What is the gospel

[Carbon]

"The gospel: Who Jesus is and what Jesus has done"....and will do??? Yes?

The gospel is about Jesus Christ. Who he is and what he has done.

You cannot accept my understanding of it?

 

[Carbon]

To many people think they found Jesus rather than Jesus finding them.

Yes, that is so true.

 

[prism]

One of the big issues in our time is individualism. Everything in one way, shape, or form and measure has to include us, individually.

Yes, for example...

Romans 14:12 ESV
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

 

[Carbon]

Yes, for example...

Romans 14:12 ESV
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Yes, we will have to give an account, but that's not what I'm talking about here.

 

[prism]

Yes, we will have to give an account, but that's not what I'm talking about here.

Just responding to your post on 'individulaism'.

One of the big issues in our time is individualism. Everything in one way, shape, or form and measure has to include us, individually.

Care to elaborate on what you were referring to?

 

[Carbon]

Just responding to your post on 'individulaism'.

Care to elaborate on what you were referring to?

Sure. I'm not talking about you or anyone in particular.


In other words, everything is about us. What makes us happy, what makes us feel better, self-fulfillment, etc, we prefer choices to absolutes, we embrace preferences rather than truths. Comfort rather than growth. Faith must come on our terms, or we reject it.
We believe God wants to fill our lives with joy. So many churches are polluted by this worldliness. America (and probably most, if not all the world) is catechized.
The world, the flesh, and the devil have done a great job. Such a great job that we dont even realize the things we do.
Everything has to include something about us, and if it does, things feel alright. This is a reason Arminianism is acceptable and appealing to the flesh, to the flesh being a part of everything is natural, it's the desire of the flesh.
The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself.

Individualism.

 

[Arial]

In a Calvinist Church, the pastor does not invite people to come up to say a prayer for salvation (at least, I hope not); he knows that as he is preaching Christ, the Holy Ghost gathers the elect, making them alive so they will believe Jesus is the Christ, they then know they need forgiveness, want forgiveness and know they are forgiven. Before they are given life, they dont know what this true forgiveness is they need, they do not know what this true salvation is. If the preacher can make it sound good enough, they will come up if invited to get it.

In a Calvinist church, hopefully, the pastor is feeding his flock on the word expounded. Most will probably already be saved. But for any who are not, and who are of the elect, if the word is faithfully being preached, whatever the sermon is for that day, God can use it to shine whatever light needs to be shined into a heart. It doesn't even have to be the gospel directly.They will know they are hearing truth and will believe it.

And I agree about the altar calls. Usually they are given with no gospel preached only Jesus will fix everything in your life if you invite him in to your life.

Jesus said to preach it. That's all the reason we need. Paul said in 1 Cor 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
The gospel is: who Jesus is and what he has done.

What he did was substitute himself for us on the cross as payment for our sins, and through faith reconciling those who believe to God. So, I do see what you are saying. I really do. Personally, I just don't know how I could preach the gospel without including why and the what it accomplished for those who believe and the destiny of those who do not believe. Salvation is much bigger than us or any individual. I have no argument with that. But the bigger stuff is accomplished through the redemption of his servants, and for his glory. He is ridding the world of sin altogether, when he returns, and he does it by laying down his life to destroy the power of sin in a people, and for himself.

I think I'm preaching to the choir; we just understand the same truths a bit differently.

I agree.

But you must be patient with me, I'm not nearly finished product.

That is something we can all say are absolutely truthful in saying so.

 

[Carbon]

Personally, I just don't know how I could preach the gospel without including why and the what it accomplished for those who believe and the destiny of those who do not believe.

Of course, I agree. Just as you agreed with me. As you said, "I just don't know how I could preach the gospel without including why and the what it accomplished . . . . etc...

 

[CrowCross]

Yes, for example...

Romans 14:12 ESV
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Do you think we give an account for our sin....or has our sins been forgiven and forgotten?

Or, we give an account for what we did for Jesus or didn't do?

 

[prism]

Sure. I'm not talking about you or anyone in particular.


In other words, everything is about us. What makes us happy, what makes us feel better, self-fulfillment, etc, we prefer choices to absolutes, we embrace preferences rather than truths. Comfort rather than growth. Faith must come on our terms, or we reject it.
We believe God wants to fill our lives with joy. So many churches are polluted by this worldliness. America (and probably most, if not all the world) is catechized.
The world, the flesh, and the devil have done a great job. Such a great job that we dont even realize the things we do.
Everything has to include something about us, and if it does, things feel alright. This is a reason Arminianism is acceptable and appealing to the flesh, to the flesh being a part of everything is natural, it's the desire of the flesh.
The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself.

Individualism.

Sounds like 'selfism', 10-4.

 

[prism]

Do you think we give an account for our sin....or has our sins been forgiven and forgotten?

Or, we give an account for what we did for Jesus or didn't do?

Maybe you can enlighten me?...

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Romans 14:12 ESV
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

See also Rev 2&3 (letters to the 7 Churches), or are you Dispensational, all of a sudden?

 

[brightfame52]

Okay, good.


Yes, preaching Christ crucified. 1 Corinthians 1:23

Not teaching theology to the world.

Preaching Christ crucified entails much theology. Who was specifically Christ crucified for according to scripture ? What was the final outcome of Christ being crucified ? If you think just saying the words"Christ crucified" is the preaching of the Gospel without explanation, you dead wrong Who is Christ exactly ? Is it important to mention He is God ?.

 

[Arial]

Of course, I agree. Just as you agreed with me. As you said, "I just don't know how I could preach the gospel without including why and the what it accomplished . . . . etc...

I am going to go out on a limb here and present something that occurred to me about preaching the gospel. It is often treated (and I include myself in this, even though it was not exactly the way in which I came to Christ)as though there is a set way and set things that must be said, that a person then has to believe. And I am not discounting that this is also a way, and that we are commanded to do it, and that it is a direct way.

What I am saying, or trying to say, is that it is not the only way. Believing God is the way (not believing in him only, but believing him), whatever it is that sparks that believing. It naturally has to have some substance, but that substance does not at first have to be directly connected to Christ. It will lead there always and may be something that brings to remembrance what one may have previously heard of Christ but did not believe.

The best way I know to get across what I am saying is by way of illustration. When I was regenerated, even though I had heard from my brother who Jesus is and what he did, for seven years of hearing it, I did not believe it.

I was reading a book he gave me---I read them all and disbelieved, reading them to get him off my case----that spoke of the prophecies in the OT that had already come to pass within the OT and are verified by history. And not just the prophecies but the many things stated in the Bible that are historically accurate as being historical events. And I believed then that the Bible must really be God's word. And if any of it was true, then all of it had to be true, including what it said about Jesus. I believed God. And I believed Jesus was who he said he was and did what he said he did, and it accomplished what he said it did.

And that explains the multifaceted testimonies of individual conversions. Not all are the same or have the same ingredients. They have the same destination----being in Christ through faith and by grace. There is not a formula. Just truth spoken and lived.

 

[CrowCross]

Maybe you can enlighten me?...

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Romans 14:12 ESV
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

See also Rev 2&3 (letters to the 7 Churches), or are you Dispensational, all of a sudden?

Where to begin.

Did Jesus pay for your sins on the cross? (1 Peter 2:24)

Have your sins not been imputed to Jesus and His righteousness imputed to you? (2 Cor 5:21)

Is there still condemnation in those who are in Christ? (Romans 8:1)

Does God remember your sins? Does God remove them as far as the east is from the west? (Psalms 103:12)

Yes, there will be a judgement. The question I ask you is...what for? What is the purpose of the judgement? Salvation? Rewards? Punishment? What?

The Judgement the Christians will face is the "Judgement Seat of Christ" also know as the" Bema Seat"...You can read a bit about it here...

1 Cor 3:10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames.

Did this post enlighten you in any way?

 

[Hazelelponi]

Did this post enlighten you in any way?

Not really. What is the purpose of judgment if our sins are already paid for at the cross?

Praise God, you're correct that in Christ there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1), and our sins are indeed remembered no more (Psalm 103:12). Yet Scripture also makes plain that every person will give an account before the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:12) for what he has done.
.
This means the judgment is not a second weighing of sins—as though Christ’s sacrifice might have been insufficient—but rather a public vindication of God’s justice and the unveiling of what His grace has accomplished in His people. The elect stand clothed in Christ’s righteousness alone (2 Corinthians 5:21), yet the reality of their faith will be made manifest in the fruit borne in their lives.

This is why Jesus gave the sobering parable: “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:22–23). The issue was never whether they did enough works, but whether they truly knew Christ and were known by Him. Their works—impressive as they seemed—were lawlessness because they were not done from faith, which alone justifies (Romans 3:28).

So the “Bema seat” does not undermine the Gospel, it upholds it. It displays the sovereignty of God in salvation: that all boasting is excluded, for even the good works that endure the fire are works God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). The judgment seat will not expose deficiencies in Christ’s atonement, but it will expose whether someone trusted in Christ or in their own righteousness.That is why the Gospel is first and foremost “who Jesus is and what He has done.”

To be found in Him is everything (Philippians 3:9).

Soli Deo Gloria

 

[CrowCross]

Not really. What is the purpose of judgment if our sins are already paid for at the cross?

That answerer is simple and can be asked as a question....What was the purpose of Christ dying on the cross for our sins?

No, Christians will not be judged for their sins. They have already been judged and paid for by Christ Jesus.

Praise God, you're correct that in Christ there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1), and our sins are indeed remembered no more (Psalm 103:12). Yet Scripture also makes plain that every person will give an account before the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:12) for what he has done.

Is that for sin or for what they did or didn't do to glorify Jesus?

 

[Hazelelponi]

Is that for sin or for what they did or didn't do to glorify Jesus?

What is sin?

 

[Eleanor]

If you deny the rapture....you deny the resurrection. Isn't you're future resurrection good news?

Isn't it comforting to know the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.....

Actually, thinking that Jesus would return in their lifetime ("soon"), that (1 Th 4:14-17) is a reference to the concern of whether those in their graves would miss the "rapture."
Paul's answer is they will not miss the "rapture," they will be raised from their graves immediately before the "rapture."

After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air?

 

[Eleanor]

What is sin?

Disobeying God?

 

[CrowCross]

What is sin?

You tell me.


I know my sin was nailed to the cross.

Col 2:13When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses, 14having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross! 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Personally I think you might want to trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins.