The gospel found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is: [1] that Christ died to pay for all your sins (past, present and future) according to the scriptures, [2] He was buried and [3] He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
By believing in the above gospel alone (and not adding any works to it), you are eternally saved and sealed – guaranteeing your salvation.
Front-loading and back-loading works into the gospel is just that – adding works to the pure, simply gospel message, rendering it a false gospel that doesn’t save anyone who believes in it.
What are works? [1] You can “work” the law by following the law. [2] Doing good deeds.
The true gospel that saves (salvation) = Faith + Nothing
What is front-loading the gospel with works?
It is flat out saying that in addition to faith in the gospel, you must “turn from your sins” to be saved, which is essentially following the law to be saved. It is trusting partly in Christ’s sacrifice, but mostly in your own works of law keeping.
False front-loaded gospel (that doesn’t save) = Faith + Works
What is back-loading the gospel with works?
This is the most deceitful, deceptive, fearful and evil false gospel out there, and there are many who claim to be Christian that fall for it. Back-loading works into the gospel is essentially saying that faith alone – no works – is salvation, but, if you don’t have a sufficiently changed life (which cannot be explained or quantified because it’s not in the bible), or you’re, “living like the devil” (again, cannot be explained or quantified because it’s not in the bible), you’re not truly saved. What this logic leads to, is to you examining yourself and saying to yourself, “Man, I don’t know if I’m truly saved because I don’t think I have a sufficiently changed life. I mean, I still commit this sin and that sin. I better turn from those sins to prove I’m truly saved.” Thus, “back-loading” works in the gospel (turning from “this” sin and “that” sin to prove you’re saved). So, when you go before Christ and He says, “Why should I let you into heaven?”, and you say, “Well, I believe in you and to prove it I’ve turned from this sin and that sin and that other sin.” This false gospel leads most people into some serious fear, depression and anxiety because they never have assurance of salvation because they know that they never measure up. The others who love this false gospel are so prideful and blinded that they actually think that they have a sufficiently changed life (based on their criteria) and have turned from all their sins, which they haven’t. So, a back-loaded gospel is saying, “You’re saved by faith alone, but if you haven’t turned from all your sins, you didn’t really believe.”
False back-loaded gospel (that doesn’t save) = Faith + Nothing + (having a truly changed life of law keeping)
Matthew 7:21-23 tells us that Christ will reject these people and their false gospels — “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father [the will of the Father is in John 6:40 — to believe in Jesus — not to “obey the law”] in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name [brought their works of prophesying], cast out demons in Your name [brought their works of exorcism], and done many wonders in Your name [brought many of their other works]?’ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (the iniquity of unbelief).
Luke 18:9-14 — Also He (Jesus) spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”