bible. If you're calling for the first time, you will also receive a free annual subscription to Tomorrow's World magazine.

Ten inspiring issues discussing news, science, and modern culture will help you make sense of your world from a biblical perspective. Call today and join millions around the world who are turning to Tomorrow’s World for truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times. Call now! Or go to... Welcome back. Why is it that people refuse to believe what Jesus said? Why is it that so few are willing to simply read the scriptures

and understand them for what they say? As we saw earlier in the program, Mark tells us that Jesus gave two commandments at the beginning of His ministry: "Repent, and believe in the gospel.” But what is that gospel? Before the break, I told you that I would show you in His own words, what Jesus said He came to earth to proclaim. So here it is in Luke 4:42-43... "Now when it was day, He departed and went

into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”" Yes, for this purpose He was sent, and the message He was to proclaim was the Kingdom of God. So what is the Kingdom of God? Do you know? Does it matter? Absolutely, according to the Apostle Paul.

Here’s what He wrote to the people of Galatia, chapter 1, verse 6: "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." So what was it that Paul taught?

Was it the same gospel Jesus proclaimed, or was it a different message?

At the very end of the book of Acts, where we find the Apostle in Roman custody, long after he brought the truth to the people of Galatia, here is what we read in chapter 28 and in verse 23: "So when they [that is, the Jews in Rome] had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening."

Notice that while he taught them about Jesus and how He was the fulfillment of many prophecies, his testimony involved the same message Jesus was sent to proclaim--the Kingdom of God. Now notice verses 30 and 31--the last two verses found in the book of Acts: "Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him."

So what exactly is this Kingdom of God that Jesus and the early apostles taught? Some think of it as a nice sentiment--something set up in the hearts of men. Many think the church in today’s evil world is the Kingdom of God. Others think it is about going to heaven. And as outrageous as it may sound today, some people once thought the British Empire was the Kingdom of God. None of these are correct. But, the Kingdom Jesus proclaimed was not a sentiment in one’s heart.

It was not about going to heaven. It was not the church. And it was not about Christianity taking over the world. It was a message about a very real kingdom set up on this earth with a King, with territory, subjects, and laws. We'll see that in the next segment of this program right from the pages of the Bible, but I want to offer you a resource that shows this in far greater detail than I have time to cover on this short program. Do You Believe the True Gospel?

leaves no doubt as to what Jesus and the early church taught, nor exactly what that Kingdom is. I truly believe that all of our free resources are of vital importance, but Do You Believe the True Gospel? is especially so. How can you claim to be a true Christian if you don't know what the gospel is that Jesus proclaimed? So, order your free copy today. And when I return in 15 seconds, we'll see in detail what is the Kingdom of God.

This clear and straight-forward resource will help you understand this vital truth-- straight from the pages of the Bible. Call now! Or go to... The gospel of Jesus Christ--the good news that He proclaimed for three-and-a-half years prior to His crucifixion--the same gospel that His original apostles and first century Church of God taught-- is not the message heard in mainstream churches today. So far, we've only looked at a few of the dozens of scriptures proving this point.

We've seen that a substitute gospel was extant even in the early years of the Church, but the true gospel was, without a doubt, about the Kingdom of God. So it’s time to see, what exactly is that Kingdom of God. It's self-evident that a kingdom is a government which must have four elements: A King, subjects, territory, and laws. Does the Bible tell us about such a kingdom? The answer is yes, it does. Beginning in Daniel 2 we read of an unusual dream given to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

The prophet Daniel was given understanding and explained to the king that the giant image he saw in his dream represented four great empires that would arise in the area of the Middle East and the Mediterranean. The first was that of Nebuchadnezzar’s Chaldean empire. Then history shows it was followed by the Medo-Persian, the Greco-Macedonian, and the Roman empires.

This last empire would continue in one revival after another until the end of the age when the God of heaven would set up a Kingdom. Let’s pick up the story in verse 44: "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever."

These same four kingdoms are described in Daniel 7, but instead of a giant image of a man, they are depicted in greater detail in the form of four wild beasts. And again, the last one continues down to the end of the age. Daniel 7 and verse 27: "Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him."

Jesus elaborated on this kingdom in His parables. And as we have already seen earlier in this program, He said: "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent." That's in Luke 4:43. Do you realize, my friends, that Jesus gave us the answer to all four elements of this divine kingdom?