What exactly is "the Gospel"?

[michael56]

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[SUP][e][/SUP] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith Rom 1:17

 

[Sophia]

There is nothing in the four gospels telling us how to get eternally saved, but it is full of scriptures telling us how our good works can save(deliver) us time and time again as we journey in this world. Unless there is a distinction between these two different kinds of salvations they will never harmonize.

I don't fully understand your terminology or references, but I have recognized that there is both a physical salvation and a spiritual salvation as separate entities taught about in the Word.
Physical salvation being through physical obedience (works),
and spiritual salvation being through spiritual obedience (Faith).

I hold that the life and work of Christ is the Gospel because it is by His perfection and sacrifice that salvation is available,
and by faith in Him and His sacrifice that we are spiritually saved,
and by obedience to His teachings that we are "delivered".

I suppose we come from different angles, looking at the same object, so I might need more explanation to understand what you are stating.

 

[forsha]

According to what I am reading in the Epistles, the Good News of the Kingdom is part of, but not the whole of, the Good News of Salvation.
Jesus preached that the Kingdom is near. This is what you are saying the Gospel is, but the Apostles define it as more, not less, as you seem to think I'm saying.
Jesus preached that the Kingdom is available to those who believe Him, and is not available to those who have sin, and also that all have sin.
Jesus died and rose again, and made sinlessness available to all who believe.
Jesus preached the Good News of the Kingdom soon to come, and preached the Good News of how it is available, and LIVED IT OUT to make it available.
Kingdom Now theology places emphasis on belief in the Kingdom rather than belief in Christ (among many other falsehoods). We aren't saved by believing in a coming Kingdom, even though that is Good News and truth,
but we are saved by belief in Christ, who is the Way into the Kingdom.

Christ did bring the Gospel, in His Person, in His Word (teachings), and in Deed (His perfection, sacrifice, and resurrection).
The Kingdom is the result, not the catalyst.

When we define the Gospel, we need to do so by the verses that say "and this is the Gospel:" and "the Gospel, which is:", not by just associating it as words that are in verses that have the word "gospel" in them.

Living out the Gospel is the very expression of belief and Faith. If a person does not go and live Christlike, can they really claim to believe in Him, have His Spirit within them, and trust that His Way is good?
I think this may be what you are talking about: obeying the Gospel.
When we preach the Gospel to the lost, we need to declare what the Gospel is first. Then upon their acceptance, we disciple them, showing them how to live out the Gospel in their lives.
Obedience is not the Good News, but is the Calling we receive THROUGH the Gospel.

I couldn't figure out if you were proposing Kingdom Now theology, or the Hebrew Roots/SDA/Miqra type theology.
If you weren't proposing any of those, then I think you misunderstood my study, and/or I misunderstood your posts.

Believing in Christ is not what eternally saves you, but is a product of already having been eternally saved. Believing in Christ after you have already been saved eternally brings about another salvation(deliverance) when you are converted. You are delivered from not having the joy of knowing what Christ has done for you. The meaning of "salvation" is "a deliverance". If you are believing that your belief as a means of eternal salvation, then you are believing that your own actions are saving you eternally, that's eternal salvation by the works of man, which is a false doctrine.

 

[forsha]

If the "story about Him" is not what we share to the lost, then what is the Gospel we share? The Gospel is defined for us in the Word, and is the life, sacrifice, and resurrection of Christ (1 Cor 15:1-8).
The story is TRUE, not a lie from Satan. The Bible even shows us evidence of it's truth, as His burial proves His death, and the 500+ witnesses prove He rose from the dead.
This is the message that Stephen told the Jews, and was killed for it. This is the message Paul brought to the Gentiles, and was beaten and jailed for it.

If the Good News of the life and work of Christ is not the Gospel that saves, then what is?
All the truth of Scripture leads up to, supports, explains, and declares the Good News, and also shows us it's power over sin, and the results (including the change in our lives, the way the Gospel affects the world, and also the future inheritance).

We bring Living Water to the lost,
milk to the newborns,
and meat to the mature.

I see many Christians debating with unbelievers about meaty topics, things the lost cannot understand, and cause them to choke before they are even born.

What is the Gospel? It is instructions telling the children of God how to live their lives as they journey here in this world. It is not instructions on how you can get eternal life. The gospel should be preached to feed the sheep(God's children). God does not need man's help to save souls eternally, his Son was sufficient enough for that job. If you are training yourself to go out into the world to eternally save the carnal man, void of the Spirit, you will be wasting your time because the carnal man cannot discern anything of a spiritual nature until God takes out his stony heart and replaces it with a heart of flesh(one that is soft and can be pricked). Man cannot change the heart of a carnal man, it takes God, and God alone.

 

[Sophia]

Believing in Christ is not what eternally saves you, but is a product of already having been eternally saved. Believing in Christ after you have already been saved eternally brings about another salvation(deliverance) when you are converted. You are delivered from not having the joy of knowing what Christ has done for you. The meaning of "salvation" is "a deliverance". If you are believing that your belief as a means of eternal salvation, then you are believing that your own actions are saving you eternally, that's eternal salvation by the works of man, which is a false doctrine.

When Scripture say that we are saved "by Grace, through Faith," it places faith as the means of Grace being applied unto us. Faith is a gift, not of ourselves. It is not a work.

 

[forsha]

It is by Grace, through Faith, that we are saved.
If we are given Faith (which comes through hearing) then we are given Grace,
and are cleansed from our sin and sealed for salvation.

I was focusing on Faith, because it is the means of Grace by which we are saved... even though it is truly by God's Grace that we are saved.

Alot of this thread was trying to figure out how to say all this clearly and simply, without stepping into "cheap grace" doctrines.

I'm beginning to think that the best and clearest way is to simply quote Scripture and share testimony, rather than trying to explain it in my own words.

I think that it is alright to convey your belief in your own words, if you follow it up with scripture proof. The scripture where you are believing that your faith plays a part in your eternal salvation is Eph 2:8, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; lit is the gift of God. The "faith" in this scripture is referring to Christ's faithfulness to go to the cross. See Gal 2:16. If we place "our faith" as a requirement to get eternal salvation, then it becomes "eternal salvation by works".

 

[Sophia]

What is the Gospel? It is instructions telling the children of God how to live their lives as they journey here in this world. It is not instructions on how you can get eternal life. The gospel should be preached to feed the sheep(God's children). God does not need man's help to save souls eternally, his Son was sufficient enough for that job. If you are training yourself to go out into the world to eternally save the carnal man, void of the Spirit, you will be wasting your time because the carnal man cannot discern anything of a spiritual nature until God takes out his stony heart and replaces it with a heart of flesh(one that is soft and can be pricked). Man cannot change the heart of a carnal man, it takes God, and God alone.

The Good News is the availability of eternal life through Jesus,
not commands.
The Gospel is defined clearly in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, and is not commands, but Christ.

How do we live out the Gospel? By living like Christ, because He is the Good News, the Word made flesh.

 

[forsha]

I can understand the sentiment, but I'm not sure there's a passage of Scripture that backs it up directly.

There are certainly passages that show that the Spirit works within unbelievers to bring them to belief, and that "while we were still sinners Christ died for us".
I do see in Scripture that we are called long before we are enabled to answer the call and become converted.

Could you expound a bit further, so I can understand the implications of what you mean? I suppose I never considered "imputation of righteousness" being prior to conversion.

Sophia, I am a firm believer, from my past experience, that none of us can understand the truth of the scriptures unless the Spirit within us reveals it to us. I also learned that I had to deny myself(my smartness) before the Spirit would reveal. That took about twelve years of my stubbornness to deny myself. We get "our faith" from the Spirit, which is a fruit of same, Gal 5:22 The carnal man(which we all were) cannot have spiritual faith, because he cannot discern anything of a spiritual nature, 1 Cor 2:14. When we become born of the Spirit, which is God's doing, not ours, we begin to learn of spiritual things gradually. When the Holy Spirit has revealed enough truth within us and become aware of what Jesus has done for us we become converted (turned around). God's Purpose for preachers is to feed his flock(those already saved eternally). Paul prayed that he would be delivered from those who did not believe when embarking on a mission journey.

 

[WheresEnoch]

The gospel isn't about fire and brimstone because all people are flesh and are naturally going to die anyways.
It's about being born again of the Spirit of God, which is eternal, through which we will not ever perish.

 

[michael56]

The gospel isn't about fire and brimstone because all people are flesh and are naturally going to die anyways.
It's about being born again of the Spirit of God, which is eternal, through which we will not ever perish.

How true that is

 

[WheresEnoch]

Being kept from sin and the sinful nature is the easy part.
The "harder" part or the thing that takes longer is the changing of our fleshly reactionary attitudes to external stimulus

 

[michael56]

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

 

[prove-all]

the gospel of the kingdom of God

And (this gospel) (of the kingdom) shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations;
and then shall the end come. Matthew 24:14

1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2And saying, Repent ye: for (the kingdom of heaven) is at hand.

14Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee,
( preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,)

- Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom of God

15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
From that time Jesus began (to preach, )and to say, (Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand)

38And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: (for therefore came I forth).

-Jesus was preaching the Kingdom of God and to repent, he was not preaching his death thats years later.

7And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two;
and gave them power over unclean spirits;

12And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

-they did not even know Jesus was the Christ and had to suffer and die.
how can they preach something they did not even know?

Jesus even told demons not to tell anyone who he was, untill God told Peter much later.

"(I )have gone (preaching the kingdom of God)"

"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness"

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come"
Thy will be done in (earth), as it is in heaven.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;

"Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world,
I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"

And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God:
but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me'"

"For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory"

and He received them and spoke to them (about the kingdom of God), and healed those who had need of healing"
-you could fill pages of verses or parables of the comming kingdom of God.

But when they believed Philip as he preached (the things concerning the kingdom of God)
(and) the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized"

-yes the only name under heaven to be saved, but that is not the only thing,
Jesus preached to repent and believe in the gospel of the comming kingdom of God.


And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength,
and (the kingdom of our God), and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down,
which accused them before our God day and night.

Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father;
when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

And (this gospel) (of the kingdom) shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations;
and then shall the end come.

 

[mailmandan]

The gospel involves repentance.

Saving belief/faith in Christ involves repentance. Where salvation is in view, when only repentance is mentioned, faith is implied or assumed. When only faith is mentioned, repentance is implied or assumed and already took place in the process of changing our mind and placing our faith in Christ for salvation. Where you have one you must have the other. Repentance and belief/faith are inseparable in salvation. There is no such thing as "I truly repented but I don't believe the gospel" or "I truly believe the gospel but I never repented" - OXYMORON.

If there is no repentance then there is no Godly sorrow, which means one has a worldly sorrow which leads to death.

If there is no Godly sorrow, then there will be no repentance. 2 Corinthians 7:10 - For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation.. through faith in Christ (Acts 20:21; Ephesians 2:8; 2 Timothy 3:15). Repentance precedes saving belief/faith in Christ.

It is true. Works does not save a person in and of themselves. But works always follow a true saving faith, though. It is the proof in the pudding that God lives within you. We are not saved by works because if we sin, we do not go out tomorrow and do more works of righteousness to be saved, but we get our hearts right with God thru confessing and or repenting of our sin.

Man is saved through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8,9; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5) yet genuine saving faith in Christ is evidenced/confirmed by good works (James 2:14-24). Confession and repentance are ongoing and are not a one time act. Saving belief/faith in Christ is ongoing and is not some shallow temporary belief that has no root.

 

[Jeff_56]

suppose you got drunk one day, just a little,

and went driving to your friend's house,

a mansion in the country in new york;

and they are literally and in every way a mob boss 'godfather' who

would just as soon shoot 35 people as have their lunch disturbed by

the noise of someone's lawn mower a block away......

and as you drive in to their mansion,

you drive off the large obvious drive way into the garden area

where the little children of the family are being watched over by a couple baby sitters,

and you

run over 7 little children and 3 of the baby sitters........... .......... .......... ..........


watcha gonna do ???!!!

to be continued......
(yes, there is a simple vivid point about what the gospel is.... for later)

 

[forsha]

I don't fully understand your terminology or references, but I have recognized that there is both a physical salvation and a spiritual salvation as separate entities taught about in the Word.
Physical salvation being through physical obedience (works),
and spiritual salvation being through spiritual obedience (Faith).

I hold that the life and work of Christ is the Gospel because it is by His perfection and sacrifice that salvation is available,
and by faith in Him and His sacrifice that we are spiritually saved,
and by obedience to His teachings that we are "delivered".

I suppose we come from different angles, looking at the same object, so I might need more explanation to understand what you are stating.

Sophia, I think that I will give you some of the basic's of the doctrine that I believe in. I, like most everyone, will tell you that I believe in the doctrine that Jesus taught. There are many doctrines taught and there is only one of them the doctrine that Jesus taught and the rest of many, many, are false doctrines. The most drastic thing that sets Christ's doctrine apart from all of the false doctrines is that he taught a limited atonement. In John 6:38-39 Jesus tells us why he came to earth and what he accomplished. "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me, and this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. Jesus died "for all the Father gave him", not all mankind. Everyone that he died will live with him in heaven, without the loss of even one. Another thing that the world of false doctrines will not accept is the fact that "God does not love all mankind". Heb 12:6, For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. God does not chasten those that are not his. Romans 8:6-9, For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Ps 73:5, They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued(chastened) like other men. If I have triggered any questions in your mind, please ask. Jesus tells us to be ready always to give an answer to anyone that asks of the hope that is in you. I was in a state of confusion with seemingly contradicting scriptures until at the age of 63 I "gave up and denied myself(my smartness)" and the scriptures that I had pondered for so many years started(by the revelation of the Holy Spirit) harmonizing with each other without any contradicting scriptures.

 

[forsha]

When Scripture say that we are saved "by Grace, through Faith," it places faith as the means of Grace being applied unto us. Faith is a gift, not of ourselves. It is not a work.

I thought I had already commented on Eph 2:8, but maybe that was on another thread. Eph 2:8 is the scripture that is making you believe that your faith plays a part in your eternal salvation, but the faith in this scripture is the faithfulness of Christ's obedience to go to the cross, see Gal 2:16. Man's faith is attained after we have been born of the Spirit, because our faith is a fruit of the Spirit, Gal 5:22.

 

[ELECT]

The Clear and Simple Gospel

Part 1:What is the Gospel?
1. Romans 1:16 - the Gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who believe.
2. Eph 1:13/14 - the Gospel is the Word of Truth, which upon believing, seals us for redemption, and guarantees an eternal inheritance.
3. Col 1:22/23 - the Gospel reconciles us to God through Christ's bodily death, so we can be presented as holy in God's sight.

Together these verses show the Gospel as: the perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection of Jesus - which is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes.

But Scripture is even more clear about exactly what the Gospel is: 1 Cor 15:1-8
v1 Gospel declared, received, held to = saved.
v2 hold to the Gospel for salvation (let's not switch topic to "loss of Salvation")
v3 we deliver (preach) what we receive: the Gospel
- and here it is in this verse: Christ died for our sins!
v4 Christ was buried (proof of His death), and rose again!
v5-8 He was seen afterwards! (evidence of His Resurrection)

The simple Gospel is: Christ died for our sins, and rose from the dead.
^ this is the Good News that saves!
And we know that this simple Gospel is all we need to preach to the unsaved, and all we should preach to the unsaved: 1 Cor 2:2

------

There is more than one gospel

What is the everlasting gospel and why is it call everlasting ?

 

[forsha]

Good News:​

If you have never truly accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, or if you are living in unrepentant sin, and you feel lost and trapped; Well, I am here to tell you that there is good news and that there is hope for you. For what must you truly believe to be saved according to the Bible? What must you believe to have that real relationship with Christ that brings love, peace, and true assurance of salvation? Well, please check out the following verses below.

What must you believe to be saved?

#1. Admit Your A Sinner:
​

Romans 3:10-12

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."

​

Romans 3:23

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

​

2. Realize that there is a Judgment or Consequence of your Sin:​

Hebrews 9:27

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:"

​

Revelation 20:12

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."

​

Revelation 21:8

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

​

Revelation 20:15

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

​

Romans 6:23

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

​

#3. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior:​

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day…"

​

John 3:16-17

"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 sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

​

Romans 5:8

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

​

1 Peter 2:24

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."

​

Isaiah 53:5

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

​

2 Corinthians 5:21

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

​

1 Corinthians 15:22

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

​

Romans 5:17-18

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."

​

Ephesians 1:7

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

​

Ephesians 2:8-9

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."

​

#4. Call Upon the Name of the Lord:​

Romans 10:13

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

​

#5. Repent of Your Sins:​

Matthew 4:17

"Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

​

Luke 13:3

"…Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

​

2 Peter 3:9

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

​

1 John 1:9

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

​

#6. Confess With Your Mouth the Lord Jesus Christ:​

Romans 10:9

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

​

#7. Endure in Your Faith to the End:​

Matthew 10:22

"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved."​

Jason, you are still not separating the eternal salvation scriptures from the timely salvation scriptures. Every time that God forgives you when you repent is a salvation(timely deliverance, not eternal).

 

[Grandpa]

The gospel isn't about fire and brimstone because all people are flesh and are naturally going to die anyways.
It's about being born again of the Spirit of God, which is eternal, through which we will not ever perish.

Where's Enoch? He walked with God and then he was not. lol nice screen name...

Everything about Jesus is good news. His story. What He has done. What He continues to do. What He will do.

And even the prophecy or shadow of Jesus in the OT is good news, once you can see it.