HE ROSE AGAIN
by Doyle Davidson, Water of Life Ministries
CHAPTER 1
WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?
This chapter could easily be titled, “What the Gospel is Not.” Before we are through, you are going to find out that much of what you thought was “gospel” is not gospel at all. Let me begin with a statement that will challenge your religious heart and your religious mind.
The following phrases are probably written in your Bible — “The Gospel According to St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, or St. John.” I assure you that you will find things in these four New Testament books that are not the gospel.
In reality, the opinions of some men caused these books to be labeled “the gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.” The true gospel is that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again the third day.
All of my life I have heard, “Repent, repent, repent!” Most preachers in the United States of America never told me to believe anything. They certainly never told me to believe the gospel.
A certain preacher has been running all over America for the last 40 years preaching repentance. America has not repented yet. You must be honest with yourself. If God sent this man, and America has not repented, then God does not know what He is doing.
Do Not Be Accursed
In most cases, the gospel you have heard is the one Paul warned of in Galatians 1:9:
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Most religious denominations have not heard the gospel. Further, they do not believe the gospel, nor do they preach the gospel. They preach their gospel and not the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Many people have left their religious denominations —Baptist, Methodist, or other denominations — and have become charismatic Baptists, charismatic Methodists, or charismatic this or that. There has been no repentance from dead works and no belief in the gospel.
Do you know why this has happened? We do not want to offend the Baptists, Methodists, or any other denominational church. However, denominations need to repent of their religious traditions.
I asked a well-known international Bible teacher the following question: “Do you believe there are religious demons?” He said, “Oh yes! But, I do not want to tell anyone. I do not want to offend them.”
He continued, “I will tell them privately.” I asked him, “What if you do not get to talk to them privately?”
What has happened here? The man is afraid. That is fear —not faith. Faith has no fear. If you are afraid, you have no business preaching the gospel.
You must preach the gospel in faith. As you read this book, you will discover the true gospel — that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day!
WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?
This chapter could easily be titled, “What the Gospel is Not.” Before we are through, you are going to find out that much of what you thought was “gospel” is not gospel at all. Let me begin with a statement that will challenge your religious heart and your religious mind.
The following phrases are probably written in your Bible — “The Gospel According to St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, or St. John.” I assure you that you will find things in these four New Testament books that are not the gospel.
In reality, the opinions of some men caused these books to be labeled “the gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.” The true gospel is that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again the third day.
All of my life I have heard, “Repent, repent, repent!” Most preachers in the United States of America never told me to believe anything. They certainly never told me to believe the gospel.
A certain preacher has been running all over America for the last 40 years preaching repentance. America has not repented yet. You must be honest with yourself. If God sent this man, and America has not repented, then God does not know what He is doing.
Do Not Be Accursed
In most cases, the gospel you have heard is the one Paul warned of in Galatians 1:9:
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Most religious denominations have not heard the gospel. Further, they do not believe the gospel, nor do they preach the gospel. They preach their gospel and not the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Many people have left their religious denominations —Baptist, Methodist, or other denominations — and have become charismatic Baptists, charismatic Methodists, or charismatic this or that. There has been no repentance from dead works and no belief in the gospel.
Do you know why this has happened? We do not want to offend the Baptists, Methodists, or any other denominational church. However, denominations need to repent of their religious traditions.
I asked a well-known international Bible teacher the following question: “Do you believe there are religious demons?” He said, “Oh yes! But, I do not want to tell anyone. I do not want to offend them.”
He continued, “I will tell them privately.” I asked him, “What if you do not get to talk to them privately?”
What has happened here? The man is afraid. That is fear —not faith. Faith has no fear. If you are afraid, you have no business preaching the gospel.
You must preach the gospel in faith. As you read this book, you will discover the true gospel — that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day!
