by
Elmer D Grobler
I have recently listened to a message that left me in total dismay. Although the message itself was a shocker, what shocked me more than anything was the source. Had it come from some fringe sectarian source, I would not have bothered to respond. However, this message originates from a popular evangelical denomination where some of my family and friends are worshipping. This deception is striking very close to home, and this is the reason I cannot keep quiet. Just the thought that some of my loved ones and friends may be caught up in this deception made me cringe.
Dear friends, we are living in the last days, and I am afraid that many Christians are totally oblivious of the deception occurring in their own spiritual environments. The Word of God warns us over and over again. In Col 2:4,8 we read, (4) “Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. … (8) Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” In 1 Tim 4:1 we read: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, ..”
These prophecies are being fulfilled right before our eyes – and it is closer to home than many of us may think! In this article I want to focus specifically on the message I am referring to above. I have never before in my life written critically about another Christian or a church denomination by name. This will be the very first time and I do so in fear before God -- I have no choice. Fear, not because of the backlash and persecution I am sure will result from this article, but fear before God to follow Him in full obedience. I want to emphasise that this article should by no means be considered an attack on the person(s) or denomination in question, but purely as a defence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The message I am referring to is called: The Lost Coin by Dr Fanie Briel, and he is apparently speaking on behalf of the Doxa Deo group of churches. Dear friends this is by far the most distressing message I have ever heard from an evangelical source. The deception is fundamental to the Gospel, yet so subtle that the majority of listeners will probably not even detect it. I must warn my loved ones, family, and friends that this is a false gospel! I herewith present to you a summary of the message, but I would like to encourage you to listen to the entire message at the link provided.
Friends, this teaching completely ignores the Biblical account and consequences of the fall. It ignores the reality and implications of the fall and the problem of sin. It teaches that Jesus died on the cross because of man’s inherent value. This is the complete opposite to the Biblical message of the Gospel. The consequences of the fall and the fact that every human being is born with a fallen image of God and spiritually dead in sin, is ignored or denied. This is a graceless gospel. Every person who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour on the basis of this gospel is building on a false foundation! This is a fundamental heresy and false gospel!
Nobody can and will ever be saved unless he and she arrive at a place where they understand that they are a lost sinner. The love of God is exactly demonstrated in the fact that He died for our sin. It is not possible to understand or experience the love of God without a conviction of sin! Rom 5:8 says: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." The message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that He came to save sinners from the penalty, but also from the power of sin. The most unloving thing someone can ever say to another, is that he or she is accepted by God without wholehearted repentance from sin, because it is a lie. The problem we have in the church-world is not that we made sin the overriding communication of salvation – but that we are failing to effectively communicate and emphasise the root of man’s problem, namely the consequences of the fall and the problem of sin.
I want to reiterate, what is especially stressful is the fact that this heresy is taught in one of our popular evangelical churches where many of our loved ones, family and friends are worshipping! I now also realise that the same false doctrine is subtly embraced and taught by many other churches in the charismatic and renewal camp. After having listened to this teaching, the veiled and subtle deception of a watered-down gospel message in many Christian circles across the renewal movement, became crystal clear. This heresy is also at the root of the prosperity gospel.
‘Jesus loves you’ has been, as it were, the ‘brand name’ of Christianity over the ages, but has been hijacked by a cheap and false gospel. The meaning of God’s love has taken on a completely new meaning. The fact that Jesus Christ died to redeem you from the penalty and power of sin for His own glory, is now secondary. The primary meaning of God’s love now is that you are so worthy in His sight, that’s why He died for you. This involves a subtle shift in emphasis from God at the centre of the gospel to man at the centre. The shift in emphasis is so pleasing to the ear and the deception so subtle that most Christians don’t even recognise the error. That’s why it so dangerous! Jesus Christ as the focal point of the Gospel has been replaced by man as the focal point.
I am not a theologian, and I don’t intend to offer a detailed critique of the above message. I am also not speaking on behalf of any denomination. In fact, my evangelistic ministry is interdenominational, and I speak on behalf of born-again Christians across denominational boundaries. However, you don’t need to be a theologian to clearly see the falsehood of this teaching. You only need to be a truly born-again Christian who came to repentance through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit!
In February 2017 I wrote an article titled, ‘AnotherJesus - A Different Gospel’. At the time, I wrote this article as a precautionary measure with the primary objective of warning my loved ones, family and friends of the danger and influence of a cheap gospel. I was stunned when I read this article again after five years. This article is fully on target and prophetically on track with what we are talking about here! I therefore refer you to ‘AnotherJesus - A Different Gospel’ – in Afrikaans: ''n Ander Jesus -- 'n Ander Evangelie', for more information on this subject. Please read it for the sake of your own discernment. I also highly recommend to you the following web page: The Secret Of Two Sources Of Life.
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