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Essence of the Gospel?
What is the Essence of the Gospel, to you?
We each interpret meanings, phrases and thoughts from our personal experience. Sometimes the points made by one person can be misinterpreted and misunderstood by another. I think the same is true of Scripture's statements about the Gospel. The word itself can be as sweet as honey to one person and as bitter as gall to another.
For myself, I scarcely understood the word when I was a young man. My experience told me that "the Gospel" was a rigid set of instructions that was intended to sort out the good people from the bad - at best. Or, at worst, a set of fairy tales designed to scare children into obedience. I never really thought of it as "Good News" at all, until the Gospel was my only hope.
My purpose: I'm hoping to establish free dialogue on the topic. I would like to hear your thoughts, dear friends. There is no wrong answer, since I'm just asking for your opinions.
*Essence: the pure aroma*
Views: 395
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by ScribeD on
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Amanda, I had been under that teaching for a while. I have concluded it is totally false. There is life transforming power in following the teachings, admonitions and commands of Jesus. The rest of the New Testament writings are really commentary on what Jesus taught. Take the four Gospels out and what do you have? It's weak, in my estimation. It's true that Jesus spoke to the Hebrews in terms to reveal the New Covenant to Jews in a Jewish context, but that does not mean the revelation was only for them.
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Permalink Reply by RoyW on
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I do feel that much of what Jesus said was definitely pointed at the leadership in Israel. However, the true message comes through loud and clear to those who belong to Him. Jesus spoke both of the hard way through law, discipline, works, etc. and the way by grace through His love and forgiveness. I'm very confident that only His sheep picked up on the latter. My favorite Book of the Bible seems to change with my needs but the Gospel of John always is right up there with any of them. I love that Gospel. I hear Jesus speaking straight to my heart through that Gospel. Only the believer can truly appreciate the Words of Christ.
I think it is important to understand His message to the leadership. A perfect life is demanded only if you don't have Jesus in your life. Since perfection is impossible to any of us, our only hope is through Jesus. He is beautifully presented as the only possible way to God throughout the Gospel and even throughout the entire Bible.
Scribe, I love the Gospel message. Though it I find forgiveness, peace, love and assurance of my home in heaven with Him for eternity. I didn't get very far in your discussion before I had to comment. The discussion blesses me immensely. Thanks.
Roy
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Permalink Reply by Rita Cullimore on
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Scribe,
I have to say that the entire Bible is the gospel (good news) for me. Every book in it that I read and study teaches me something else about our Lord and Savior. From what He was doing before His birth til the last verse of the Revelation. The entire Bible is real...all we need to do is believe. It only takes one touch of God to make every word come alive and for me to know the entire Book was written for me.
Because I've kept the word *why* in the front most of my thoughts as I've studied, I am learning more and more and yet my learning isn't finished. I really don't think it ever will be until I am home with the Lord.
Blessings to you as you lead this discussion.
Rita
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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G - God
O - Offers
S - Sacrifice or Salvation
P - Providing
E - Eternal
L - Life
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Nice acrostic. I always admire people who can do a concise summary in this fashion.
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Permalink Reply by Bible-Talk on
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Brilliant LT - that is the essence of the Gospel.
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Michelle, truly you have a way with words. I agree with you totally. It's a treasure we store, by giving it away.
Whenever I get tempted, whenever I get discouraged, whenever I find struggle - I need to look at Christ and I discover that I have strength to resist, courage to endure, strength to fight.
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God placed Israel in high regard because they knew Him and believed Him, worshiped Him, followed Him. When Christ Jesus was introduced as their Redeemer, they wouldn't accept Him. The Apostles were then told to take the message to the entire world. Nothing in the Word is for the Jews alone although it was given to them first. Even if the Jews would have accepted the Word...Christ...He still would have given the same message to the gentile nations.
Paul states in several passages where the Jew was first and so they were, both in blessings and , after the rejection of the Messiah, in curses.
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Permalink Reply by John Rogers on
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Hi Scribe. To your question - What is the Essence of the Gospel, to you? --- Basically, the essence of the Bible to me, or what pertains to me, is really this. The Essence is in the message. When Jesus died on the cross, our own lives were purchased by him, or purchased by his blood. Either way we no longer hold title to the property we call "our own lives". He is, in every respect, our owner and our Master (i.e. Become a new creature in Christ. Save your own life by losing it.) ---. We can seek Jesus who is loving and kind and wants what is best for us. Or we can seek the other master who is a liar, a deceiver, a thief, and a destroyer.
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You know, you have a great point John, which is that the entire book (Bible) is the Gospel, in a sense. And I agree that there is a transference of ownership and loyalty. But, the Gospel itself - the New Covenant - is the capstone. It is the final unveiling of something unique and wonderful, something exceptionally above the rest of the Bible. Don't you agree?
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Hi Scribe, I very much like reading your insights. I see this "New Covenant", which is correct, more as a "New Relationship" with God. -------- Sorry but this may be a bit long winded so be patient. ------Since Jesus was the Son of God then he was also God in the flesh. I believe that God concluded that, since his creation is too weak to come to him through his Divine Law then he will come to us in the form of our own weak and selfish flesh. God knows that we are weak and selfish since he drew us from the dirt himself. But he also knows that obeying his Laws is possible. He also knows from the many previous examples we have shown him, that we are lost and hopeless cases and without him we are doomed. So to prove to us once and for all that it is not his laws that are too tough but it is we who are too weak and sinful to keep the laws, God decided to come visit us. But this time he would visit us in a completely new way. This time, the Great I Am came in the flesh complete with diapers, teething pains, grade school, and a 9 - 5 job as a carpenter before he even started his ministry. He really wanted us to see that we have no excuses. By Gods own example of living he was saying that, not only can I obey my own laws, but I can conquer the flesh, conquer sin, conquer death, conquer hell, and then while I'm still dead I will stop by hell and slap satan in the face with one hand and take away his keys with the other. Ouch, I'll bet that hurt. Oh and by the way then I will pop back to earth and come out of the grave just to say Hi, before I go". ----- This is the "New Relationship". ----- God is not only God, but he is one of us! He is our God but he is/was, then and now, possessing the human experience. He was a divine child in the form of the Son of God, but he was not an only child. He had other siblings. ---- We Christians (me included) say we have a relationship with Jesus and we know that God came in the flesh, but we never think about the fact that God was somebody who someone sat next to in school, he was someone who played, and he was someone who built houses. God came into the filth and mire of this world which had fallen from his grace and said by example, "See how much I love you, I came to rescue you, I became you and I became one of you". ---- The way I see it, Gods journey to earth was more or less a mission of mercy and pity for a bunch of poor blind slobs and ignorant wretches who deserve neither pity nor mercy. If doing Gods will and keeping his covenants was a course offered in college then we humans have pretty much flunked out. We somehow feel that we are deserving of his grace and mercy but God makes it pretty plain that what we actually deserve is the eternal fires of hell. I'm no genius but I believe the fires of hell equals an F- in Gods classroom. ----- Yes Scribe, you are spot on correct that it is a new covenant but in my estimation of our past performance as human beings, I think we should just settle for God’s love, grace, and mercy and call it a day.
You inspire me.
In the name of Jesus --- Peace, Love, and Joy to you Brother.
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