If it is the Gospel plus something, then it is no longer the Gospel.
Only about 10% of professing Christians know and understand the Gospel, maybe that is why Jesus said, "Few there be that find it" Matthew 7:14. What most have found is religion. Religion is man's preoccupation with his own spirituality, which is himself. The historical Gospel of Jesus Christ is not about us, it is about Jesus Christ. His life, His death, His Resurrection, His position in heaven. We are not the instigators of the Gospel; we are the benefactors of the Gospel. The word "Gospel" means good news. It is good news for sinners, but it is bad news for the self-righteous, religious.
In the Gospel God clothes himself in human flesh and becomes one with us, but not one of us. His mission is to come into the world to defeat sin, death and the devil so that whosoever believes in him can be saved, John 3:17. He didn't come into the world to show us the way, he was the way, John 14:6. Jesus was not only God with us, Jesus was also God for us. By his righteous sinless life, he fulfills all of the demands of God's Holy Law. He does this in our name and on our behalf, just like we did it ourselves. This is why Paul wrote, "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes" Romans 10:4. Jesus not only fulfilled the law for us, but he also abolished the law for us, Ephesians 2:15.
Christians don't need laws, rules or religion, we are complete in Christ, Colossians 2:10. If you need laws, rules and religion it may be that you do not possess the Holy Spirit, who is the Christians guide and keeper, John 16:13. If we are complete in Christ then who needs religion? Christ and Christ alone is the Christians righteousness. We rest in him, Hebrews 4:10.
The Pharisees said that the Torah was "The way, the truth and the life and was the light that lightens every man" John took what the Jews said about the Torah and applied it to Jesus, John 14:6. Many have made laws, rules and religion their Jesus. This is very sad because they don't really know him. We cannot really know him until we accept him and his Gospel. In the Gospel we have been justified, sanctified and redeemed, 1 Corinthians 1:30 and now stand before God's Holy Court as perfect and complete in him, Colossians 2:10.
Only about 10% of professing Christians know and understand the Gospel, maybe that is why Jesus said, "Few there be that find it" Matthew 7:14. What most have found is religion. Religion is man's preoccupation with his own spirituality, which is himself. The historical Gospel of Jesus Christ is not about us, it is about Jesus Christ. His life, His death, His Resurrection, His position in heaven. We are not the instigators of the Gospel; we are the benefactors of the Gospel. The word "Gospel" means good news. It is good news for sinners, but it is bad news for the self-righteous, religious.
In the Gospel God clothes himself in human flesh and becomes one with us, but not one of us. His mission is to come into the world to defeat sin, death and the devil so that whosoever believes in him can be saved, John 3:17. He didn't come into the world to show us the way, he was the way, John 14:6. Jesus was not only God with us, Jesus was also God for us. By his righteous sinless life, he fulfills all of the demands of God's Holy Law. He does this in our name and on our behalf, just like we did it ourselves. This is why Paul wrote, "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes" Romans 10:4. Jesus not only fulfilled the law for us, but he also abolished the law for us, Ephesians 2:15.
Christians don't need laws, rules or religion, we are complete in Christ, Colossians 2:10. If you need laws, rules and religion it may be that you do not possess the Holy Spirit, who is the Christians guide and keeper, John 16:13. If we are complete in Christ then who needs religion? Christ and Christ alone is the Christians righteousness. We rest in him, Hebrews 4:10.
The Pharisees said that the Torah was "The way, the truth and the life and was the light that lightens every man" John took what the Jews said about the Torah and applied it to Jesus, John 14:6. Many have made laws, rules and religion their Jesus. This is very sad because they don't really know him. We cannot really know him until we accept him and his Gospel. In the Gospel we have been justified, sanctified and redeemed, 1 Corinthians 1:30 and now stand before God's Holy Court as perfect and complete in him, Colossians 2:10.