Yes, I agree. Many attending churches are also false converts because they have been given a false Gospel that lays upon them burdens of performance and fear and diminishes the perfect atoning work of Christ at the cross. So, yes, the Gospel does get "sugar-coated" but it also gets coupled to legalistic things that have no part whatever in how a person is saved (ie. good works).
The Gospel, as I read of it in Scripture, looks like this:
Four Main Steps in sharing the Gospel:
1.) The Warning:
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death...
John 3:36 (NKJV)
36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
Romans 2:5-6 (NKJV)
5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds"
Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV)
27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
Matthew 16:27 (NKJV)
27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
Matthew 10:28 (NKJV)
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
2.) The Message:
– God is perfectly holy. (Deut. 32:3, 4; 1Jn. 1:5)
– We are wicked sinners. (Jer. 17:9; Isa. 53:6; Ro. 3:23)
– Our sin separates us from God. (Ps. 5:4; Isa. 59:2; Ps. 1:5, 6)
– God offers to us reconciliation to Himself through Jesus Christ (Ro. 6:23; Jn.
3:16, 17; Col. 1:13-14; 1 Pe. 2:21-24; Isa. 53)
– If by faith we receive Christ as our Saviour, we will be saved from the just
punishment of our sin and be reconciled to God. (Ro. 8:9, 10; 1Jn. 5:11-13
; Jn. 3:16)
– Receiving Christ as one's Saviour involves a change of mind and behaviour, a
confessing of one's sins and a forsaking of them, and a turning to a life centered
upon Christ. (Matt 4:17; Mk. 1:15; Acts 2:38; 17:30; 1Jn. 1:8,9; Ja. 4:6-10)
3.) The Call:
2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV)
2 For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Matthew 9:12-13 (NKJV)
12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
2 Timothy 1:8-9 (NKJV)
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,
9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Revelation 3:20 (NKJV)
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
4.) The Counting:
Luke 14:25-33
Matthew 16:24-26 (NKJV)
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Colossians 3:2-10 (NKJV)
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,
7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
Yes, and others want to make the gift of salvation something that must be earned.
A saving faith is one that anticipates corresponding action; it is a faith that expects that what is believed will be manifested in how one thinks, feels and behaves; it is a faith that arises from the heart, not merely the head and steps out fully onto (and into) the "bridge of salvation" who is Christ, holding nothing back.