In recent months, there has been a wave of celebrities and other well-known people claiming to be Christians. Everyone from presidential candidates, to singers like Justin Beiber and Demi Lovato to professional athletes such as Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin are claiming to be “in the faith.” How is the Christian to view these professions of faith? Should we question them or give these folks the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the gospel? What about prominent Christian preachers, authors, missionaries or itinerant teachers who fill the pulpit in our local churches from time to time? Should their gospel be subject to scrutiny?
Most importantly, what is the gospel that your church preaches? Is there any chance that it could be a false gospel? Remember Jude wrote that those who peddle a false gospel will be difficult to detect. The Apostle Paul directed that even if a false teacher is an angel of light, he should be identified as a wolf and accursed. What are some of the common errors that can cause the gospel to go from being the true Gospel to a false gospel? Listen to this teaching for a summary of the various false gospels and why we must strive for the truth: