Apostasy and the Lost Gospel of Inheritance
Orientation
Apostasy arises when the Gospel is replaced by a message focused on sin management and self-effort, creating fear and condemnation.
- The true Gospel is the announcement of an eternal inheritance secured in Christ.
- A 'gospel of repentance' that demands radical sin renunciation is law preaching, not Good News.
- This exchange obscures the believer's secure position as a child and heir of God.
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. (Galatians 3:8)
— Galatians 3:8
Clarification
The Gospel is not about overcoming sin by willpower but about receiving the inheritance secured by Christ's death and resurrection.
- The law entered to reveal depravity and our need for a Savior, but the law is not the Gospel.
- Justification and sonship are received by faith in the message of Christ's finished work, not by our repentance or performance.
- Assurance is based on God's record concerning His Son, not on our subjective experience or progress.
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)
— Romans 4:5
Structure
The biblical logic moves from promise to inheritance: God announced the inheritance to Abraham, Christ secured it as the last Adam, and believers receive it as sons through faith.
- God's purpose is to produce many sons conformed to Christ's image, sharing His glory and inheritance.
- Christ's death for sins and resurrection for justification fully dealt with sin's accusation, securing the believer's position.
- The sealing of the Spirit is the pledge and guarantee of this future glory, given the moment one believes the Gospel.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
— 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Weight-Bearing Prose
The apostasy problem is theological, not moral. The core assertion is that the Gospel defined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4—Christ died for our sins and rose—is a positive announcement of inheritance and sonship. This is the ‘true Gospel.’ When this is lost, it is replaced by a ‘Gospel of repentance,’ which is functionally law preaching. This false gospel shifts focus to sin consciousness and self-effort, creating bondage and obscuring the believer’s secure, justified position in Christ. Pauline categories are essential here. Justification is by faith apart from works (Romans 4:5). The believer is begotten as a child of God and a co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:16-17). This is an unconditional inheritance, not a wage. The law served a temporary, post-Fall purpose to reveal depravity and highlight the need for re-creation in Christ (John 3:5), but it is not the content of the Gospel. The sealing of the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14) is the present guarantee of this future inheritance, given upon belief in the Gospel message. The objection that this leads to license misunderstands the Gospel’s power: it produces thanksgiving and joy from assurance, not fear-driven striving.
Integration
Your standing is secure. The Gospel is not a challenge to meet but a finished work to believe. Christ has died for your sins and risen for your justification. In believing this, you were sealed with the Spirit as a pledge of your inheritance. You are a child of God, an heir with Christ. This is not based on your performance or the fervency of your faith, but on the truth of God’s record concerning His Son. Rest here. The pressure is off. The inheritance is incorruptible, reserved in heaven for you. Your assurance is anchored in Christ’s work, not your effort. The Spirit bears witness that you are God’s child. Let this truth be your landing place and your stability. Christ is your righteousness, your sanctification, your redemption, and your reward. Everything is already secured in Him.