Hiding Behind the Gospel

by David J. Stewart

A Subtle Deception

A subtle trick of the Devil, is for his sinister ministers to hide behind the Gospel (i.e., the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ--1st Corinthians 15:1-4). There are many heretics today, two-fold the children of Hell, who are leading the masses into Hell; yet, as unbelievable as it may seem, they present the basic Gospel of Christ. One such culprit is Seventh-Day Adventism. Another culprit is Benny Hinn. There are many hidden heresies which Benny Hinn's website doesn't mention. The Lutherans also present the basic Gospel; BUT, Martin Luther clearly taught and trusted baptismal regeneration and is burning in Hell this moment. Satan has deceitfully conned many people into believing the Gospel, PLUS works. When you confront them about their belief's, they'll pull out the Gospel wildcard; BUT, if you dig deeper into their religion, you'll find the HIDDEN heresies.

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." -1st Timothy 4:1

When you ADD or SUBTRACT anything to or from the Biblical Gospel, you create a demonic doctrine. The Word of God plainly teaches that the only way to be saved is by faith alone in Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 16:31). Satan is a cunning deceiver, and the father of all liars (John 8:44; 2nd Corinthians 11:14). Satan likes to sneak additional requirements into God's simple plan of salvation (Romans 5:15; 2nd Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 2:8,9). Satan is also a spirit, who works in the children of disobedience (i.e., the unsaved, Ephesians 2:2). Man is a spirit, and is easily influenced by Satan. Our only defense is the Holy Spirit of God, which indwells every born again believer (1st John 4:4). It is also the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). The battle is spiritual (Ephesians 6:12). This is why we are instructed in 1st John 4:1 to "try" (i.e., test) the spirits, to know whether they are of God, or of the Devil...

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." -1st John 4:1

Believe Not Every Spirit

As we just read, the Word of God tells us "not to believe every spirit." This is quite a contrast from the modern New Age delusion that tells us there are many paths to the light. Satan's crowd would have us to believe that it doesn't matter what you believe, just so long as you're sincere. But the Bible condemns such foolish thinking (Proverb 14:12; Romans 3:4; Psalm 118:8). The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. We are not to believe every spirit, because most of them are Satanic! We test the spirits by comparing them with the teachings of the Word of God. The test is to determine whether something is of God or the Devil. This would include music, books, videos, sermons, writings, religions, opinions, colleges, philosophies, doctrines, etc. When you hear someone say that it doesn't matter what you believe, just so long as you are sincere ... that is a Satanic spirit. It DOES matter what you believe! This is why the Bible warns us NOT TO BELIEVE EVERY SPIRIT.

Exploiting the Gospel as a Trojan Horse

There is a great evil in the religious world today, and it is very subtle. The evil is that of preaching a TROJAN HORSE Gospel. After ten years of trying to conquer the people of Troy, the Greeks devised a sneaky plan. They left a giant horse, as a gift, outside the city gates of Troy, then retreated. When the people of Troy saw the Greek armies leaving, they opened the door and brought the gift horse into the city. That night, Greek soldiers, who were hidden inside the horse, overtook the people of Troy. Troy was conquered! Hence the term, "Never look a gift horse in the mouth." That horse wasn't what it seemed. What APPEARED to be a gift, was actually a trap. Likewise, Benny Hinn's doctrines are a trap. He is preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, while simultaneously practicing and praising Catholicism. Hinn has also distorted the Godhead by teaching that there are nine Persons in the Trinity. Although Benny Hinn presents the simple plan of salvation on his website, his open endorsement of Catholicism and Our Lady of Fatima on the Larry King Live show clearly shows his true colors. Mr. Hinn is trying to be everything that everyone wants him to be. He's a Charismatic. He's a Catholic. He's ecumenical. He appears as a Christian. He claims to have the power to heal sick people. The net result is apostasy. Benny Hinn is a phony! This is how Hinn's ministry took in over $100,000,000 last year alone, by conning the masses. Benny Hinn is not what he appears to be!

Did you know that the damnable Catholic religion believes the basic Gospel? It's true. Catholics believe that it is Jesus' blood that makes salvation possible. However, they also ADD the keeping of the seven sacraments, confessing sins to a priest, good works, being baptized into the Catholic Church, faithfully praying the Rosary, etc. They claim to have faith in Christ; BUT, they do not! Either you're trusting Jesus Christ completely, or you're not trusting Him at all (Romans 11:6).

This is one of the major problems I have with the hordes of CCM (contemporary Christian music) artists who sing their Christian rock. They claim to be singing the Gospel in their music. Big deal! Many false religions in the world would wholeheartedly agree with CCM's message. I am not trying to diminish the Gospel in any way; BUT, I am saying that many heretics also profess to believe the SAME Gospel. Upon closer examination, we quickly learn that it is ANOTHER GOSPEL they are following. Galatians 1:6 states, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel." Therefore, we must expose the lies which Satan is using to DECEIVE the masses. Christian rock exploits the Gospel to create a bridge between young Christian people and the sinful world. It's not worldly kids who are coming to Christ through Christian rock; BUT, it is the Christian kids who are going into the world through Christian rock music. In fact, there is no such thing as "Christian" rock. All rock music is of the Devil.

Even Jehovah's Witnesses Believe the Basic Gospel

Even Jehovah's Witnesses believe in the Gospel; BUT, they deny that Jesus is deity. They are false prophets! I witnessed to a Jehovah's Witness years ago named William Davenport. I was surprised when he told me that he had accepted Jesus as His personal Saviour. This was disturbing to hear, knowing that Jehovah's Witnesses deny Christ's deity, the Godhead, the Holy Spirit, and many other fundamental doctrines of the Bible. William also taught in his local Kingdom Hall. I admired that he knew his false doctrines, and could debate against the Truth of God's Word proficiently; BUT, I knew the Word of God well enough to stump him. I'll never forget the day when I asked Him why he didn't believe in the Trinity, when the Word of God states in Matthew 28:19 and 20, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." He immediately said, that's only in your King James Bible. I opened his New World Translation of the Bible to Matthew 28:19,20 which states, "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit." He looked at me with bewilderment and laughed. That's all he could do. He didn't know what to say. His own corrupt Bible contradicted him.

Although he claimed to have received Christ as his personal Saviour, he had the wrong Christ. The Apostle Paul stated in 2nd Corinthians 11:4, "For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." Jehovah's Witnesses follow a false Christ. You can trust Jesus all you want to, it won't help you on judgment day if you have the wrong Christ. The True Saviour is Almighty God (John 1:1-3,14; 10:33; Revelation 1:8). Jesus is the Son of God (John 3:16). Jesus is the Creator of the Universe (John 1:1-3,14; Colossians 1:16). Jesus always existed (Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1; Hebrews 7:3; Revelation 1:8). Jesus is the Saviour (Luke 2:11). Today's world is filled with modernists who speak highly of Jesus; but, only recognize Him as a great man, a powerful leader, an interesting person, a positive influence, etc. John 1:10 states that Jesus made the world, "He (Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not."

On one occasion, while out soulwinning, I witnessed to two Jehovah's Witnesses. I asked them both, "What must I do to go to Heaven?" One of the men said, "You must do God's will." I asked, what is God's will? He then quoted Matthew 28:19 and 20, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them..." I pointed out to Him that no mention was made in Matthew 28:19,20 about salvation or of being saved. I then opened my Bible and took them to John 6:40, "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." They were stumped! They both said that they were new to their religion and needed to go counsel with their elders for more information. I wasn't surprised at their loyalty to an organization over the Truth of God's Word. Jesus condemned this very sin in Mark 7:7-13. Also see Psalm 118:8 and Romans 3:4.

Conclusion

Don't believe every spirit! Just because someone claims to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ doesn't mean they're a Christian. You need to look deeper into their beliefs. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is being exploited by all sorts of occultists, false prophets, and modernists to gain wealth, prosperity, influence, control, and personal benefits. They are thieves, parasiting off of true Christianity. When someone claims to be a born again Christian, I ask them who they believe Jesus is? I don't give them any clues, I want to know what they believe concerning Jesus. One man told me he was a born again Christian, he smiled and almost convinced me he was the real deal; BUT, then he said he goes to Catholic Mass every weekend to get saved. Oh boy! He was no more saved than Judas Iscariot.

So don't be surprised when heretics and reprobates claim to believe the Gospel. The truth is that they are only HIDING behind the Gospel, not obeying it. And that's the key, OBEYING the Gospel ... "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" -2nd Thessalonians 1:8. When a heretic like Benny Hinn professes to believe the Gospel, while endorsing the Pope and the Catholic virgin Mary, you know he's an imposter. Many false prophets profess to believe the Gospel; BUT, they do not, they are only exploiting it for their own personal gain. Beware, all is not what it appears to be! It is a grand deception for Satan to fabricate a false religion that starts with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and then corrupts it's meaning and power. What better way is there to confuse people? We are living in a time of great deception, because the Word of God is systematically being discredited, attacked, and distorted. The only way to be safe is to compare every teaching, every religion, every philosophy, every doctrine, and every intellectual work with the incorruptible Word of God. I use only the King James Bible.

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." -2nd Corinthians 11:3