Post by foxjj on Nov 16, 2022 22:43:20 GMT
At The Heart Of The Gospel Message.
At the heart of The Gospel Message are the teachings of Jesus Christ who often used parables in His teachings. As an example, in Matthew 13:3-9 He spoke concerning the different types of people who would hear His message along with their reactions to it:
“Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear."
In this particular parable, the farmer represents one who shares the Gospel message (the seed). Jesus then spoke of the different types of people who hear the Gospel message, explaining that there are those who hear the message but fail to understand, consequently, the evil one will come and snatch away what they have heard. Furthermore, He said, that there are people who receive the Good News of the Gospel, but if they have no roots, and times of trouble come, they will fall away. Jesus also spoke of people who hear the Gospel however, because of the worries of this life, combined with the deceitfulness of wealth, they will also fall away. On the other hand there are the ones whose hearts are open to the Gospel message and receive it with understanding. They will share the message and produce a Godly harvest.
Paul’s teaches also stresses the heart of the Gospel, to him it was of first importance: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”(1 Corinthians 15: 3-4)
These facts concerning Christ are not hearsay. On the contrary they are recorded historic happenings. Spurgeon put it this way: “Our religion is not based upon opinions, but upon facts. We hear persons sometimes saying, ‘Those are your views, and these are ours.’ Whatever your ‘views’ may be, is a small matter; what are the facts of the case?”
Jesus did not die for His sins, but ours, as the epistle to the Hebrews states in 7:26-28 while referring to Jesus as our high priest: “For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.”
Where Paul wrote: “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,” he was referring to the Old Testament Scriptures, because, the New Testament was still being written and not yet recognized as Scripture. As an example; Old Testament Scriptures such as Psalm 22:4-18 is a descriptor of Crucifixion long before the Romans used it as their mode of execution:
“I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
my strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
For dogs encompass me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet—
I can count all my bones—
they stare and gloat over me;
they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”
Isaiah 53 describe Messiah’s agonizing death:
“Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:4-9)
As evidence that Jesus died; His physical body, was laid in a tomb. The resurrection was in fulfillment of Old Testament Scriptures such as Psalm 16:10 where it states: “You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your holy one see decay.”
As evidence that Jesus arose from the dead there are many eyewitness: ”and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” (1 Corinthians 15:5-8)
Jesus, our Savior came as a light to our dark world with a message of hope: "Then Jesus cried out, "Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." (John 12:44-46)
Following Jesus leads to eternal life. He is the light sent by the Father to lead those who will believe from the darkness of this deceitful world, into the light of Gods eternal truth. What a wonderful promise for those of us who have heard the Gospel message and received it with understanding and joy. We have crossed over from a life of darkness, into Jesus' wonderful light because, we are the ones who "had ears to hear."
This is the heart of The Gospel message - The Good News - Jesus Christ came to atone for our transgressions, showing the love of God, and offering peace and hope to you and I.
Today, let us praise The Lord for His Gospel of hope.
John Joseph Fox.
At the heart of The Gospel Message are the teachings of Jesus Christ who often used parables in His teachings. As an example, in Matthew 13:3-9 He spoke concerning the different types of people who would hear His message along with their reactions to it:
“Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear."
In this particular parable, the farmer represents one who shares the Gospel message (the seed). Jesus then spoke of the different types of people who hear the Gospel message, explaining that there are those who hear the message but fail to understand, consequently, the evil one will come and snatch away what they have heard. Furthermore, He said, that there are people who receive the Good News of the Gospel, but if they have no roots, and times of trouble come, they will fall away. Jesus also spoke of people who hear the Gospel however, because of the worries of this life, combined with the deceitfulness of wealth, they will also fall away. On the other hand there are the ones whose hearts are open to the Gospel message and receive it with understanding. They will share the message and produce a Godly harvest.
Paul’s teaches also stresses the heart of the Gospel, to him it was of first importance: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”(1 Corinthians 15: 3-4)
These facts concerning Christ are not hearsay. On the contrary they are recorded historic happenings. Spurgeon put it this way: “Our religion is not based upon opinions, but upon facts. We hear persons sometimes saying, ‘Those are your views, and these are ours.’ Whatever your ‘views’ may be, is a small matter; what are the facts of the case?”
Jesus did not die for His sins, but ours, as the epistle to the Hebrews states in 7:26-28 while referring to Jesus as our high priest: “For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.”
Where Paul wrote: “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,” he was referring to the Old Testament Scriptures, because, the New Testament was still being written and not yet recognized as Scripture. As an example; Old Testament Scriptures such as Psalm 22:4-18 is a descriptor of Crucifixion long before the Romans used it as their mode of execution:
“I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
my strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
For dogs encompass me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet—
I can count all my bones—
they stare and gloat over me;
they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”
Isaiah 53 describe Messiah’s agonizing death:
“Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:4-9)
As evidence that Jesus died; His physical body, was laid in a tomb. The resurrection was in fulfillment of Old Testament Scriptures such as Psalm 16:10 where it states: “You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your holy one see decay.”
As evidence that Jesus arose from the dead there are many eyewitness: ”and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” (1 Corinthians 15:5-8)
Jesus, our Savior came as a light to our dark world with a message of hope: "Then Jesus cried out, "Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." (John 12:44-46)
Following Jesus leads to eternal life. He is the light sent by the Father to lead those who will believe from the darkness of this deceitful world, into the light of Gods eternal truth. What a wonderful promise for those of us who have heard the Gospel message and received it with understanding and joy. We have crossed over from a life of darkness, into Jesus' wonderful light because, we are the ones who "had ears to hear."
This is the heart of The Gospel message - The Good News - Jesus Christ came to atone for our transgressions, showing the love of God, and offering peace and hope to you and I.
Today, let us praise The Lord for His Gospel of hope.
John Joseph Fox.
