The Purity and Exclusivity of the Gospel

Having just commemorated the 509th anniversary of the Reformation, it is important to remember why many of the Reformers were willing to sacrifice everything to defend the purity and exclusivity of the Gospel. Five hundred years ago, the Reformers challenged the apostate Roman Catholic religion, which had distorted the Gospel by adding requirements to God's message of salvation. They understood that the Gospel of grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, with its eternal consequences, was too important to compromise.

The Gospel Must Remain Exclusive

The same issues that confronted the Reformers in the sixteenth century continue to confront the church today. While the Reformers contended against adding to the Gospel, many churches in our day are removing its essential truths in an effort to make Christianity more inclusive and acceptable to a broader audience. What hope does the next generation have if we allow this to happen? The Gospel must be proclaimed faithfully and accurately. There is one Gospel, one Savior, and one way of salvation. The Gospel's purity and exclusivity were worth defending 500 years ago, and it remains worth defending today. The church must faithfully guard the Gospel, proclaim it without compromise, and pass it on to the next generation in all its truth and power.

The Gospel Reveals Salvation Is by Grace Alone

The purity of the Gospel is explained in this well known verse. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Eph. 2:8-9). Paul made it abundantly clear when he described the grace of salvation. "If it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace" (Rom. 11:6). In other words, if anyone adds their works to the all-sufficient work of Christ, they have nullified grace, which is the only way to be saved. These verses give a sharp contrast between the saving grace of God and the grace nullifying works of man.

There Are Only Two Groups of People

Everyone in the world is either on the narrow road that leads to life or is on the broad road to destruction (Mat. 7:13-14). Everyone is either a believer under God's grace, or an unbeliever under God's wrath. Regenerate people are alive in Christ and unregenerate people are dead in sin (Rom. 6:11; Eph. 2:1). The apostle Paul described people as either slaves to sin, or slaves to righteousness (Rom. 6:17-18). Everyone is either in Adam, or in Christ (1 Cor. 15:22). Every person is either a child of God, who is the creator of life, or a child of the devil, who is a destroyer of life (John 1:12; 1 John 3:10; 1 Pet. 5:8). According to God's court of justice, everyone on this earth is either justified and declared righteous or condemned and declared guilty (Rom. 5:18-19, James 2:10). Everyone is either trusting what the Lord Jesus has DONE to satisfy divine justice, or trusting what they believe they must DO. They need to know that You Can Never DO What Christ Has DONE.

The Gospel Offers No Middle Ground

Many people try to straddle the fence spiritually, remaining undecided and showing little urgency about which side they will ultimately choose. Yet the Gospel does not leave us in the middle. Scripture presents humanity in clear and distinct categories. There are those who have been called out of the world and those who foolishly choose to remain in the world (John 15:19; 1 John 4:5). Everyone is either walking in the light or is stumbling in darkness (1 Thes. 5:5, 1 Peter 2:9; Prov. 4:19). People are either free in Christ or in bondage to sin and Satan (Gal.5:1; John 8:34; 2 Tim. 2:26). Their lives are characterized by deeds of the flesh or by the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-25). People are either lovers of God or lovers of the world (1 John 2:15-17). One day our Lord will return in glory and separate all the people of the world into two groups. He will welcome all of His sheep (believers) into His eternal kingdom and send all the goats (unbelievers) to be punished in the eternal fire (Mat. 25:31-46).

Roman Catholicism Created a False Middle Ground

This apostate religion, known for its superstitions and lying signs and wonders, fabricated a place called "purgatory", which has become a safety net for Catholics. Those who think their sins are not grave enough to warrant hell are trusting a purifying fire to purge their "venial" sins in this fictitious place called purgatory. The Lord Jesus reproves this lie when declared there are only two destinations after death. He said, "...the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Mat. 7:13-14).

The Purity of the Gospel Must Be Defended

Those who desire to uphold the glory and honor of our Lord Jesus Christ will recognize the vital importance of Contending for the Gospel. We are called to fight the good fight of faith—to remain sanctified by the truth and to preserve the unity of the faith (John 17:17; Eph. 4:13). Therefore, we must faithfully guard the power, purity, and exclusivity of the Gospel, refusing to compromise the truth that has been entrusted to us. May God give us the courage and comittment to protect this treasure for His glory and the salvation of sinners.

Mike, Your arrogance and pride causes such a lack of respect for the Mother of our Redeemer. You reveal a lack of knowledge and understanding of Scripture. Mary is God’s perfect creation because of her complete humility and total obedience to Him. For this reason, God has elevated Mary above any other creature. So, don’t act as if you are above her. Since Jesus is the new Adam, then Mary is the new Eve, and since Jesus is our King, then Mary is the Queen. After you learn the truth of the Gospel you will be able to proclaim it properly. Frank, Internet

Frank, Your veneration of Mary goes against God's Word. I pray you will consider the inspired Word of God from Paul: "I am determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). He is the author and perfecter of the faith (Heb. 12:2).

Mike, I finally looked up every reference on your tract Roman Catholicism: Scripture vs Tradition since it sounded so preposterous! Shockingly it is all true which is why I am so keen on this tract. S.I., Wildomar, CA

S.I., This is why it has become our most popular Gospel tract for Catholics. I contrasted verses from the Catholic Bible with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This forces Catholics to make a decision that has eternal consequences. They need to decide whether to trust Christ and His Word or the teachings and traditions of their religion. The tract is now available in Korean, Spanish and Portuguese.

Mike, You make a "living" being an anti-Catholic who says he's "proclaiming the Gospel" but basically are a parasite. You are living off the "story" of how you left the Catholic Church so you could become an "anti-Catholic." Quite a sad "living." The story of your "priest-uncle" is a tired tale. It may be objectively true but essentially means nothing because both of you seem like you were poorly catechized. Deep down, below the veneer of anti-Catholic tropes, you know that all Protestant sects are no more than 500 years old.

R.O., Internet

R.O., I love Catholics and have dedicated my life to equipping the Body of Christ to be effective witnesses to them. I am only anti-Catholic in the sense that I hate and oppose the religion that deceives 1.4 billion people about the only way to be reconciled to God. Nowhere in the Bible do you find the “one true church” praying to Mary and the saints, submitting to infallible bishops, praying for souls in purgatory, baptizing infants, receiving grace through sacraments, or confessing to priests. This proves the Roman Catholic Church was not the first church and is not the true church.  

Mike, I really like your talks and interviews! You have opened my eyes. As a cradle RC, I am on the brink of leaving that religion. Naturally I'm scared because of the eternal damnation they threaten us with. I am very excited about studying all this more. John, Internet

Mike and Jane, I honestly never expected a response to my question, knowing how busy you both must be. I cannot express how grateful I am, especially for your prayers for my 83 year old Catholic dad. I will be studying, praying, and searching your website today in preparation for my meeting. Thank you for all that you do. M.C., Elyria, OH

The Papacy's Role in the One World Religion

How can two religions which appear to be vastly different in theology ever unite to worship a false Christ? Mike's message on Bible Prophecy at Community Bible Church in Beaufort, South Carolina answers that question. His message entitled Will Islam and Catholicism Unite in a Global Religion? reveals Roman Catholicism has more in common with Islam than it does with Biblical Christianity. Mike also suggests how the papacy might be the catalyst for uniting the religions of the world. Click here to watch it.