In my previous article we saw that prosperity gospel teachers root their claim for blessings in the Abrahamic Covenant. These blessings, according to those teachers and preachers, include: health, wealth, and all-round victory in life. Linked with that, heralds of the prosperity gospel often claim that Jesus’ death and resurrection guarantees a suffering-free life of abundance. But is that true? My aim in this article is to answer that question.
Heralds of the prosperity gospel claim that Jesus’ death and resurrection guarantees a suffering-free life of abundance.
In his book, Winning the War against Poverty, David Oyedepo, a leading prosperity gospel preacher in Africa says: “Jesus by his death on the cross, rendered the curse of the law that was upon us null and void and brought us into the Abrahamic covenant of blessings” (p68). In other words, the covenant blessings God promised to Abraham are understood to mean health and wealth, which we get through faith. Furthermore, Oyedepo among many others claims, because Christ took away the curse of the law we should expect only blessings. Below I explain why I think this isn’t true.
God’s Promises to Abraham
After Adam and Eve sinned (Genesis 3:6), God pronounced a curse on mankind (Genesis 3:16-19). Simultaneously, he promised coming salvation, through one of their descendants (Genesis 3:15). A few chapters on we read about God’s calling of Abraham. It’s a calling that contains glorious promises, undoing the curse (Genesis 12:2-3). God said he would multiply Abraham’s offspring, give them a land, and that those people would be a tremendous blessing to the whole world.
Christ became a curse for us, so that the blessings of the covenant might come to Gentiles in Christ.
Now, in what sense have these promises been fulfilled in Christ? Paul says in Galatians 3:13-14 that Christ became a curse for us, so that the blessings of the covenant might come to Gentiles in Christ. But does this mean that believers are entitled to the exact same promises? Should New Testament believers expect to be an innumerable nation, living in God’s promised land, enjoying every material blessing imaginable?
The Abrahamic Covenant and Christians
It’s generally understood that God’s promise to Abraham entailed a land, many descendants, and that they would be a great nation. Let’s briefly consider those in light of the New Testament.
1. The New Heavens and the New Earth
Firstly, God promised Abraham a land (Genesis 12:1). This would be a place marked by fellowship with God and freedom from threat. Yet, in Hebrews we read that even Abraham wasn’t preoccupied with a stretch of land in the Middle East (Genesis 13:15; Deuteronomy 30:1-10). He looked forward to something greater, a city with eternal foundations built by God (Hebrews 11:10).
Abraham looked forward to something greater, a city with eternal foundations built by God.
While God promised Abraham a land, he has given all authority on heaven and earth to his Son, Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:16-20; 28:18). Note, however, that when he sent his disciples into all of the earth it was with the purpose of making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). Disciples from every tribe, tongue, and nation (Revelation 7:9). Like Abraham we shouldn’t set our hopes on this earth. For we’ve inherited the promise of a new heavens and a new earth, ruled by Christ (Revelation 21:1-3). We will dwell there forever with the Lord.
2. The Greatness of Giving Ourselves to Service
Next, God promised to make Abraham a great nation (Genesis 12:2). What did this mean? What would a people blessed by God look like?
Measuring greatness through what we have is a sign that we haven’t understood the blessings of God.
Yes, their enemies would be defeated, which is what makes Christ the promised seed of Eve (Genesis 3:15; Galatians 3:16). Furthermore, they would be a people marked by service of others, a people who were a blessing to other nations and peoples. This is why Peter describes the church as a holy nation and royal priesthood, chosen by God (1 Peter 2:9). Significantly, God’s great nation was always meant to be a blessing to those around them. This was meant to be the case for Israel; and it should be a description of the church.
Measuring greatness through what we have, rather than what we give, is a sign that we haven’t understood the blessings of God (Acts 20:35). For the Son of Man didn’t come to be served but to serve (Matthew 20:28). We should be like him.
3. A Multitude Born by Grace
Thirdly, God promised Abraham many descendants, through whom the above blessings would come (Genesis 12:2-3; 18:18). How is this the case? Well, God’s greatest gift—his most remarkable blessing—was a descendant of Abraham: Jesus Christ. Thus Paul writes: “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29).
The gospel creates an innumerable multitude of people, across the world.
Importantly, that chapter of Galatians is all about being made right with God; it’s about justification by faith. How does God bless all peoples through Jesus, through the promised descendant of Abraham? In the gospel, by faith. That gospel creates an innumerable multitude of people, across the world. And through them God’s love is shown and shared with all peoples. Well, it’s meant to be. For faith isn’t seen in what we get but through how much we give.
Get True Prosperity in Jesus
By now I’m sure you can see that I don’t believe God promises disciples material wealth and health in this life. After all, he calls on his people to endure suffering and live selfless, sacrificial lives of obedience. So what, if anything, does the Christian gain?
Consider two verses. “In [Christ] we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Ephesians 1:11). “We have been born again into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4).
Jesus didn’t die so that we could have a bunch of things that won’t last forever.
It’s the above truths that are behind Jesus warnings about worldly wealth. “Do not lay-up treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19). “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). Thus Paul would later write: “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9). Back to Jesus: “What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?” (Luke 9:25).
We have to read the Abrahamic promises and passages like 2 Corinthians 8:9 in light of the above: “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” He didn’t die so that we could have a bunch of things that won’t last forever. Jesus secured true prosperity.
Beware the Lies
Have you been lured into believing the prosperity gospel? Have you put your faith in a message that is not a gospel at all? Do you see how fleeting and transient their promises are compared to the glorious riches found in Christ? The new covenant is founded on better promises (Hebrews 8:6); not a temporal inheritance, but an eternal one (Hebrews 6:12; 10:34; 11:13-16).
In Christ your momentary troubles are achieving an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Finally, to the suffering saint. Don’t settle for the cheap, perishing offers of prosperity gospel preachers. Put your trust in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and eternal life. Nothing is greater. In him your light and momentary troubles are achieving for you an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4:17). Those who die in Christ will have every tear wiped away by God (Revelation 21:4). For then there will be no more death or mourning, crying or pain. The old order of things will pass away.
