What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

It would be gravely remiss of me not to start this blog with an answer to this question.

I have heard many people give an account of what the gospel is. However, most people only give a snippet of what it is. Some people may say that that's the crucial part - that Jesus died for our sins, but it leaves out so much, even if you include repentance.

You see, this Gospel is not our own, so we should not add to or subtract from it in any way. Even in witnessing, we need to declare its fullness. To say any less is not the Gospel.

The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bible tells us that God created man "in our own image". And when He did, he gave Adam a command with a warning. Adam (and Eve) broke that command. In doing so, he broke not only that command but the 'world' God had designed man (man and woman) to live in. God told Adam that should he eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, he "would surely die". Enter in, sin, and death, disease, pain and anguish, and decay.

The disobedient act above is called sin. Any act (thought, word, action) that goes against the nature and will of God is a sin. The punishment for sin is eternal death, God warned Adam of this.

Adam and Eve were evicted from the garden. Sin separates us from God.

God chose a people of His own to demonstrate to the whole world His Sovereignty, Glory, Mercy, and Majesty, who became known as Israel. God gave Israel laws to cover their sins; when they sinned they had to slaughter an animal and shed it's blood, as was done at the time of the first sin. These laws were for a time until God himself would come to end the punishment of all sin from the earth once and for all - and I mean once and FOR ALL.

God did this in the person of Jesus Christ. There are over 400 Old Testament scriptures that tell of the coming Christ, including where he would be born and what he would do - all proved to be true.

The ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ started with the baptisms of John, where we see the Trinity (God as one essence as three equal persons) in action.

Christ's ministry was different to any other, and he was different to all other teachers. People, including scholarly Jewish people, marvelled at the wisdom and authority in Jesus' teaching.

Jesus taught that love is greater than any act of the law, and even in keeping of the whole law, if it were possible by any human person. Jesus taught that there was nothing more important than to keep THE two commandments; to love God with all your heart mind soul and strength and to love others as yourself. Jesus taught that if you thought in your mind to hurt someone, then you have in fact hurt them, and sinned in doing so. We remember the punishment for sin is eternal death.

This love Jesus taught is far greater, above and beyond, than you may think to know.

Jesus said that even the non-believers love their friends and family, He calls believers to go much further. He says to love your enemies. I struggle with this calling, but it seems this is what ultimately defines a believer.

The primary message Jesus gave was to repent, the Kingdom of Heaven was near (believe). To repent is to entirely change your self-seeking life and, instead, turn to God and love Him with all heart, soul, mind and strength.

Jesus also said, "repent, and be baptised", Mark 16:15-18.

Jesus said if you love me you WILL obey me. If you obey me, you LOVE ME.

You can try to depart from that if you like, but Jesus gave all believers a very hard warning. He said many will come to me and say "Lord, Lord" but he will say "depart from me, I never knew you".

In the Gospel of John, John writes that others will know we are Christians by our love for one another (believers). However, Jesus says what truly marks a Christian is those who are willing to go further.

In addition to Jesus' teaching, He healed the sick, repaired extremities, cast out demons and raised the dead. An example of the complete healing we will receive (eventually) when we come to Him.

When Jesus healed people, he often said, "Sin no more".

He visited with the poor and rich alike. He was ostracized for His visiting with "sinners" because he was regarded as a teacher (and should therefore not sit with sinners) even by those who opposed Him.

Jesus said to Peter, who do you say that I am. Peter responded that he is the Son of the Living God. Jesus retorted that it was the Father (God) who had revealed this to Peter.

In the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) Jesus is recorded as saying that He came to "give His life as a ransom".

God tells us in His word that we "all fall short of the glory of God", and that even our righteousness is but "filthy rags". Jesus clarified this with His teaching that what we do in our hearts is as good as done.

Jesus foretold what would happen to Him. That he would die and in three days be raised again. And that is what happened. He was crucified, put in a tomb, and three days later was raised to life. He was then seen by many people for over 40 days before going to be with the Father. I highly recommend reading the Gospel accounts, starting with John, then Matthew, Mark, Luke.

A ransom is paid to free something. In this case, the thing that Jesus ransomed was our soul from eternal death - hell. This equates to our sins, all past and future being forgiven. But PLEASE, you CANNOT make a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and live an unrepentant, self-seeking, self-indulgent life. There is no point trying to mock God.

John 3:16.

Like Adam, if you have sinned you will reap eternal death, unless.

Unless, as God tells us in His word if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord you will be saved, Romans 10:9.

Faith is a gift given to us from God, Ephesians 2:8-9. And the Bible tells us that everything is from Him and for Him.

This gift of being ransomed by the Lord Jesus Christ cannot be earned by doing any good thing. I don't care how good or evil you are, scripture tells us that all have fallen short and he has died for all. It is also God's wish that none should perish.

You cannot earn this gift of faith in Jesus Christ, only BELIEVE.

John 3:36 tells us that "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him."

When one makes the first true step to repent and believe, in that moment they are endued with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:17, Romans 10:17, John 3:5), born again and given a new life in Christ, 1 Peter 1:23. At that very moment, you become in Christ. In Christ, we are blessed with all the blessings in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3-6). We are made righteous, Romans 5:1.

We have now been set free from sin. It no longer has the power of death over us. We are made alive in Christ.

The Bible tells us we are given the mind of Christ and power of the Holy Spirit. His mind and power give us freedom to live for Christ the way he wants us to live it. This power changes us to become more like the Lord Jesus Christ; this is not something we can do on our own. We cannot do it without God the Holy Spirit working in us. To believe anything else is prideful and putting yourself before God.

In this new life, others will mock you, you will be ridiculed. However, you will also be set apart and made Holy, just as He himself is Holy.

There is nothing more glorious for a human being than to be given the gift of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and to live forever abiding in Him.

If you have chosen to believe in Jesus Christ, He has become your Saviour, now it is time to make Him your Lord -the Lord of your entire life. For, He is Lord and the Bible tells us that one day every knee will bow and confess Jesus Christ is Lord.

If you can remember a single scripture verse for the rest of your life, remember this, Romans 12 verse 2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. How do you do this? Read your bible every single day without fail. And find a bible reading and preaching church, not in the charismatic movement.

 

Thank God always throughout your day for everything, and lean on Him. His ways are not our ways. He is greater.