The Gospel is not being preached, but we only get people saved. By Alan Ballou.
What is the difference between preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and getting people saved? Now, before you say, “duh” listen up. I know what you’ve heard as a Gospel, but let’s take a look at what is actually written in your Bible to make sure that what you believe is not a man-made doctrine. How do the scriptures describe the Gospel?
Romans 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” NKJV
According to the verses above, the Gospel of our salvation contains teaching about God’s righteousness. As it is written, “in it the righteousness of God is revealed.” To reveal is to make known or make public.
Inside of the Gospel message, the righteousness of God is explained. That is the same righteousness that we are instructed by Jesus Christ to seek first according to Matthew 6:33. So, if you have not heard about the righteousness of God, then you have not heard the Gospel, point, blank, period.
What do people use when leading someone into being saved? Go and get a tract to see what it says. Does it explain God’s righteousness, or does it say you are going to hell if you don’t say this sinner’s prayer? Actually, we are supposed to use the Laws of Moses to lead someone to Christ (Galatians 3:24). Check it.
I have yet to see anything close to the Gospel on a tract, and I can’t remember hearing it in a church. There are many well-trained people who preach what they call a Gospel, but the Bible is clear as to what is in the Gospel. Lord willing, I will show that to you, but let’s take a look at getting people saved first.
What is required to be saved? Most people use Romans 10:9, or 10:13 after explaining that a person needs to call on Jesus, since He died to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).
Romans 10:9
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. NKJV
Romans 10:13
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” NKJV
Confess with your mouth, Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. Praise God. Look at the verses below to see what happens when a person gets saved.
Ephesians 2:4-10
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. NKJV
The gift of being saved gets us “seated with Christ” in Christ’s Kingdom (Colossians 1:13). In Christ’s Kingdom, not only have we been forgiven, redemption through His blood, but we have also been delivered from the power of darkness.
Colossians 1:13-14
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. NKJV
I know you have heard about redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, but you probably have not heard that we have been delivered from the power of darkness, since those who willingly remain in darkness might be offended. So the truth is suppressed, usually for the sake of more money, and soon afterwards in return the mysteries of the Kingdom is taken from the speaker (1 Timothy 6:5, Matthew 13:11-12, Mark 4:24-25, Ephesians 4:17-19).
Also notice back up in Ephesians that we were created in Christ to do “good works” (verse 10). For a list of how good works benefit us see chapter 3 of my book, “How To Stop Sinning.” Know that only a slave to righteous acts is set free from sin (Romans 6:18).
You probably don’t know that because you haven’t heard the Gospel of the Kingdom which contains an explanation of God’s righteousness which comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe (Romans 3:21-26). Faith in Jesus Christ will make us do good deeds just as faith in God made Noah build a boat (Hebrews 11:7). Obedience comes from faith (Romans 1:5, 1 Peter 1:2).
I don’t have a problem with getting others saved, as long as they do it according to what is written. What I have a problem with is when people, who are not even disciples themselves, try to explain being a Christian (Christ follower Acts 11:26) beyond what they know, and in doing so they make all kinds of promises that are for those who believe the Gospel of Kingdom.
There are two things that baby Christians do not do. First of all, they do not make disciples of Jesus because that requires them to teach people to obey Jesus, which is something they don’t do themselves. Second they do not teach people about righteousness, because they do not know about righteousness, which is the very thing that identifies them as baby Christians (Hebrews 5:11-14). Check the verses to see if I am telling you the truth.
The church system we have set up mirrors a worldly business with its positions and titles. Checking a person’s fruit in order to determine who they really are has been long rejected (Matthew 7:15-20). Therefore, we have made a home for man-called false teachers right inside of the church service. If you think your meetings are in line with the commands of the Lord then double-check 1 Corinthians 14:26-38, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, and 2 Timothy 4:1-4 just to make sure.
That’s why promises are being made to unsuspecting people who are not positioned to receive the things promised to them. Many teach that we enter the Kingdom of God when we get saved, which is wrong. We enter the Kingdom of Christ when we are saved, as I have shown you above. We seek the Kingdom of God first place in our lives after that.
We have to be born again to even see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3), and born of water and Spirit in order to enter it (John 3:5). We must go through many tribulations (hardships) to enter the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). Check the verses below and tell me if that happens automatically when we get saved.
John 3:3-7
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. NKJV
Acts 14:22-23
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” NKJV
Another example is that they promise people that they are sealed with the Holy Spirit, but according to Ephesians 1:13 below, we have to believe the Gospel of our salvation first.
Ephesians 1:13-14
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. NKJV
Are we sealed when we say Jesus is Lord, or after hearing the Gospel of our salvation, and then believing it? Lets see how Jesus explains it in John 14:15-17 below. See if there is a condition.
John 14:15-18
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. NKJV
Is there a condition in those verses? Jesus commanded us to love one another according to John 13:34-35, and 1 John 3:23. Love is explained in 1 John 3:16-19, and it involves sharing what we have with our brothers who are in need, but how soon will we do that if we reject Ephesians 2:10?
Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. NKJV
Now what happens when the well-trained false teachers come and tell you “not” to do any good works, because you can’t earn your salvation? Do you tell him that you are not earning your salvation, but you are obeying Jesus Christ who called you out of darkness to do good works so that you won’t be unfruitful (John 15:16, Titus 3:8, 14, Galatians 6:7-10, 1 Peter 2:9)?
John 15:16-17
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another. NKJV
Titus 3:8
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. NKJV
Titus 3:14
14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. NKJV
Do you see how easy it would be to be deceived by someone who seems to know the truth. Millions have been kept from the truth right inside a place called church. They are held back from obeying Jesus by the very person who is supposed to be leading them into obeying Jesus in order to make a disciple out of them (Matthew 8:19-20). Yes people are getting saved, but when will Jesus make His home on the inside of us according to John 14:21-23? Is it before or after we obey Him?
John 14:21-24
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. NKJV
The doctrine of Jesus requires us to obey His teachings. It is the only way to remain in Jesus according to John 15:10. So guess what happens when someone gets saved and no one teaches them the doctrine of Jesus? They are soon cut off all the while thinking they are Heaven bound (John 15:1-6).
If you do not think that this is happening everywhere today, then ask the one teaching you this simple question. How do we remain (abide) in Jesus? If he doesn’t answer with something that sounds like John 15:10, then you will know that the doctrine of Jesus is not living on the inside of him and he will not be able to teach you to remain in the faith.
The doctrine of Jesus is so important that we are instructed not to even welcome anyone who doesn’t bring that doctrine with them according to 2 John 9-11. We ignore those instructions to our own destruction.
2 John 9-11
9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. NKJV
Who believes that? We’ve got to trust Jesus, not man. We’ve got to hear the truth and believe it. That’s not a shock to those who have the verses living on the inside of them because it is a part of the Gospel that we are supposed to preach (2 Thessalonians 2:13-15).
2 Thessalonians 2:13-15
13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. NKJV
Here again we have another part of the Gospel that is ignored this day and age. If you haven’t heard that our “salvation” is through the sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, then you haven’t heard the Gospel. We have to believe the traditions or teachings, as it is written in most Bibles according to verse 15 above.
In our Baptism, we made a pledge to keep a good conscience toward God (1 Peter 3:21). That means that as we learn the scriptures, we will accept them, and believe them.
1 Peter 3:21
21 There is also an antitype which now saves us — baptism(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. NKJV
As we hear the Word of God, our part is to allow it to judge our attitudes and thoughts (Hebrews 4:12, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5), effectively putting to death the misdeeds of the body through the Spirit, which is the Word (John 6:63, Romans 8:12-14).
Romans 8:12-15
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors — not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. NKJV
That is what the people who believe the Gospel, and are sealed in the Holy Spirit are doing. The people who simply just got saved have a different promise, and their first order of business is to obey Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20).
Colossians 1:12
12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. NKJV
Notice in verse 12 above, they have been “qualified” to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints. John 1:12 puts it this way.
John 1:12
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name NKJV
Those who receive Jesus as Lord have been given the “right to become” children of God. Everyone who has the hope of being a child of God purifies himself (1 John 3:3) using the Word of God (1 Peter 1:22-25). Check the verses, because this is never covered, but always skipped. Consequently, millions who have only said a sinner’s prayer have been deceived.
If you came to Christ years ago and there is no change in the way you live, then you are not holding to the teachings. Repent of your past and accept the change before it is too late. Everyone must repent (Acts 17:30, Mark 1:14-15). That too is a part of the Gospel.
Mark 1:14-15
14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” NKJV
So if you have not heard about God’s righteousness, believing the truth, being made holy (sanctified) through the Spirit, repenting of our sins, and holding to the teachings, then guess what? Right, you haven’t heard the Gospel, but I’m not finished yet.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. NKJV
Once saved always saved is a false doctrine as you can see by the statement “saved if” in verse 2 above. Yes we can believe the Gospel to no-effect (in vain), if we do not hold on to the Word that was preached. This is where the “once saved always saved” confusion comes in. Yes, we only need to be “saved” once, but after that we have definitely got things to do in order to receive “eternal salvation.”
If the Bible says “saved if” why would anyone preach “once saved always saved?” They do not have Kingdom teaching living in them. Read Galatians 6:7-10 below and make a note of those who “reap eternal life.”
Galatians 6:7-10
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. NKJV
What do people do who will reap eternal life? We’ve got to sow to please the Spirit in order to reap eternal life (verse 8 above). So now, if someone tells you that you don’t have to do anything after you are saved in order to reap eternal life, what are you going to say? You’re not going to say anything and that’s why millions are deceived who willingly sit up under teachings that are not right. They pay a man who was trained by men and they never check behind him, but when someone sent by God speaks they immediately look for a reason not to believe.
As it is written in 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 above, we have to hold to the teachings, or we have believed in vain (to no effect). Therefore, kingdom teaching does not remain in a person who twists and suppresses the truth, since instead of preaching the Word, he preaches for his own desires (Matthew 13:11-12, Mark 4:24-25); more money, fill the building, etc. Consequently, we usually will not hear the Gospel of the Kingdom preached like it is written in the Bible from someone who is well-trained my men (1 Corinthians 1:20-31).
If we do not hold to the teachings, we can be cut off (John 15:1-6, Romans 11:22, Colossians 1:21-23). Again, this is nothing new for those who know and preach the Gospel, but you won’t hear these verses from people who do not have the Gospel of the Kingdom living on the inside of them.
Romans 11:22-23
22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. NKJV
1 John 2:24-25
24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us — eternal life. NKJV
Colossians 1:21-23
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight — 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. NKJV
All of those verses have conditions in them that every church attending Christian needs to know. Notice in Colossians 1:21-23 that we have to continue in our faith (verse 23). This too is a part of the Gospel. We have to continue in our faith in order to remain holy, blameless, and above reproach in God’s sight (verse 22 above).
You haven’t heard that preached. I haven’t either. Everyone avoids conditions like that this day and age. So now, have you even heard the Gospel? Wait, I’m not done yet.
If you do not “obey the Gospel” you will not be among those going to Heaven (1 Peter 4:17-18, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10).
1 Peter 4:17-18
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now”If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” NKJV
2 Thessalonians 1:8-10
8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. NKJV
If those verses were true, how many good church attending people have been deceived? Luke 13:22-28 estimates that more have been deceived than those who are on the right track. Can you see how? Now can you see my desire in reaching people from anywhere in the world?
Those who do not know God, and those who do not “obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” will be punished with everlasting destruction according to 2 Thessalonians 2:8-10 above. 1 Peter 4:17 asks a question. What will the end be for those who do not “obey the Gospel?” They are not in the house of God. Perhaps they will be in outer darkness and have no right to the tree of life (Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 25:30, Revelation 22:14-15). Check it!
For how many years now have I been trying to reach church attending people who need to know these things? You may read my writings and say to yourself that I’m crazy, and that I do not know what I’m talking about, and that’s okay. I’ve been called worse, but check the verses and believe. I know from who I have learned these things, and I will continue to try to reach people who have been tricked, but sit in church every week.
How do I know these verses are true? It’s because they work just like they are written and all of the scriptures fit together. Therefore, there isn’t a place in the Bible that I have to ignore or avoid. I’m Alan Ballou; a servant. If I may be of service to you, please contact me.
