One must not water down the gospel, ever, for any reason whatsoever

 By Greg Holt

Many people when they witness to others about Jesus, tell them that God loves them, God wants to help, He loves you, and wants to save you.  They try to convince people to come to Christ because God is good etc.  He died to save you, that’s how much He loves you.

That’s all well and good, but it’s not enough.

Let’s say that you bring your car to me to fix it.  I give you the bad news, it needs a new head gasket, cheap parts, mostly, but rather expensive due to all the labor – but, I can fix it, and I do.  Great right, your car now runs smoothly again, it’s reliable etc., and you’re happy.

A year later, the timing chain on your engine snaps, so your entire engine, that you spent a mint on fixing – is now junk, not fixable.  You are not very happy.

I lied to you; I told you only what I thought you’d want to hear.  What I should have said was, this will cost a fair amount more, but while the engine is basically torn apart anyway, the water pump, and the timing chain should be replaced, both repairs are pretty labor intensive (Only on some vehicles for the water pump), and if your timing chain were to snap, it will ruin your engine.  Then if you refused, that’s fine, then it’s on you, not me. And yes, this stuff can really happen, I have done these repairs more than once, I know what I’m talking about.

It’s no different with salvation.  If you do not share with a person about their sin, how that they have broken God’s Laws, and that the resulting penalty is Hell – you are lying to them!  I have stated this before in no uncertain terms – one must not water down the gospel, ever.  Not sharing with people about their sin, and Hell, well – you don’t have to like it, but you are lying, and you are watering down the gospel.

Most people do this because they don’t want to offend anyone.  They want to make the gospel of Jesus Christ more, acceptable, more palatable.  I’ve got news for you, it’s not your job to make the gospel seem harmless, it’s your job to share it!

This is the same thing that goes on in many a church today, the pastor has more than a few topics, that are off-limits, nope, no preaching on that stuff.  Why?  Because, they don’t want to offend anyone, because when people are offended, the donations go down – you see, it’s not all about the gospel, in many churches of today, it’s about the money – and yes, this applies to many “good” churches as well.

What most pastors and many who share the gospel can’t seem to see?  You’re doing more harm than good.

Here is the truth – the gospel is offensive, period.  If you’ve never been offended by the gospel, then you haven’t been properly introduced to it.

If you sin, you will go to Hell, period.  Unless you come to Jesus first.

The gospel wounds many a person’s pride: you can’t do anything to save yourself (Ephesians 2:8-9).  You have to make some changes in your life – no more drug use, no more getting drunk in the bars every weekend, no more foul language, you need to love others, all of them, you must forgive others, you are supposed to help others, etc.  You are not to have casual sex, you are not to have sex before marriage, and there is to be no living together, ever, for any reason.  Abortion is a no-no, because it is murder of an innocent human being.  No divorce, unless your spouse had sex with someone else.

The gospel and salvation are not a free ride, salvation is a gift, but it does come with some expectations, and lying to people is not the way to go.

It’s no wonder today’s Church is in such a straight – lesbians, homosexuals, and transgenders, as pastors and elders, no preaching on sin or Hell – or it’s very little and very seldom, no preaching against abortion, etc.  It’s all feel-good messages, that carry little to no conviction, and it shows in the mindset of the congregation too.

For the preachers of old, there was no such thing as topics that were off limits, many were known in fact as “fire and brimstone” preachers.  The biggest difference between them and today’s lackluster preachers?  The fire and brimstone preachers weren’t worried about offending people, they were focused on bringing people to God, and making sure that people understood, exactly where they stood with God.

Jesus Himself never shied away from telling it like it is.  He called the Pharisees; “hypocrites,” “blind guides,” and a “brood of vipers” (Matthew 23).

This is the same Jesus who told the Pharisees that their “father,” was Satan (John 8:41-47), and that they did the deeds of their father, not the Father.

Jesus also rebuked Peter when he said (This rebuke was actually aimed at all of the disciples), “get behind me Satan” (Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33).

The Apostle Paul didn’t shy away from the truth either, he told it like it is.  He said, if you are a drunk, a liar, a fornicator, etc. you will not be in Heaven, period (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21)!

“⁷ and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8

Paul said that God would take vengeance against those who denied Him, in flaming fire, that’s pretty serious, and in your face.

“⁸ but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil,” Romans 2:8-9a

Again, this is Paul telling us like it is, not attempting to pretty it up first, this is the truth, period.  All of the Apostle Paul’s books are like this.  Paul didn’t ever compromise the gospel, he told like it is, if you’re offended, too bad.

How about the Apostle Peter, he straight up told a crowd of thousands that they were sinners of the worst kind, why?  Because you murdered the Lord Jesus Christ!!!  Three thousand of those whom Peter spoke to, were saved that day.

“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:23, 36

Consider this as well: if you don’t share the news about sin and Hell, you are quite apt to be brushed off, and possibly hear something like this – “My life is fine, I don’t need to change anything, and I certainly don’t need saving.”  Maybe however, if you had shared the truth instead…