The Danger of "Plus"

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all." — Galatians 1:6-7 

What happens when you add to the Gospel?

Do you realize that if you add these elements to secure your salvation, you have just violated what Jesus instituted from the cross? When Jesus was hanging on the cross, He said to the thief on the cross, "Today, you will be with me in paradise." The thief never took communion. He did not get baptized, and yet he made it to heaven. That is very important.
The moment you say "faith in Christ plus baptism" or "faith in Christ plus communion" or "faith in Christ plus church membership," you've changed the Gospel. You've added a requirement that Jesus never added.

This is what Paul warned the Galatians about. They were adding circumcision to the Gospel. Paul said that's not the Gospel anymore. That's a different message entirely.
Jesus plus nothing equals salvation. Jesus plus anything equals heresy.

I know that sounds harsh, but it's true. The Gospel is that Christ's finished work on the cross is sufficient. When He said, "It is finished," He meant it. Nothing needs to be added. Nothing can be added.

When you tell someone they need to be baptized to be saved, you're saying Christ's death wasn't enough. When you tell someone they need to take communion to secure forgiveness, you're saying the cross was insufficient. When you add any human work to divine grace, you violate the Gospel.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Grace means unearned favor. The moment you add requirements, it's no longer grace. It's a transaction. It's a performance. It's works-based religion.

We are a Biblically based church. I know that cuts across many of our traditions. I will tell you lovingly as your pastor, do not depend upon tradition; instead, depend upon the Word of God.

Stop adding to the Gospel. Christ alone. Faith alone. Grace alone. Scripture alone. That's the message. That's the truth. That's what saves.

Anything else is a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all.