The Counterfeit Gospel Of The 2002 Religious Movie "Joshua"

Galatians 1:6-9 “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

Joshua is a 2002 American drama film based on the novel of the same name by Joseph F. Girzone. It was produced by Crusader Entertainment LLC and directed by Jon Purdy. I enjoyed watching the film, but cringed when I heard their damnable false plan of salvation. The religious film stars journeyman actors' Tony Goldwyn and F. Abraham Murray. These are two of my favorite Hollywood actors. Tony Goldwyn plays the role of Joshua (Jesus) in the film. Unfortunately, the film is extremely ecumenical, blurring the line between the cult of Roman Catholicism and Bible Christianity. 

Much worse, the film presents a deadly false plan of salvation. About halfway through the film, Joshua brings character Father Pat Hayes (played by Kurt Fuller) to a ministry music concert featuring the real life Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) group, Third Day. Character Kevin (played by Matt Zeigler) is invited to give his testimony, in which he says the following:

“Thank you. Uh, there's a long time where I felt a bit lonely, I guess, and angry. And ah, it was like I was missing something in my life, but I couldn't figure out what that something was. And I've realized that it was God who I was needing, and that all I needed to do was open my heart up and ask Him to be a part of my life; and I did.” [emphasis added] SOURCE: Joshua, Kevin speaking at a Third Day, CCM ministry concert; 2002

Dear reader, what you just read is NOT the Bible way to Heaven. The film Joshua misleads viewers to believe in a counterfeit plan of salvation—a heretical fallacy that cannot produce the new birth required to enter into God's Kingdom. Joshua 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In the movie, Kevin fails to mention that Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God. Kevin fails to mention that we are all guilty sinners. Kevin fails to mention Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, His burial or His bodily resurrection three days later. Nothing Kevin says is how a person gets saved!

You don't get saved by asking Jesus to be a part of your life!!! Jesus was a major part of Judas Iscariot's life, but Judas had a devil in him (John 6:70). Judas perished in his sins and went to Hell forever without Christ as His personal Savior.

We also read about the false prophets in Matthew 7:21-23 who called Jesus "Lord, Lord." Yet, Jesus denied knowing them as His sheep. They had not been born-again by faith alone in Christ alone. Instead, they foolishly served Christ as a substitute for the new birth. They preached in Jesus' name. They did many wonderful works in Jesus' name. Yet, Jesus denied knowing them as His sheep, and they were cast into Hell to burn forever. Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born-again.

Dear reader, I did not write and publish this article to be critical of others; but rather, to warn you about the false gospel of the movie, Joshua. RIGHT DOCTRINE MATTERS!!! My heart's desire is for you to go to Heaven when this earthly life is over. The inspired Holy Bible teaches that you can know you are saved.  We can know beyond any shadow of a doubt that we are saved, because a man's salvation does not rest upon his best performance; but rather, upon the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ. My faith is solely resting in Christ's sacrifice on the cross for my sins; upon His precious blood that He shed for my sins (1st Peter 1:18-19); upon His resurrection from the dead (1st Thessalonians 4:14). What a savior!!!

You cannot be saved by asking Jesus into your life. You cannot be saved by inviting Christ into your heart, nor by serving Him or following Him as your Lord. You must be born again!!! Salvation is a matter of coming to God as a guilty sinner and simply believing that Jesus did it all for you on Calvary's cross. Beware of all the unbiblical rhetoric today that obscures the light of the truth of the Gospel.

Please warn others. Asking Jesus into your life is another gospel. That is not the Bible way to Heaven. You must admit to God that you are a guilty needy sinner (Romans 3:19-20). You must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God (John 20:31). You must place your confidence is Jesus because of what He did to pay for your sins (Romans 4:4-7). Jesus died on a cross, paying a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay (2nd Corinthians 5:21). He was buried and after three days physically raised up from the dead (1st Corinthians 15:1-6). Thank you for reading my blog. Jesus is precious!!!