'Last Sermon of Jesus'
John 16:21 "A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world."
Our Lord Jesus compared the difficulties of the salvation (born again experience) of the Jews and also His disciples with the pains and sufferings of an expectant mother in labour. The preconceived coming of the Messiah, as the King of Israel, instead of the sacrificial Lamb of God, by all the Jews, from the priesthood to the unlearned labourers, was the biggest obstacle to their salvation.
It took John the Baptist his entire life to get them to repent of their sinful ways, and our Lord Jesus, His three years of teachings, discipling, signs and wonders, His crucifixion and finally His resurrection to convince only 120 disciples out of the thousands upon thousands to be saved, received the Holy Spirit and obeyed Him to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 24:46-47 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."
For the salvation of the non-believers, we must preach the whole gospel as taught by our Lord and anything less than that may deprive them of salvation.
Gal 1:3-8 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven,preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
The prosperity gospel, positive confession, hyper grace, etc. are perverted gospels of material blessings, riches, powers, etc. by making our Lord Jesus Christ as King of Israel (just as the
misconception of the Messiah to the Jews) instead of the sacrificial Lamb of God, for the remission of their sins and salvation.
misconception of the Messiah to the Jews) instead of the sacrificial Lamb of God, for the remission of their sins and salvation.
2Thess 2:11-12 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Covetous pastors, televangelists, false prophets and teachers, etc. love money and the things of this world, and have rejected the truth, so they are easily deceived by lies. They proclaim these perverted or diluted gospels for their personal material benefits and financial gains. These will hinder their followers and congregations in their salvation, or from being born again. No wonder the Lord cursed these workers of iniquities, who are really the agents of the Devil, obstructing God’s salvation for all mankind.
Brethren, let us be the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will only preach the everlasting gospel as taught by Him, and no other gospel so that His name is glorified.
