Is Prosperity the Promise of the Gospel?

The Gospel

Is Prosperity the Promise of the Gospel?

25 min

The Gospel

Is Prosperity the Promise of the Gospel?

25 min

Episode 532 Show Notes

From the Show

What makes the prosperity gospel so bad is that it’s a false gospel. Ever since the days of the Apostles, we have had to be on guard against false gospels. The book of Galatians was written at a time where essentially a false gospel was gaining traction in the church. Paul said at the beginning of Galatians that people were preaching a gospel which was not even a gospel. It wasn’t good news, certainly not the good news according to Scripture. And I would place the prosperity gospel in that same category.

–Adriel Sanchez

Questions in this Episode

1. I have a question on 1 Peter 4:6 which says “For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.” As far as I understand, there is no opportunity for salvation once people died. but in the passage above, what does that mean “gospel was preached to those who are even dead”?

2. Do you think it is right for the church to pay pastors? Wouldn’t it be better for pastors to earn their living at a job rather than asking other people to support them? Isn’t this just using God’s name to guilt people and take advantage of them?

3. Why do some Bibles have more books in them than other ones? Who decided that those other books, the Apocrypha, shouldn’t be in some Bibles?

4. What makes the prosperity gospel so bad? Why wouldn’t I want God’s blessings in my life?

5. I was driving to Las Vegas last weekend and saw a couple of billboards that Jesus saves, repent, the end is coming, etc. Is this really an effective way to witness?

Resources

The Gospel-Driven Life: Being Good News People in a Bad News World by Michael Horton

Woman Designs Sturdy Cardboard Beds For Overrun Hospitals in India — And Her Proud Family Sells Them At Cost

Offers

Request our latest special offers here or call 1-833-THE-CORE (833-843-2673) to request them by phone.

Want to partner with us in our work here at Core Christianity? Consider becoming a member of the Inner Core.

Sola Newspaper

Today's Offer

Sola Newspaper

A quarterly print publication featuring articles on theology, the confessions, & reflections for the Christian life, delivered straight to your mailbox. For free.

Subscribe Now

Michael Horton (Ph.D., Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and Coventry University) is the J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California and Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Sola Media.

Help more people know what they believe and why.

Support trusted articles, podcasts, and resources that deepen faith, point people to Christ, and strengthen the church.

Give Monthly