Do We Understand the Gospel?
The book of Romans is called by some “The ABC’s of the Christian faith,” and for good reason.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17
The words “gospel of Christ … is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.”
The word “gospel” appears 104 times in the Bible, all in the New Testament canon. The bless-ed word “gospel” means the good news. And why is the Gospel good news?
The Good News, the Gospel, is good because of the bad news. The bad news is that fallen mankind is separated from a holy God via his sin. This is the bad news.
The LORD is “Holy, holy, holy” and cannot have relationship with any person whom HE does not make holy by washing them of their sins (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). See also Psalms 5:4 and Habakkuk 1:13.
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6
Jesus came to take away the sins of the world so we can fellowship with God who is holy.
“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29
Our heavenly Father reconciled us back to Himself, out of a life of sin, through the precious blood of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ!
“God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:19
Read Romans chapter 3 in the King James Bible.
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: … 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:10, 23
The bad news is that we have “ALL have sinned” (Romans 3), and are all fully guilty. The impact, the guilt, and the shame is realized when we simply look at the Law of God—the 10 Commandments.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Exodus 20
- “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” v3
- “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:” v4
- “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” v7
- “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” v8
- “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” v12
- “Thou shalt not kill.” v13
- “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” v14
- “Thou shalt not steal.” v15
- “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” v16
- “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” v17
See Ten Commandments Evangelism [podcast]
The law of God convicts the sinner that he is just that—a sinner, separated from his Maker, “alienated from the life of God” (Ephesians 4:18). Then comes the Good News, the grace, the cross.
The law of God convicts. The Word of God rejoices the heart and enlightens the eyes.
“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” Psalms 19:7-8
The law of God convicts sinners, convinces them that they have sinned before a holy God, and brings them to Christ.
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is a good place to begin, where we read that the Gospel is the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ died, was buried, and raised again “for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). That’s the Gospel!
WAS JESUS loving? Yes. The Son of God who died on a cruel wooden cross for your sins was loving enough to warn you that you are going to eternal damnation if you don’t choose to love, worship, and serve Him—on HIS terms (Mark 9:43-49; Luke 12:4-5,etc.). John 3:16 informs us that God so loved the world that He sacrificed His only begotten Son to save you from sin and the lake of fire. Have you personally repented before a holy God and received Jesus into your life? Today is your day. If you are not 100% sure you are genuinely born again, go here first to Make Peace with God
Jesus Christ came as the sinless Son of God to die on a cross, be buried, and raised again from the dead to justify sinners (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 1 Timothy 1:15). CHRISTOLOGY.
We have all sinned against our Maker. We have all lied, stolen, and used His holy name in vain, etc… and are in desperate need of His saving mercy which He gave us in and through Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, was buried, and raised again from the dead to justify us (Romans 5:6-11).
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth (displayed) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” Romans 5:6-11
Jesus is God and sinless, and He came and died, was buried, and rose again. This is the Good News or Gospel in that He “finished” or “paid in full” the price for our sin with His own precious blood and thereby conquered sin and death saving those who will repent and believe, from having to pay for their own sins in hell forever (John 19:30). Jesus Christ alone fulfilled to the detail over 300 prophecies given by God through His prophets and He alone was qualified to satisfy the claims of His Father’s justice to redeem fallen mankind. He shed His sinless blood for our sin and He alone can save.
1 Corinthians 15
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
“The gospel” Paul preached was that “Christ died for our sins … he was buried …he rose again the third day.”
The apostle also tells us here that it is by THIS “gospel … ye are saved” and that you must “keep in memory” the truth contained in this blessed and only Gospel or you will not remain in Christ (John 15:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:2).
Jesus Christ paid a debt He did not owe and we owe a debt we cannot pay. So, to repent and receive Christ appropriates this unspeakable salvation into our personal lives!
Jesus Christ is unique in all of history. He alone was sent from God the Father, died, was buried, and rose again to rescue mankind from the sin that separated fallen men from God. One writer puts it this way:
“The essentials of the faith include the gospel: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 5:1-4); the triune nature of God (1 John 5:7); Jesus is only begotten Son of God (John 3:16); the virgin birth (Matthew 1:20-25); salvation by faith through grace (Ephesians 2:8); and the timing and consequences of the second coming of Christ (Revelation 22:18-19). The Word tells us believing in the doctrine of Christ is essential in having both the Father and His Son (2 John 1:9). It is critical Christians know how to defend against doctrines of demons and deceiving spirits that are distorting and compromising the essentials of the doctrine of Christ (1 Timothy 4:1, 1 John 2:25-29).”
Do you know Him? Find out how to know Him here He loves you!
SEEING a lot of the devil’s agents in our midst? JUST READ GOD’S WORD FOR YOURSELF as He told you to do beloved (2 Timothy 2:15).
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Abiding
Jesus Conquered Sin, Satan, and Death by Dying [podcast]
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:14-15
Through death Jesus conquered sin, death, and Satan and made His people free, washing away their sins in His precious blood and putting His Holy Spirit in them, empowering them to live fruit-filled victorious lives to His eternal glory!
Christ’s resurrection guarantees our resurrection – both now and for eternnity. Those raised up with Christ now are those who are crucified with Him. This is His holy “remnant.” (Isaiah 37:31; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15, etc.).
Jesus conquered sin and death (separation) by dying on His cross. Because of this, we need never live outside of an abiding relationship with Christ. His grace is sufficient to provide everything He died to purchase for us – and all these blessings are appropriated via our faith, our abiding in Him (John 15; Romans 6:14; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:24-26, etc.).
In order to be raised up, to walk in His resurrection power and grace, we must first be dead and buried with Christ.
“For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7
***ALL Heaven’s going to break out when this hits you in the heart, when your heart perceives this cross economy divine revelation.
Finishing Strong mean Finishing Crucified and Resurrected
HOW will you finish? It’s really how you finish that matters most! (2 Timothy 4:7-8) Finish strong beloved – lay down your life, death and burial, so that the strength of your life is Christ’s resurrection grace! (See 2 Corinthians 12:9-10) Go down deep.
“And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:” Isaiah 37:31
Read the verse above again, looking for the death, the burial, and raising up!
The context Isaiah 37:31 concerns Assyria seeking to seize Judah and yet out of that evil attempt to conquer God’s people came a “remnant.” Yet it’s those who submitted to the LORD in death, those who took root downward (death and burial) who were reciprocally raised up out of that snare and destruction. Resurrection grace wins every time, with no exception! The cross is the divine prescription for absolute victory in every situation.
God counteracts death by the promise of resurrection – now and in eternity! (1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12).
“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-12
The depth you allow God to bury you determines the height of His resurrection, His raising up in your life! (See 2 Corinthians 4:10-12)
“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” Proverbs 22:17-21
“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1-2
“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” 1 John 3:5-6
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Learning the Cross, the Crucified Life Where Jesus Reigns
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Articles
JT with Todd Tomasella of SAFEGUARD YOURSOUL – Evangelism Encouragement [video]
Joe Telford and Todd Tomasella – Evangelism Encouragement
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Abiding
7 Ways to Forgive [podcast]
PRAY
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:44
LOVE AND DO GOOD TO THE OFFENDER
“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” Romans 12:9
REFUSE TO SPEAK EVIL OF THE OFFENDER
“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.” Romans 12:14
RELEASE THEM FROM YOUR PUNISHMENT
“Recompense (repay) to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Romans 12:17-19
DON’T CELEBRATE THEIR FAILURES
“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.” Proverbs 24:17-18
TREAT THEM THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED
“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” Luke 6:31
STOP DWELLING ON THE PAST
“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.” Isaiah 43:18
The blessedness of being merciful to others:
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7
The only way to prevent holding a grudge, is to simply forgive them – as God freely forgave you through the infinite price Christ paid for your sins on the cross, of which you don’t deserve (Psalms 103:10).
“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.” James 5:7-9
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:30-32
Being kind and forgiving towards others becomes simple as we look in the mirror and declare with Paul the apostle: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing.” (Romans 7:18)
“He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” Psalms 103:10
Forgiveness becomes easy when we look in the mirror to see the person (us, me) who needs God’s mercy more than any other person alive on the earth! Memorize Ephesians 4:32 now. KJB
“For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” James 1:20
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Colossians 3:12-14
Forgiveness Quotes
Forgiveness is ultra important to God. If you don’t forgive all others, you are not forgiven of your own sin and are as sure for hell as if you were already there. If you refuse to forgive you damn your own soul, non-negotiably. irrevocably.
“Forgiveness does not mean what happened is okay. It means not letting what happened take any more of your happiness.” Michelle Maros
“There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.” Bryant McGill
“Love is an act of endless forgiveness. Forgiveness is me giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me. Forgiveness is the final act of love.” Reinhold Niebuhr
“Holding a grudge doesn’t make you strong; it makes you bitter. Forgiving doesn’t make you weak; it sets you free.” unknown
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