It's a confusing world out there when it comes to sharing the TRUE Gospel. The many, many gospels out there that are not what Paul preached, and that are to be accursed, are taught nonetheless. Here's an illustration of the confusions that exist with so many different gospels being thrown about as if they were all true for us today:
A certain man was feeling the tug upon his heart for the Lord, so he calls four ministers to come to his house one evening in the week. All four showed up to his house. Once all the introductions and formalities ceased, he asked them all to be seated. He then asked them, "What must I do to go to Heaven?
The Fundamentalist minister looked around and spoke first, "Well, that's easy. It says right here in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Also, in Titus 3:5, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;," and in Romans 5:1, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:..."
The Roman Catholic priest, not liking a reading from scripture that went against his training, traditions and beliefs about salvation, raised his hand to cut in and said to the Fundamentalist minister, "Sir, you did not share everything. Why not read to him James chapter 2 and verse 24?"
The fundamentalist, being happy to read from God's word, read James 2:24, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."
The unsaved man is now very confused at the contradictions, but listens intently to the Church of Christ preacher who chimes in by saying, "Now wait a minute. YOU two didn't tell him everything he needs to know about how to be saved. Sir, wouldn't you like to know what Jesus Christ Himself had to say on the matter?" The unsaved man said, "Yes, absolutely!"
So the Church of Christ minister read Mark 16:15-16, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
"So you see, sir, one must be baptized to be saved, and not only that, but also actively evangelize. Peter, the very apostle of Jesus, confirmed the word of Jesus when he said this in Acts 2:38, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." The Church of Christ minister than asked the unsaved man, "Can anything be plainer than that?"
As the unsaved man contemplated what he had heard, the Pentecostal preacher spoke up saying, "Sir, they told you some things for salvation, but they didn't tell you everything. Paul was confused and didn't understand the entire Gospel. Suppose you did everything these preachers just told you. How would you ever KNOW for sure that you are saved? Don't you want to know what Jesus Christ had to say about that?"
The unsaved man said, "Absolutely! I want to know!" The Pentecostal minister then read Mark 16:17-18, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." The Pentecostal preacher finished his thought with, "So you see, sir, that these signs will follow upon the heels of a genuine salvation, it is THEN that you know that you are saved. You can't believe Paul as having spoken the whole truth since he didn't minister what all the other apostles and Christ taught on the matter. He clearly was in the wrong for having cursed those who spoke another gospel. Every gospel is true so long as you can feel it. Yessir! Paul didn't give us anything that we can feel down in our bones!"
The unsaved man, who sat listening to all the references read out loud, contemplating, he couldn't get past the fact that he was now more confused than when the sessions started. Everything they had read out loud came from the Bible. He found himself wondering why he ever invited these people into his home in the first place. He looked at them all and said, "You all are crazy! Every one of you, get OUT of my house!"
MM