God deliver us from the apostasy of our generation! Derek Webb is an
extremely popular Contemporary Christian Music [CCM] singer, who has
effectively watered-down the Gospel of Jesus Christ and confused many young
people concerning what it means to be saved. This is one of Satan's tactics
of spiritual warfare in these Last Days, i.e., to confuse, mislead and
prevent lost sinners from becoming born-again. “What a great question. I guess I’d probably… my instinct is to say that it’s Jesus coming, living, dying, and being resurrected and his inaugurating the already and the not yet of all things being restored to himself… and that happening by way of himself… the being made right of all things… that process both beginning and being a reality in the lives and hearts of believers and yet a day coming when it will be more fully realized. But the good news, the gospel, the speaking of the good news, I would say is the news of his kingdom coming the inaugurating of his kingdom coming… that’s my instinct.”
Webb's wishy-washy answer is deficient, lacking clarification and teaches a false gospel. He's plainly states that he is going by his "instinct," which means that he clearly DOESN'T know what the Gospel is Biblically. Thankfully, we don't need to rely upon our frail and unreliable "instinct" because the Word of God clearly defines the Gospel (i.e., the good news) for us...
All men are sinners (Romans 3:10; 23). There is a penalty for sin—death (Romans 6:23). Not only physical death, but also spiritual death in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 21:8; 20:11-15). To commit even one sin makes us guilty of all in God's eyes (James 2:10). Our self-righteousness is filth to God (Isaiah 64:6; Titus 3:5). There is nothing we can do to save ourselves (Ephesians 2:8,9).
But God expressed his love toward us, knowing how sinful we would be, by sending His only begotten Son into the world to die for our sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). This is the good news. We don't have to go to Hell when we die, we can go to Heaven to be with the Lord because He has paid for our sins with His own blood (Acts 20:27).
Thus, we need Jesus' righteousness (Matthew 6:33; 1st Corinthians 5:21; Romans 10:3,4). Jesus paid for our sins, by sacrificing His precious literal, physical blood (1st Peter 1:18,19; Hebrews 9:12). Our sins can only be washed away by Jesus' blood (1st John 1:7; Revelation 1:5). We can be saved simply by acknowledging our GUILT of sin (Romans 3:19) and believing on Jesus as the Christ (Acts 10:43)... "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."
That's the Gospel which the Bible teaches. Webb's gospel is so vague that it doesn't say hardly anything. It is tragic that CCM singers, who influence MILLIONS of people, have dropped the ball concerning the Gospel. I challenge you to visit ANY mainstream so-called "Christian" artist today, and show me where they present the Biblical Gospel. You cannot. They're all a bunch of greedy hypocrites, who exploit Christianity to gain popularity and make lots of money.
In Romans 1:16 the Apostle Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Paul wasn't ashamed of the Gospel as all mainstream CCM singers are today. The Biblical Gospel includes telling people that the Bible condemns them to Hell fire as sinners. This means offending the audience and telling them the truth about sin. Of course, this means fewer fans and lost sales revenue. No wonder Amy Grant made the following horrible statement concerning soulwinning...
"I'm a singer, not a preacher, I'm not looking to convert anybody." (Los Angeles Times, 5/4/84, pg. 2-c)
Well, she sure has done a great job of not converting anybody, because all her fans are going to Hell fire no thanks to her. So sad! Amy Grant is a sellout, a big phony and a disgrace to the name of Christ. Sadly, millions of women have been influenced for Satan through Amy's adulterous lifestyle, worldly attitude and Christless testimony. The idea that a Christian singer is not expected by God to share the Gospel is unbiblical... "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise" (Proverb 11:30). I guess that means Amy is a fool.
Satan loves religious lingo that doesn't really say anything nor convey any comprehensible meaning. Every hellbound Catholic, Jehovah's Witness and Mormon would agree with Derek Webb's interpretation of the Gospel. Webb's lame definition of the Gospel has sparked quite a bit of controversy throughout various blogs. I won’t take the time to link them all, but they are easily found. There is no blood sacrifice, no focus upon man's sin, no need to be born-again, no requirement for repentance, no imputed righteousness, et cetera. There can be no salvation without repentance, i.e., a sincere acknowledgment of one's guilt for violating God's Law. We are sinners and Jesus is the Savior.
The idea that one can go to Heaven simply by making a commitment to God or dedicating one's life to Jesus is a false gospel. The issue of one's personal sins MUST be dealt with, which is why Jesus came to die on the cross for our SINS. The Apostle Paul states in 1st Corinthians 15:3, "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures." Amen! It was OUR SINS that nailed Jesus to the cross. Jesus came to save us... "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:17).
I am not trying to be unkind, but Derek Webb is just another imposter exploiting Christianity for his own personal gain (having sold over 1,000,000 albums so far). The world is dying and going to Hell while thousands of CCM artists (who have strong influence over tens-of-millions of fans) remain silent concerning the truth. I'd like to see just one CCM artist tell it like it is—warning people about the Satanic Catholic Church, warning people that they'll burn in Hell if they don't get born-again, warning people that the road to Hell is paved with religion, et cetera. Instead, CCM artists talk a bunch of ecumenical garbage and never make a genuine effort to get anybody saved. To get people saved, you have to start by showing them that they are hellbound sinners under the condemnation of God's Law. There can be NO salvation without the Law of God.
None of the Apostles started a
musical ministry. Jesus never focused upon music as a means
of evangelism. The Biblical method is preaching... "But
hath in due times manifested his word through preaching..."
(Titus 1:3). It would be a wonderful thing if the CCM
industry disappeared tomorrow permanently. Of course, a lot
of fakes a phonies would go broke. What America needs are
believers who love the Lord enough to tell the truth without
reserve or apology. God didn't hold back in His Word; He is
direct and in-your-face, which is why the Bible is the most
loved and hated Book in the world. God is brutally honest
and so should we be. CCM artists are covetous cowards!
