The Gospel Message
The Gospel is not Academia
The gospel is often complicated. There are those who over-analyze it's undertakings and it's working to the degree of academic science. The gospel is not meant to be scientifically investigated or digested. Yes make no mistake, there is a completely rational side combined with the spiritual and emotional. It's a tri-une change and a tri-une impact. The gospel is simple, yet at the same time it confounds the so-called 'wise' of this world.
Matthew 11:25 "At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 1 Corinthians 1:18–29 Verse 27: "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;"
So then what is this simplicity?
Triggers and seeds
I have been evangelizing for over 15 years. I am no expert, and certainly haven't led millions of people to the Lord. But I have certainly led many, and handed out thousands of tracts. I say that not to buffer myself in pride, but to indicate this section that there is some merit to my argument. For the gospel to have an effectual working, there are often 2 main forms. The first is some kind of trigger or event. Whether it's a person who meets you on the side of the road, and challenges your world view and offers you the divine love and holiness of Jesus Christ, or whether a tragedy that has befallen you, and left you needing a Saviour. That is one mechanism in which God can actively work and stir your heart unto the truth of the Gospel. The next aspect is seeds. By seeds, is that God through space and time has laid a set of situations, circumstances and people before you, to awaken your heart, mind and knowledge unto Him. We see this eloquently depicted in 1 Cor 3:5-7, where Paul plants, Apollos waters, and God causes the growth or change through these two things. These two mechanisms usually are the forerunners to a heart that is transformed by the Gospel.
1Co 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 1Co 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
But what is the Gospel?
The gospel in all it's simplicity is found in the greatest bible verse.
Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God so loved the world God loves us. Now isn't that a great message right there. Imagine if we had a God who didn't. Or was in fact neutral towards us. No we have a God that loves us. As a father loves a child, as a newly married couple loves each other, as a mother loves her children. In Hinduism, the ultimate reality is Brahman. While Brahman can be conceptualized with attributes to help humans relate to it (Sarguna Brahman), its highest form (Nirguna Brahman) is formless, genderless, and devoid of qualities. It is pure consciousness. You don't "relate" to Brahman so much as you realize that your inner self (Atman) is fundamentally identical to it.
If we consider Islam, the word itself means 'submission'. In this framework, the relationship is primarily one of Master and Servant (Abd). Obediance over fellowship. Some may prefer a god like that. But as a Christian, I take great comfort and joy, in having God being both a "master" and a "friend", one who I can have a personal relationship with.
The word "so" there emphasizes extent or degree. So yes God does love us, but how? That is found in the next part of the verse.
..that he gave his only begotten Son, Is it enough that our sacred scripture says God love's us? No, it's not enough. What kind of God would it be if He told us he loved us, but never demonstrated it. What kind of God would demand your all, but never present a cause for that level of adoration and exaltation. Definitely not a god I would want to serve. And so God demonstrated a cause, demonstrated His love, through the sacrifice of His only beloved Son. It was a trade, the punishment of the just for the love of the unjust.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus Christ died for you. He died for me. He died for us because we are a sinful people. He died for us, because we alone are incapable of redeeming ourselves. We have nothing to offer God to atone for the wrongs we have committed against Him. If you had a commit a crime, you would go to court to face judgement. The judge, if he is righteous, just and fair - will take in the evidence. Yes sure look at your life and the kind of person you have been. But the focus and the attention, the argument and case rests on what you have done wrong. If there is evidence, you are convicted, found guilty and imprisoned. Should God be any less a judge? Should He be partial to some and impartial to others?
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
We have sinned against God, and our wage is dual fold. Physical death and an eternal destination of our choice. Prison or Freedom. Death or Life. Hell or Heaven. We have sinned against God, because we have broken His law. Whether we have told a lie or continue to do so. Or whether we have stolen. Or lusted sexually after another. These sins, however small we may consider them in comparison to murder, pedophilia or rape - are certainly less impactful but still a violation of that which is pure and holy. God is Holiness. God is pure. God is truth and true. And because we have chosen sin, a holy and just God must hold us to account.
But again, He doesn't just condemn us. He made a way that we can be redeemed from His penalty or certain judgement. He sent His Son, Jesus. Jesus is our payment for the wrath of God. He is the atonement for our wrongs. He is the lamb slaughtered on our behalf, as a testament of reconciliation. Jesus took God's wrath and judgement so we didn't have too. God loved us so much, that He made the way, He built the bridge at His own personal cost. That is love. By it's nature - it is sacrificial.
but have everlasting life.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
If you believe that Jesus died, rose again the third day, and is the answer to your sure and certain judgement. Then call out to Him. Pray. The bible says, 'whosoever' (black, white, murderer, executive, poor, depressed), 'whosoever' calls upon Him, with this understanding in their heart, shall be saved. It's not a maybe, it's sure confirmation.
1Jn 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
Everlasting life is found in Jesus Christ, and none other. For God so loved the world....and you ❤️!
