Most Christians know they should “preach the Gospel.” But what if the version we’ve been taught isn’t the one Jesus actually preached?
✝️ What Does It Mean to “Preach the Gospel”?
Almost anyone who’s been to church more than once knows that Christians are supposed to preach the Gospel. But what exactly does that mean?
For many, it’s like saying, ‘I believe in love,’ but never describing what that love looks like. What is this Gospel we’re supposed to share with the whole world?
🏛️ The Modern Church’s Version of the Gospel
As with most things that get commercially marketed worldwide, the churches of America take the lead in defining the Gospel. There are a few variations, but the basic message usually goes something like this:
“The Gospel is that Jesus died for your sins. If you believe in Him and accept Him ‘in your heart’ as Lord (whatever that means), you’ll have eternal life. All you have to do is believe to be saved.”
At first glance, that sounds fair enough. And it’s true that Jesus died for the sins of those who believe in Him.
But if we leave it there — if that’s all we mean by “preaching the Gospel” —then we’re missing the bigger picture. Let me explain.
📜 Jesus Came to Preach the Words of the Father
Jesus didn’t come to earth only to die for our sins. He also came to speak the words of the Father.
“My teaching is not mine, but His who sent me.” — John 7:16–17
“I have not spoken on My own authority, but the Father who sent Me gave Me what to say.” — John 12:49–50
God Himself said we must listen to Jesus. (Luke 9:35)
Jesus warned that anyone who hears His words but doesn’t obey them is like a foolish man building on sand. (Matthew 7:26–27) And He said plainly that if we don’t obey His words, we don’t actually love Him. (John 14:15)
🔥 The Real Gospel Demands Everything
The Gospel — the real Gospel preached by the real Jesus of the Bible — isn’t just about His death on the cross. Jesus came to share with humanity the words of eternal life. (John 6:68)
His teachings are the very cornerstone of our faith. Yet this cornerstone—the words of Jesus Himself — has been rejected by most religious leaders in favor of their own popular and profitable salvation formulas.
The Gospel according to Jesus demands everything.
It calls for total dedication:
- Forsaking all we have to follow Him (Luke 14:33)
- Serving God rather than money (Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13)
- Giving to those in need (Luke 11:41, 12:33, 18:22)
- Denying ourselves — even to the point of “hating” our own lives for His sake (Luke 14:26–33)
🏰 The Counterfeit Gospel of Comfort
The “gospel” according to the institutional church asks for only part-time dedication. It doesn’t require forsaking anything — except maybe a small percentage given each weekend.
It teaches that we can serve both God and money, that giving is optional, and that we can ignore Jesus’ hard sayings about self-denial and discipleship.
Can you see how completely opposite these two gospels are — the one according to the institutional church, and the other according to Jesus Christ?
And if the church is preaching a false gospel, and you’ve believed it, what does that mean for your salvation? The stakes couldn’t be higher.
The question “What is the gospel by which we are saved?” deserves serious thought, prayer, and reflection— wouldn’t you agree?
⚖️ A False Gospel Is No Gospel at All
There’s much more to say on this, but I’ll keep it brief. Any “gospel” that ignores the words of the Master isn’t a true gospel at all — it’s a false gospel.
The apostle Paul warned:
“Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be accursed.” — Galatians 1:8
And he said that for good reason.
🙏 Start With Jesus Himself
If you want to know what the real Gospel is, start with Jesus Himself — not me, not your pastor, not any self-proclaimed representative.
Start with Jesus, and let His Spirit speak to you as you immerse yourself in His words.
And when you’ve done that, feel free to reach out to us if you’d like encouragement or guidance in living out Jesus’ teachings today.
That’s what preaching the Gospel — and leading souls to Christ — is truly about: connecting people with the real, historical Jesus of the Bible… the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and whose words will never pass away.
📖 Read the Words of Jesus Today
Open your Bible to one of the four Gospels and listen to Him for yourself.
Do that now — and may God bless you as you do.
Reclaiming The Way 