My role in this ministry of reconciliation
Unfortunately, the gospel message can be generalized and summed up like a sales pitch intentionally and sometimes unknowingly. I know because that is how in times past I did and heard others do. But that is not how Jesus taught nor commanded that it be taught and preached. And any gospel outside of what Jesus taught and commanded His disciples and Apostles to preach is a different gospel and certainly leads to a different Jesus. Before seeking Christ for myself by His description of Himself in His Word, I thought sharing the "summarized version" was the simple gospel. I realize how that compromised completeness, accuracy, and truth for brevity. Even if I was well-meaning in sharing what I thought I knew. I realize past efforts and acts of sharing that altered gospel, were grossly understated and may have done more harm than good. They neglected the full counsel and gospel of God and presented half-truths that may lead the undiscerning into error. I have had to unlearn everything I ever learned about life in general and to learn all over again from Christ Himself.
I have since grown to know that sharing the gospel is not just about providing information, and hastily too. It is about upholding God's righteousness first with yourself, by living and then teaching others to love and obey that which Christ has commanded of all of us. Now, what Christ has commanded of us are His righteous ways and teachings from the beginning of time; through the Old Testament Prophets, from Christ Himself, that which He left with the Apostles and that which His Spirit marks on our hearts in accord with His word. To live out the gospel is dynamic and in every season, as the disciple of Christ grows, even as they maintain in a state of doing what is right according to God, they learn by His Spirit what is more pleasing and acceptable before Him. And they do it. The gospel is simple but it is not a brief message. It does not end. As I share this, I am mindful of the fact that the purpose of this site and everything I share although guided by God's truth, is not the complete counsel of God. You need God's Holy Spirit to be directed into all truth. To receive His Holy Spirit, you must be willing to live according to God's righteousness and to pursue Him. God has promised to fill all those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. So again, I encourage you to seek God diligently to know Him through what He has revealed about Himself in His word. He is His word. Get to know Him through Him and not preconceived notions, presumptions, or others' experiences with Him. Get to know His Spirit.
I will continue to share with sensitivity to others and without compromise or hypocrisy. I do not and will not tell others what to do. Rather, I will inform of what God says I and everyone should do in upholding His ways which are foundational to all our lives. My ministry and role remain that of reconciliation in the truth, the life, and the way.
So, what is
"The Gospel"?
The gospel of Jesus Christ is not just saying that "God loves you." In fact, it is not God's character nor His faithfulness that I am concerned about since I know intimately cannot be disputed. It is the individual's response to this amazing news that is of concern. The gospel demands a response to that which God has done. We have the opportunity to turn from sin and wickedness unto God, to be cleansed and filled with His Spirit, to walk in newness and His righteousness, to be as He is, and to establish His Kingdom here on earth! What is your response to this?! True repentance is required in response to this marvelous truth!
Sin and unrighteousness are perversions of justice and goodness as defined by the righteous God who is Justice Himself. These sins, whether we perceived them or not harmed others, ourselves, and especially God. For these, we were rightly deserving of condemnation and absolute justice. Yet, the God of Justice said He will have mercy if one forsakes their sins and unrighteousness in response to the redemption He brings! You and I now have the opportunity to have all our sins forgiven and to receive the power to go and sin no more by the Spirit of God! While it is today, we have the opportunity to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ! We are to represent God's government here on earth by upholding His excellent standard because of His love for us, our love for Him, and our love for those around us.
His gospel reveals the fulfillment of all faith and unadulterated standards--Jesus Christ! He who precedes all ideas and philosophies, who has preeminence in all and is the foundation for all things in existence--in whom we live and have our very being! His gospel reveals the Living Word and embodiment of truth and perfection--He who has been from the beginning and His plan of redemption and adoption of a Holy people -- His Spiritual Israel comprised of people from every tribe, nation, and tongue! He has revealed His Standard in every area as pertaining to our life and all Godliness and calls us to this most worthwhile pursuit of all our lifetime! His shed blood on the cross is not an excuse to escape accountability. Rather, His sacrifice requires that we maintain, and do so out of His definition of love. Those who believe in the forgiveness of their sins by Jesus continue in Him and no longer do what they think is right but rather pursue what He says is right. The gospel is that we, men and women alike can become sons of God like the Son of God, in faith and by doing His deeds.
Know the Lord for you and seek Him through His word. In growing your relationship with Him, you'll develop a strong hatred for what God hates and a love for what He loves and calls good. Your desire will be for His will and pleasure because you will encounter Love Himself and will experience no greater love than His. You will desire for souls to be saved from their own devices and restored into peace with God just as one was saved from the folly of their own contrary ways and sins. You will understand the weight and eternality of the gospel as you respond to God's goodness. Now, will you?
Understand GOD'S GRACE
Freedom FROM sin, not freedom to sin
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:8-10
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”- Titus 2:11-14
If you could only fathom the depth of Christ's love!
You would become humbled & contrite in response!
Understand GOD'S LOVE & MERCY
"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:6-8
"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” - John 3:17-21
"He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." - Proverbs 28:13
Go and tell it on the mountain!
The Good News
Where there was no hope for redemption, God provided the only way of escape. The way of acquittal is through Jesus Christ and the conditions are faith and obedience to Him and His word. Whoever will confess and forsake their sins will obtain mercy from the Lord. The Lord will cleanse them from their sins so that they can choose to live in obedience to Christ daily. The one who stops sinning and lives righteously moves from spiritual death to spiritual everlasting life. There is no other way of mercy than that birthed out of God’s own loving sacrifice. This is also why God is all that He is at the same time: Justice, Love, Impartial, Merciful, etc. Salvation through Jesus Christ is God's love and grace that humanity did nothing to deserve! It is God’s love for a dead world to redeem out of all sinners, those who will believe in the life found in Christ, turn away from sin, and will obey Him! Those who turn away from sin become cleansed/sanctified, baptized in water and of the Holy Spirit. They become children of God. Children of God continue in faith, obedience, and righteousness. Children of God strive against, overcome sin, and continue in the narrow path of righteousness.
The Body of Christ
The Body of Christ, His hands and feet here on earth occupying till He returns, lives in faithful obedience to Him and His commandments, words found in the gospel, and keep the doctrines handed by the Apostles to the saints. They do not subscribe to the falsities and doctrines of the Catholic church, Protestant denominationalism in all its assortments, nor other religious institutions. They listen to Christ, believe in Him, obey Him, and follow in His righteousness. They are the Church and temple which He is building by His Spirit and by His will.
"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish." - Ephesians 5:25-27
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" - John 10:27
"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ - Matthew 7:21-23
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24 - 27
"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32
Denominations are NOT the truth
There are SO many denominations--35,000+ (or so, I heard). That is ridiculous! When you study God's word with an open heart, when you call on God in humility, when you seek Him as truth and treasure, He teaches you. His Holy Spirit reveals and leads into all truth. We don't 'practice' Christianity to suit personal style. It is not about fleshly comfort. It is about conforming and yielding to God's objective truth for the salvation of our souls. There is only one Church, and the Lord knows those who are His, and who keep His word/commandments. It is either you are following Christ and obeying Him or you are not.
"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." Ephesians 4:5-6
"Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
"Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." -2 Timothy 2:19