|
SLUMGULLION PREACHING
Today's danger is the preaching of a different Jesus, a different Spirit and a different gospel. The Greek word translated “another” here is “heteros.” We are familiar with the word heterosexual. A heterosexual person is one who loves or prefers persons of a different sex than himself or herself. This means that the “Jesus,” “Spirit” and “gospel” mentioned are different from what Paul preached. Paul wrote: “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him, {with him: or, with me }.” (2 Corinthians 11:4). Paul has in mind specific persons who often followed him about. These false teachers were critical of Paul and so Paul does something unusual for him. He takes time in the following verses to talk about himself at some length. This is why he asks (as the King James marginal note says) that they “might well bear with me,” i.e. with Paul. He certainly does not ask his readers to put up with such false preachers as he describes. (See Galatians 2:4-5). Such false teachers talk about Jesus, the Spirit and the gospel! But the “Jesus” they preach is not one who paid for the sins of His people. He is one who tries to save everyone, but cannot because His death really accomplished nothing in itself. This “Jesus” requires the spiritually dead lost sinner to rise up of his own power and do something to add to the work of Christ in order to be saved – really in order to save himself! The “Spirit” preached by false teachers is not a sovereign one. He is not like the Spirit spoken of in John 3:8 who blows where He “listeth” (wills or desires), but rather is one who can be conjured up by repetitive choruses and conditioned responses just like Pavlov's dogs. And the false “gospel” preached by such men is not the simple proclamation of the finished work of Christ for His sheep. Rather it is a slumgullion (by definition a cheap stew): an attempted mixture of works and religious deeds claimed to be necessary to bring about the new birth. Paul wrote: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them,” (Ephesians 2:8-10). Again he wrote, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work,” (Romans 11:6). Works has no part in salvation! Works has no part in the new birth! It is impossible to mix works and grace for such an attempt changes the meaning and nature of each one! |
