Have you ever considered this??

[JStates]

Fairness to pastors? Wait a second . . . they're not even teaching the Gospel, and you want me to be fair?

Galatians 1:8 KJV - "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."

We have a duty, and it is to set our pastors straight. If we don't, they will remain accursed. Is that what we want? Or, do we love those who are not saved?

It is time to start taking the Holy Word of God seriously (I write this to each person who can stomach my words.)

That's not exactly what I meant. Obviously if a church isn't preaching the Gospel AT ALL it's a false church. The basics of the Gospel are simple enough that even a child can understand them. But a lot of churches stop at the basics, and don't dig into the deeper truths. The spiritual meat. That's what I meant.

I wonder though if the fault in these cases lies with the pastors. Perhaps they are willing to teach the meat, but the people are only ready for milk.

 

[2ndTimothyGroup]

Without Jesus you will not know what the written word means.

Yep. That's the essence of all that I wrote.

 

[Journeyman]

If anyone wants to UNDERSTAND the Gospel . . . read the below Scriptures. I seem to be the only one presenting the Gospel in the below manner.

Yes, all that you wrote are the standard replies that a person would hear from most people in most "churches." However, we need to be thinking of MORE than just, "circumcision is an outward sign of faith." There's more to in than that. We need to be thinking of Who performs "it."

Deuteronomy 30:6 KJV - "And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live."

1) "To Love thy Lord"
2) "That thou may life"

These are two elements of the Effect of Spiritual Circumcision. Who Circumcises our heart? God. Why?

1) So that we are Enabled to Love Him with all our heart and soul
2) So that we will possess Eternal Life

Therefore, when the Holy Spirit Circumcises our hearts, we think in an entirely new way. We are able to Love wholeheartedly. And who was Wholehearted?

Numbers 32:11-12 NLT - "Of all those I rescued from Egypt, no one who is twenty years old or older will ever see the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for they have not obeyed me wholeheartedly. The only exceptions are Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they have wholeheartedly followed the LORD."

Why are they Wholehearted?

Numbers 14:24 NIV - "But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it."

We need to be thinking of MORE than circumcision being reflecting of Faith. We need to understand "how" it is done, and by whome.

Ezekiel 36:25-27 KJV - "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."

Do you think that maybe physical circumcision represents what we read above in Ezekiel? In fact, God had Ezekiel record this near exact same set of words in chapter 11. We need to memorize them. Is it possible that this is what happened to Caleb, Joshua, and Abraham?

So what will God do?

1) Cleanse us

How?

1) He will put a new Spirit within us
2) He will take away, or cut away (which is what happens in physical circumcision) the heart made of stone (think stone tablets) and will replace it with a soft, tender, and responsive heart of flesh)

Why?

1) To CAUSE us to obey, to walk in His statues
2) KEEP His judgments
3) And DO them

Is it possible that when the Lord said the below words to Abraham that they were NOT a request, but Holy Edicts?

Genesis 17:1-2 NKJV - "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I [am] Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. "And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly."

When God told Abraham to Walk and be Blameless, these were not suggestions. These reflect a change of heart. These Holy and Powerful Words very much like,

Genesis 1:3 NKJV - "Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light."

Is it possible that this is what happened? That God changed the heart of Abraham? Is this why Abraham is our Father of Faith?

Again, who changes our hearts?

Romans 2:27-29 NLT - "In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God's law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God's law but don't obey it. For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people."

So earlier, God Spiritually Circumcises, and now the Spirit takes responsibility for Spiritual Circumcision. This is what "True Circumcision" is, a change of heart represented in the physical circumcision instituted in the life of Abraham.

But wait. Who Circumcises hearts?

Colossians 2:11 NLT - "When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision--the cutting away of your sinful nature."

So wait a second. Who performs Spiritual Circumcision? Is it God, the Holy Spirit, or Christ? Yes. This is vitally important because all three members of the Eternal Godhead take responsibility for Circumcising the hearts of the Elect.

You might print out these explanations of the Gospel that I have offered to you and present them to your pastor and DEMAND that he explain why he, or she, has kept these passages hidden from you.

It is time that we start teaching, preaching, and understanding the True Gospel of Jesus Christ.

If you think my response is the standatd reply you hear in most churches, then you didn't understand what I said, because I've never heard the gospel the way I described it to you in any church I've been in and that is why I don't go to church anymore.

You go into any church today and what you'll hear is that the Father laid on his Son the just punishment sinners deserve. That's not true. The truth is, evil mankind laid on the Son the unjust punishment he didn't deserve. And if that doesn't circumcise a persons heart, nothing will.

 

[2ndTimothyGroup]

The basics of the Gospel are simple enough that even a child can understand them.

Are you able to distinguish the difference between the basics and the meat? I can't. The True Gospel is the Gospel. There's only one Gospel.

 

[Journeyman]

The gospel is not a matter of knowing scripture it is the matter of knowing jesus.

Beautiful.

 

[JStates]

If you think my response is the standatd reply you hear in most churches, then you didn't understand what I said, because I've never heard the gospel the way I described it to you in any church I've been in and that is why I don't go to church anymore.

You go into any church today and what you'll hear is that the Father laid on his Son the just punishment sinners deserve. That's not true. The truth is, evil mankind laid on the Son the unjust punishment he didn't deserve. And if that doesn't circumcise a persons heart, nothing will.

I have to disagree. The Cross was God's plan, not evil mankind's plan.

 

[2ndTimothyGroup]

If you think my response is the standatd reply you hear in most churches, then you didn't understand what I said, because I've never heard the gospel the way I described it to you in any church I've been in and that is why I don't go to church anymore.

You go into any church today and what you'll hear is that the Father laid on his Son the just punishment sinners deserve. That's not true. The truth is, evil mankind laid on the Son the unjust punishment he didn't deserve. And if that doesn't circumcise a persons heart, nothing will.

Ahhh . . . okie doke. Well, what you posted is basically what I used to believe and is very much a part of the modern-day "church" (in my experience).

 

[2ndTimothyGroup]

I have to disagree. The Cross was God's plan, not evil mankind's plan.

Most don't like to admit the below Scripture, but who are we to argue? There is a Holy Purpose and a Holy Plan and there isn't a bloody thing we can do about it.

Ephesians 3:10-11 NLT - "God's purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord."

 

[JStates]

Are you able to distinguish the difference between the basics and the meat? I can't. The True Gospel is the Gospel. There's only one Gospel.

Sure. The Gospel as you would describe it to a child is the milk. How it all works and the full spiritual implications of it is the meat.

I think it's kind of like sanctification ("the process whereby more and more holiness is evident in our lives" or becoming more Christlike). The Gospel IS the Gospel, but we understand it more and more as we become more Christlike and immerse ourselves in the Scriptures.

I don't think anyone truly grasps the full reality 100% though. To do so would be to know the mind of God. There are still many mysteries for us in this mortal life.

 

[2ndTimothyGroup]

Sure. The Gospel as you would describe it to a child is the milk.

Huh. Well, if I had children, they'd be learning about Circumcision from the very beginning. In fact, that Holy Word would be the single most expressed Biblical Word they would ever hear (from me).

Children repeat the things they hear from their parents, such as curse words. Mine, if I had them, would probably get in trouble at school for talking about Circumcision . . . Spiritual Circumcision.

 

[Journeyman]

Ahhh . . . okie doke. Well, what you posted is basically what I used to believe and is very much a part of the modern-day "church" (in my experience).

Name one church where the gospel as I stated it is taught.

 

[Journeyman]

I have to disagree. The Cross was God's plan, not evil mankind's plan.

I never said God didn't plan to show evil mankind how unrighteously they treat him. If you think the Father was pleased by the sin committed against his Son, you better think again.

 

[glen55]

The bible contains 66 books by 40 different authors inspired by God.
With in these books we have 4 which we refer to as the gospels.
Now have you ever considered that you also are writings a gospel? Maybe not a pen to paper sorta thing but as you live your life in Christ what have your examples been? What words come out of your mouth? Your actions suggest?
What would your spouse say? Your neighbors your friends? Your children?
The 4 gospels are full of knowledge, and wisdom, and truth but if they are read just as a story we would see that it involves common people embarking on a journey of faith just the same as you and I.
The gospel tells us of their beliefs and unbelief. Their fears, their doubts,and failures.
Nothing has really changed other than we cannot see Christ in the physical....but that's suppose to be our part..( a talk for another time).
So what does your gospel say about life in Christ to others?

Your life is composed here...
The gospel according to.....bob the truck driver
The gospel according to ..... Carol the hair dresser
The gospel according to.......fred the store manager
The gospel according to........????? You

The most astute book in the Bible is Ecclesiastes. In it we are told: “What has been is what will be and what has been done is what will be done; and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, ‘See this is new? It has been already in ages before us, but there is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be remembrance of things yet to happen among those who come after.” This statement is difficult for man to grasp, for he is forever thinking of progress. Man sees things today and thinks they are new and wonderful because he cannot remember them. Just a century ago electricity was unknown. Now we have light powered by nuclear energy and think it was created for and by us, but scripture tells us it has always been! The play of life moves in a wheel, closed-circuited by time, and man with his short memory cannot remember other times.

 

[JStates]

I never said God didn't plan to show evil mankind how unrighteously they treat him. If you think the Father was pleased by the sin committed against his Son, you better think again.

No, but the plan of the Cross pleased God:

Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

 

[Journeyman]

No, but the plan of the Cross pleased God:

Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Bruised in the sense of teaching us how longsuffering he and his Son are when people sin against him, yes! Bruised in the sense of justice being exacted against his Son for our sins, no!

the insults of those who insult you fall on me. Psa.69:9

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.....Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart,and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"
Act.2:23,37

Talk about having the heart circumcised.

 

[Gardenias]

Are you able to distinguish the difference between the basics and the meat? I can't. The True Gospel is the Gospel. There's only one Gospel.

If you can't then I say you need to critically study the word instead of thinking you already know it all.
Scripture says even an humble child can understand.......yeah yeah,i know i gave you my 999 thumbs down.😂😂😂😂😂😂 Nothing is sadder than a man past forty that you have to say to GROW UP!

 

[Gardenias]

LEARN something new,record is stuck on this phrase

 

[Gardenias]

Yeah, I know what a way to encourage and edify.......😎

 

[2ndTimothyGroup]

Name one church where the gospel as I stated it is taught.

I mean, I could list out every church that I've attended, but I don't think that you quite understand what I'm getting at. And what I'm getting at is this . . . you didn't share the Gospel. In fact, you didn't even come close. Sorry. I'm not trying to be rude or cruel; I'm just telling you the truth.

If you want to know and understand the Gospel, you can simply described it; you have to explain it. When you can answer the three below questions, this will be the Gospel.

1) What is the Purpose of Christ?
2) What is the Work of Christ?
3) What is the Effect of Christ?

My best . . .

 

[2ndTimothyGroup]

@Gardenias - Awww . . . I am so privileged to be your very first "Zzzzz" which indicates that I'm boring. Oh my . . . you sure know how to share the Love of Jesus Christ that has overtaken your heart, soul, and mind!

Thanks for the belittlement!