The Original Gospel Revealed

by Albert Emanuel

Author's note: This is by far the most important article I have ever written because it reveals the
original gospel that was taught by Christ and the Apostles. Over the centuries, the true gospel has
been contaminated by foreign elements and needs to be restored to its original condition. 
Theologians have made additions and subtractions to the gospel that have obscured the original
version. This could be the first time that readers have actually been exposed to the original gospel.

Scripture reveals that there is one gospel. But what gospel is that. Can we identify the original gospel. Many gospels are being preached, but which one is the true gospel. Is it the Catholic gospel or the Protestant gospel.  Is it the Orthodox gospel or the Messianic gospel. Is it the gospel of grace or the gospel of law. We should not preach the gospel until we know what the true gospel is.

The original gospel was already being perverted in the first century. The Apostle Paul rebuked the Galations for accepting a different gospel. He placed a double curse on those who would pervert the original gospel. But why was Paul so vehemently against other gospels. He made it clear that the gospel is "the power of God unto salvation". The true gospel has the power to save but a false gospel only deceives people into thinking they are saved. As far as Paul was concerned, there was only one gospel and that was the gospel that he preached. He refused to tolerate any other gospel and condemned those who departed from the original gospel. The bible warns us not to preach any other gospel than the one true gospel that Paul preached.

Catholics add penance and purgatory to the gospel and Protestants subtract works from the gospel. Both are preaching a gospel that is different from the original. Adding penance and purgatory is unnecessary because the sacrifice of Christ is sufficient to pay the penalty for sins. And subtracting works creates an incomplete gospel that functions on faith alone. The Protestant doctrine of justification by faith alone is not scriptural.  James, the brother of Jesus, wrote that "a man is justified by works and not by faith alone".

The original gospel has been rediscovered in the pages of scripture and will be revealed in this article. Readers are advised not to judge a matter until they have heard it.

The original gospel is the gospel of grace, faith, and works. A man is not saved by grace alone, faith alone, or works alone. He is saved by grace, faith, and works. Thus, the original gospel has three essential elements that cannot be separated.  A Christian receives grace, exercises faith, and produces works.

Grace, faith, and works are the three essential ingredients of salvation. Add one ingredient like penance or subtract one ingredient like works and you have a distorted gospel. Works are a requirement of salvation. But we are not saved by works alone. We are saved by grace, faith, and works. We cannot earn salvation by works alone because they are insufficient.

The key to understanding the true gospel is knowing the role that works play in the plan of salvation. I do not teach a works alone gospel. But I do teach that works are a condition of salvation and contribute to salvation.  Protestants claim that works are merely a manifestation of a true faith and do not contribute to salvation. But James, the brother of Jesus, disagrees with protestant doctrine. He clearly states that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. The Protestant "faith alone" doctrine contradicts the "not by faith alone" doctrine of James. Readers must decide who to believe, the brother of Jesus or an Augustinian monk named Luther.

Works are an essential part of salvation. You cannot be saved without works but you are not saved by works alone. Works alone will not merit eternal life. But works do contribute to salvation. The Bible teaches that a man will be judged and rewarded according to his works. The reward is eternal life not rewards given after eternal life is granted. Protestants pervert the gospel by claiming that the rewards associated with works are not related to salvation.

But doesn't Paul teach that we are saved by grace through faith without the works of the law. Indeed, that is the truth. But "works of the law" are works performed under the law of Moses, not works performed under grace.  The works of faith performed under grace are meritorious toward salvation. If works have no merit, then why are Christians judged and rewarded according to their works. We are justified by faith and works, not by faith alone.

It is critical that we understand the concept of grace. It means to receive favor with God. He bestows the gift of grace upon us. But what is this free gift of grace. What part of salvation can't be earned. The answer is simple and significant. God's grace provides us with a savior, draws us to Christ, brings us to repentance, forgives our sins, gives us the Holy Spirit, and make us the sons and daughters of God. We did nothing to earn these gifts.  We accept these free gifts of grace with the realization that works are not involved. Initial justification is strictly by grace and cannot be earned, but after initial justification we are placed under grace and required to perform works. The resultant works of faith and works of obedience are meritorious and count toward salvation.

Parts of salvation are free and parts are earned. We need to separate the free gifts from the earned rewards.  The free gifts of grace are not earned. Works play not part. But after we receive these free gifts, we must earn the rest of our salvation by performing works under grace. This is a cooperative effort between God and man.  At conversion, we were given the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us perform the works of salvation. We are required to work out our own salvation rather than play a passive role in the process. We exercise our faith and perform works. But we are not saved by works alone. Grace and faith are critical ingredients in salvation. That is why I teach a gospel of grace, faith, and works. Those who preach that we are saved by grace and faith alone are offering an incomplete gospel. We sow the seeds of salvation and reap the reward of eternal life.

But doesn't the bible say that the gift of God is eternal life. Indeed, it does. But it doesn't mean that we are not required to participate in the process of salvation. God gives the gift of eternal life as a reward for our faith and works under grace.

Faith is required for salvation: Faith in Christ our Savior, acceptance of His sacrifice as the atonement for our sins, belief in His resurrection, and trust in His word, the Bible. But we are not saved by faith alone. We are saved by grace through faith and must perform the works of faith to complete the salvation process. By being able to integrate the three essentials of salvation (grace, faith, and works) we can better comprehend the original gospel.

Grace is the most important factor in salvation. Salvation begins and ends with grace. Without the gifts that come with God's grace, we cannot be saved. Eternal life is too valuable to be earned by works alone. All the works in the world are not sufficient to earn salvation. God's grace must be added. But we are not saved by grace alone. Without exercising our faith and performing works, we are not doing our part in the process of salvation and will forfeit our reward. God places value on eternal life and wants us to strive mightily to obtain it.

Grace is the dominant and deciding factor in salvation. We cannot be saved without grace. Faith is critical and necessary for salvation. We cannot be saved without faith. Works are a requirement and condition of salvation.  We cannot be saved without works. But grace remains the defining act of salvation and the ultimate means of eternal life.

The original and true gospel is simple and straight forward. Accept the free gift of God's grace, place your faith in Christ, and perform the works of obedience. I remind readers that I do not teach salvation by works alone.  The salvation formula includes grace, faith, and works. I often stress works because that is our part in salvation and many Christians are neglecting to perform the works that are essential to eternal life. The "no works" gospel is dangerous and misleading. Eternal life doesn't come cheap. It requires blood, sweat, and tears.

This article has revealed the one, true, and original gospel that was preached by the apostle Paul. He never taught that a man is saved by faith alone or grace alone. Paul preached the gospel of grace, faith, and works.  In his letter to Titus, he repeatedly stressed the necessity to maintain a pattern of good works. Paul said that God is not mocked. What a man sows, he will reap. The combination of grace, faith, and works results in salvation.

The Protestant gospel of justification by faith alone must be discarded and the catholic gospel of penance and purgatory must be repudiated. The original gospel should be left in its pure and pristine form. Additions and subtractions result in a perverted and distorted gospel that has no power to save. James, the brother of Jesus, understood the gospel perfectly when he said that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. Both Catholics and Protestants need to repent of preaching an impure gospel.

I encourage Christians to embrace the original gospel which teaches that we are saved by grace, faith, and works. I hope you will rejoice with me and celebrate the restoration of the one, true gospel.





Copyright (C) 2007 Albert Emanuel