The Prosperity Gospel Cannot Save You

Added: 2026-05-11

[00:00:00]We want to take a moment to thank our sponsor for this series, Jesse Duplantis Ministries.

[00:00:05]Don't ever go there. Love you guys. See you next time.

[00:00:09]>> [music] [music] >> What if the prosperity gospel doesn't just get things wrong? What if it preaches a completely different gospel?

[00:00:25]And if that's true, what are the consequences? Over the course of this series, we've walked through four major claims of the prosperity gospel. The first is that God promises every believer health and wealth. The second is that faith is a tool to obtain those things. The third is that giving guarantees financial return. And the fourth is that suffering is a sign of weak faith. And we've tested each one against scripture. Not isolated verses, but the whole counsel of God. And what we've seen is this. These teachings do not align with the Bible. They distort the character of God, and they redefine the gospel itself. Because the true gospel does not promise you the world.

[00:01:03]It calls you to leave it. The true gospel does not say, "Come to Jesus and gain everything you want." It says, "Come to Jesus and lose your life, that you may truly live." The prosperity gospel promises what the flesh already desires. Comfort, wealth, ease, success.

[00:01:20]And because of that, of course people come. But they're not coming for Christ.

[00:01:24]They're coming for what they think Christ will give them. John Calvin said, "It is no part of the gospel that believers should always flourish in wealth and ease. Rather, through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of God." That's the biblical pattern.

[00:01:39]Not comfort, not perseverance, not earthly riches, but eternal glory.

[00:01:45]Charles Spurgeon reminds us, "Faith is not given to make us wealthy, but to unite us to Christ. And when you have Christ, you have everything." John MacArthur makes it clear. "Giving is not a scheme for personal enrichment. It's an act of worship. God promises to meet your needs, not to make you rich." And R.C. Sproul reminds us, "Suffering is not outside of the will of God. It is one of the very means he uses to sanctify his people."

[00:02:14]So, what's the real issue here? The prosperity gospel doesn't just misinterpret a few verses. It shifts the focus of the Christian life. If this were just a few verses here or there, we would say, "Okay, secondary, tertiary things. Everybody disagrees on some of those things. Not a huge deal." This is a huge deal. It shifts the focus from God to man.

[00:02:34]From his glory to your comfort. From eternal riches to temporary gain.

[00:02:39]And when you do that, you don't just distort the gospel, you replace it. So, why do this series? Because I love God.

[00:02:47]And as a Christian, I'm called to call out false teaching, especially when it harms his people and distorts his glory.

[00:02:54]This is not about winning arguments.

[00:02:55]It's not about gaining any material wealth myself. This is about protecting the sheep. And my plea is this. If you're caught in this movement, take scripture seriously. Test what you're hearing. Search the word of God. Don't settle for promises that the Bible never makes. And to those that are preaching this message, I don't say this lightly.

[00:03:17]Repent.

[00:03:18]Turn from a gospel that cannot save, and turn to Christ. There is grace. There is forgiveness. There is restoration in him. And I would love to see you in true fellowship with the church. Worshiping the true Christ. Preaching the true gospel. Does my claim mean that I believe that everyone who sits under a prosperity preacher is lost? No. That's not how grace works. And there are so many people that God has rescued from this movement who were already saved when they were in it. But, when they are saved, they aren't saved because of their church's doctrine. They're saved in spite of it.

[00:03:56]But, hear this clearly.

[00:03:58]If you continue to preach a false gospel. If you continue to lead people astray.

[00:04:04]If you continue to exploit the sheep of God, his very bride, there will be a day of reckoning. Because the church is his bride, and he will not be mocked. So, brother, sister, repent. Turn from false promises and come to Jesus. Not for what he can give you, but for who he is.

[00:04:27]If this series has helped you, go ahead and like this video, subscribe to Ref to Mark, and click that bell so you can continue to grow in your understanding of God's word. And if you haven't watched the first episode in this series, go back and start there. We'll link it right here. Because this isn't about exposing error. It's about knowing the truth. And the truth is Christ. We want to take a moment to thank our sponsor for this series, Jesse Duplantis Ministries.

[00:04:53]Don't ever go there. Love you guys. See you next time.

[00:04:58]>> [music] [music]