The Gospel Seminar

"Luther Quotations": #6A

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ."  (1; 6,7)


There is "the gospel of Christ" (1:7)...
There is "a different gospel-which is really no gospel at all" (1:6,7), which Paul
    says "perverts" (1;7) the "gospel of Christ"...
One brings "life" (3;21)...
One brings "condemnation" (1;8, 9)...
How does one know whats the "true gospel" as opposed to the "different gospel"? Do YOU know?

Luther;
"Now the reason the apostle sets himself so sharply against them (THE FALSE TEACHERS) is that in addition to faith in Christ they taught that circumcision - that is, the keeping of the law (BEING OBEDIENT)- was necessary for salvation..." (p.50, 51)

Which of these two statements is the TRUE gospel and which is the DIFFERENT gospel?
A) I am saved/justified/ made acceptable to God by Christ's efforts completely alone, or
B)I am saved/justified/made acceptable to God by Christ's efforts AND my obedient efforts?

Luther;
"...(Gentiles and Jews) attain the glory and dignity of being the people of God (JUSTIFIED) without circumcision and without works of the law (MY OBEDIENT EFFORTS)- that is, by grace and faith in Christ alone." (p.51)

Regarding this matter of justification, should you add any effort of your own to the effort of Christ then you have perverted the true gospel and then Christ and his work "will be of no value to you at all" (Galatians 5;2).
Christian, abandon now and forever any effort on your part toward justification with God, and trust Christ completely and alone to accomplish completely and forever your justification in the sight of the Father.
This is the TRUE gospel of Christ!

(see TGS Blog #6B  for an illustration of this important teaching)