The Gospel Defined
.... A person’s final words carry special significance, and Jesus’ final commandment on the earth was to preach the gospel (Mark 16:15). The mystery of God, foretold through the ages, would be revealed through it. Our souls would be redeemed by it. Signs and wonders would follow it, and every nation on earth would hear it before the end. Yet in modern times, the meaning of ‘the gospel’ has become obscure and its preaching has become vague. In the sleepiness of time, it has evolved into a generic term for all Christian teachings. But is that how God intended it?
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.... In fact, Paul gave an actual definition of the gospel to tell us the information this message contains. It includes four basic parts, of which the knowledge of Jesus is chief:.
.... In fact, Paul gave an actual definition of the gospel to tell us the information this message contains. It includes four basic parts, of which the knowledge of Jesus is chief:..... "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand . . . For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve . . ."
(1 Corinthians 15:1-5)
.... So Paul’s definition of the gospel includes these four elements:
1. An understanding of who Jesus is (see Romans 10:9)
2. Jesus died for our sins, according to the Scriptures.
3. Jesus was raised again on the third day, according to the Scriptures.
4. Jesus was seen, after His resurrection, by many witnesses.
.... Each time the gospel was preached in the book of Acts — whether by Peter on the day of Pentecost or by Paul in a synagogue somewhere in Asia Minor — those four elements were included (Acts 2:22-36; 3:12-19; 4:8-13,20; 10:36-43; 13:23-38). Together, they represent the heart of the gospel message. This is the specific information one must hear and take to heart in trusting Jesus, in order to be saved from their sins by Him. We will continue this discussion in our next posting,
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Daily Bible Reading: Matthew 8
posted by loren at 11:12 AM
6 Comments:
No one can be saved without responding to this information in the gospel message, so we must be sure to include all of it when we evangelize:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
(Rom 1:16)
By
loren, at 4/18/2005 11:18 AM
The four points of the gospel mentioned in this posting are the real 'four spiritual laws'. We will recap them often in the postings to come.
By
loren, at 4/18/2005 1:17 PM
Interesting that Jesus set forth the example of preaching the gospel, the very thing He asks us to do.
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
Matthew 9:35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease £among the people.
Jesus is always faithful to be what He asks of us to be :those who preach the gospel.
By
Berry, at 4/18/2005 8:02 PM
Hi Berry,
Awesome insight! Jesus is both the teacher and the lesson; whoever is perfectly trained will be like Him
By
loren, at 4/19/2005 2:03 AM
Loren,
Another thought struck me today as I was meditating on the word. John tells us "in the beginning was the word" and later "The word became flesh and dwelt among us".
In any beginning must be the word. Jesus is the word that became flesh and dwelt among us. Our beginning in the kingdom is in Jesus. Our beginning of this day is Jesus. He is the beginning of all things eternal and real.
By
Berry, at 4/19/2005 11:27 PM
Loren,
This may be an over simplified question but here it goes: In establishing the first premise of 'who Jesus is', is there one scripture that succinctly defines that?
I'm thinking in line with when one shares the Gospel, what would be the best and quickest way to proclaim who Jesus is.
By
Anonymous, at 7/25/2006 11:38 AM
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