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Jesus
Christ
Preached
the
True
Gospel
for
Salvation
Jesus
Christ
Preached
the
True
Gospel
for
Salvation
Jesus
Christ
Preached
the
True
Gospel
for
Salvation
Jesus
Christ
Preached
the
True
Gospel
for
Salvation
Jesus
Christ
Preached
the
True
Gospel
for
Salvation
Jesus
Christ
Preached
the
True
Gospel
for
Salvation
Jesus
Christ
Preached
the
True
Gospel
for
Salvation
|
|
Words preached by Lord Jesus
Christ that leads people to godliness are the truth and grace.
The wholesome words of the Bible is the Truth
of God that has no Contradictions.
"Matt 4:23
Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the
gospel of the kingdom…" Jesus Christ preached
the kingdom of heaven as the gospel. This is the true gospel. If the preaching
is not pertained to the kingdom of God, then it is not the gospel of Jesus
Christ.
"2 Cor 11:4
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached,
or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or
another gospel, which ye have not accepted.
Gal 1:6 … unto another gospel:
7 … would pervert the
gospel of Christ. 8
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."
The Bible gives severe warnings about introducing another Jesus Christ or
preaching another gospel. Only gospel that Jesus Christ preached is the true
gospel and all others are perverted gospels. So, if we preach, let us preach the
gospel that Jesus Christ preached.
Jesus Christ healed sicknesses and done miracles. But,
this is not the true gospel. What Jesus Christ preached is the true gospel.
Stories and gimmicks for healing crusades are not the true gospel.
Preachers preach about Jesus Christ and ask people to
believe it in pretence that it is the gospel. As good as it seems, it is not the
true gospel. What Jesus Christ preached is the true gospel. The story of Jesus
Christ is information about the author of the gospel, but it is not the gospel.
If it is presented as the gospel, it is a diversion from the true gospel.
1.
Jesus Christ began to
Preach the Gospel
The word of God
says the Lord Jesus Christ has started to preach his gospel.
"Heb 2:3
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first
began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard
him; Matt 4:23
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching
the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner
of disease among the people."
Then, the true gospel is what the
Lord Jesus Christ has preached. Even the life history of Jesus Christ is the
life history of the author of the gospel, but not the gospel. If it is the case,
so much we hear today in the name of gospel are just stories, but not the
gospel.
"1 Tim 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to
wholesome words, even
the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to
godliness."
Another very important characteristics of the
true gospel is that it should gear people towards godliness
without contradicting the wholesome words of God.
2. Preachers of the Word
There
are three points given to us so that we may test a preacher whether he is true or
false. The true preachers will consent with all these three points
and the false preachers will not consent with one or all of them. They are (1) 'wholesome words
of God.' (2) 'Words of our Lord Jesus Christ' and (3) 'the doctrine which is according to
godliness'.
"1 Tim 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to
wholesome words, even
the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to
godliness."
A. The Wholesome words
That is, they should not stray away from the truth of the wholesome words of the
Bible. The concept of God, the purpose of God, the function of God etc
should be understood from the whole Bible. The Bible truth does not contradict
within itself. If some doctrine contradicts with other verses in the
Bible, that doctrine is not according to the wholesome words of God. Those
doctrines which came from the interpretation of men are not from the wholesome
Word. The verses from the word of God should be understood in the context in
which God gave. We should only take the meaning which God has intended for
that verse to mean. Nobody should interpret the verses of the Bible as the
attorneys of law twist the law to favor their own clients.
B. Words of
Jesus Christ
That is, they should not contradict the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible says that our Lord Jesus Christ was the first person who preached the
gospel.
"Heb 2:3
How shall we escape, if we neglect so
great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and
was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;" Our
gospel must be the gospel of Jesus Christ. But, the Christian story
tellers preach the stories about Jesus Christ, ignoring what Jesus Christ told
us about our salvation. They say anything and call it the gospel of Jesus Christ.
C. According to godliness
There are several doctrines made by the theologians over the period of many
years. But the true man of God will preach the true ways of God to lead the person
to godliness. Any doctrine that does not lead a person to godliness which is
the holiness and righteousness of God, then that doctrine is not of God.
We must reject that doctrine.
The doctrine which can
make you wealthy or a doctrine which converts a concerned sinner to a
complacent sinner, etc are not taught by Jesus Christ neither they lead
anybody to godliness. These doctrines are not of God.
The
following verses say who the false preachers are? what do they think? and what must
we do concerning them? "1 Tim 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and
strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth,
supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself."
They
even think that gain is godliness, meaning that they measure their
godliness with the earthly profits they gain. The true disciples will withdraw
themselves from them.
3.
The True
Salvation
Many
Christians are taught to say that they are saved, without even knowing what ‘saved’
means.
Salvation is the result of the combine effort of the person and God. God's
work and our obedience will bring our salvation. Here are a few steps toward salvation.
A.
Call
to Repentance
In general, everybody except Jesus Christ, is born as a sinner.
"1 John
1:8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not
in us."
If anybody think that they have any righteousness
without God, their righteousness is as filthy rags to God. "Isa 64:5
---behold, thou art wroth; for
we have sinned: ---. 6 But
we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." God
has to forgive their sins to give them in salvation. So, God became a man and called the sinners to repentance
for forgiveness. "Matt
9:13
--- I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
2 Pet 3:9
The Lord --- not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
B. Past
Sins are Forgiven
If
they respond to the call,
repented of their sins with broken heart and contrite spirit,
confess
their sins and walk in the light as God is in the light, then God will forgive their past sins which they have
committed. But he will not give a license to do future sins. "Ps 34:18
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such
as be of a contrite spirit.
1 John
1:7 --
if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
9 If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness."
Jesus Christ shed
his blood on the cross to forgive our past sins only.
"Rom 3:25
--- to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past..."
C. Saved
by Christ's Life
If a person is committing sin, God considers him dead in sin. That is, according to God, he
is spiritually a dead person who is drowned in a pool of sins. God pulls him out
of the pool of sins and give him the breath of life. He imparts his
own life to him that was pulled out of sin and saves him. Thus God quickens him/her.
"Gen
2:7 -- breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living
soul. Rom
5:10 ---
we were reconciled to God by the death of
his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Eph 2:1
And you hath he quickened, who were
dead in trespasses and sins." There is no such thing that a person is quickened or brought to life while he is still immersed in
the pool of sins.
D. Grace Destroys Sin
The devil is the author of sin. The devil and his people commit sin from
the beginning. Jesus Christ, the
Grace of God, came to destroy the works of the devil.
"1 John 3:8 He that
committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the
beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy
the works of the devil." Jesus
Christ, the Grace of God, brought salvation with him and taught people how to
receive it. "Titus
2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to
all men, 12 Teaching us
that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world;"
He gives grace to us
that is the very presence of God. This grace by nature obeys God and it
will not sin.
That is, if we have received the grace from Jesus Christ, it will destroy the
source of sin in us. Then, we will not and we cannot sin any longer."1 John 3:9
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and
he cannot sin, because he is born of God."
"Rom
5:20 --- But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:" Many
preachers say that if you are a big sinner, God will give you big grace to
compensate your big sin.
"Rom
5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign
through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our
Lord." But in the proper context, the verse says that if
you are a repenting big sinner, God will give you much bigger grace in order
to overcome the big sin. Grace gives grace not compensate sin, but
to destroy sin. As sin over power someone and takes him/her to
death, the grace of Jesus Christ over powers sin through
righteousness and takes him/her to eternal life. If you try to compensate
sin with goodness,
then grace has left you because of disobedience. Either
sin or grace,
whichever remains in you will take you to its destiny, which is either to
eternal death or to eternal life.
"Rom
6:23 For the wages of
sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
E. Sin cannot
Enter Heaven
"Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into
it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh
a lie:" Grace is not given
to a sinner so that he may take his sins to heaven with him. If grace is
given, It is given so that the person may get rid of sin.
Grace and sin may be compared to light and darkness. They both cannot
co-exist. If believers embrace sin, grace leaves them. If believers
embrace grace, it
destroys sin through righteousness.
F. Made Free From Sin
If
we obey
the doctrine of God from our hearts, then God will give us grace to
overcome sin and save us.
If we watch the process carefully, we will see two persons jointly doing the same work. As we
strive God helps us to
come out of sin.
"Rom
6:17 But God
be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from
the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Eph 2:5 Even when we were
dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"
Being made free from sin, we become
servants to righteousness,
which leads us to holiness and everlasting life. "Rom
6:18 Being
then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19
... servants to righteousness unto holiness. 22
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit
unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."
G. Grow
in Grace
God gives us grace,
helps us to grow in grace and
at the same time he himself does a work in us so that we may
be saved and do the good works of God.
"2Pet 3:18 But
grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
They are the workmanship of
God and will do the righteousness of God.
"Eph 2:10 For
we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath
before ordained that we should walk in them."
This grace
includes mercy, spiritual gifts, the word of God, presence of God and power of God. By this grace we will overcome the world and Satan.
"1 John 2:14
---I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong,
and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one."
Thus
we are saved.
"Matt 1:21---
thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from
their sins"
4.
True
Followers of Jesus Christ
A.
Love
of the Truth
As we study the
word of God, we must not try to read the word into our doctrine, but
we must study to find the truth of God.
Then, God will give us the understanding of his word. But, if we desire to establish our own
denomination,
doctrine,
belief, etc, then,
God shall send
us strong delusion for us to believe a
lie.
"2 Thess
2:10 ---; because they received not the love of the
truth, that they might be saved.
11
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion,
that they should believe a lie:"
So, love for the truth is most important for the study of the
word of God.
B. Strive
for the Kingdom of God
To be forgiven for
the committed sins and
to
overcome from committing sins are the two facets of
salvation. Those who have received the initial forgiveness for sins will begin to see the kingdom
of God. As our souls bring our flesh to subjection by the grace of God, we receive the spirit
of man so that he may help our spiritual lives. This is called born again or born
of the spirit. "
John 3:3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
6 That which is
born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."
If we are
born again, our soul can see the kingdom of God through our spirit and the
word. This change from the flesh to the spirit will be seen through our lives.
Only the born again people can see the kingdom of God.
As the person sees the kingdom he also sees the gate and the way. But the way is narrow and the
gate is tight. Unless the person strives hard
to enter through the gate, he cannot enter. Only those who are born of water and of the Spirit
will be able to enter.
"John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of G od.
Matt 7:13
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate,
---
14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth
unto life, and few there be that find it.
Eph 5:26 That he might
sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,"
Those who are born of water are those who correct their lives by obeying the word of
God according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Obedience to God is
the
striving that is
required. Only those who strive will enter into the kingdom of God.
A
disciple asked Jesus Christ whether only a few people are going to be
saved. Then the Lord told him to strive to enter. Remember,
only those
who strive (a few) will be saved. Most of the
Christians seek easier ways in order to enter the kingdom of God without
striving. To them, the devil shows a wide gate and broad way, which is
easy. "Luke
13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are
there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
24 Strive
to enter in at
the
strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in,
and shall not be able.
Matt 7:13
Enter ye in at the strait gate:
for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that
leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:" God warns them saying that the easy way is the way of destruction. But many
Christians will enter through the wide gate just because it is
easier to enter and they will be destroyed. Easy Christianity is of the devil.
Religious and worldly Christians are not striving Christians. They enter
through the wide gate and the broad way.
C. Work of Righteousness
Every
Christian will be doing some kind of righteous work. Most
of the Christians will be doing whatever they think is righteous. But,
very few Christians are very particular to obey God according to the word of God..
So, these two groups will have two different kinds of righteousness. We
will study about them below.
Most Christians do not care for the truth of God and do not bother to
obey the word of God. They will not repent enough to have remorse and
hatred toward their sin. They will not and cannot quit sin. But they
will be doing some kind of work and think it is righteousness. God considers
their righteousness as filthy rags.
"Isa
64:5
--- behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned:
--- 6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as
filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind,
have taken us away." It is very sad that the pulpits preach that all the
righteousness of Christians are filthy rags. But they quickly say that it is all
right since they will borrow the righteousness of Jesus Christ. They glory in
their filth and in the technique of Satan. They deceive themselves and others.
But, they cannot cheat God.
The
word of God
says that the obedience
to the commandments of God is given as the righteousness for His people.
"Deut 6:25
And it shall be our
righteousness, if we observe to do all these
commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us."
God rejoices in the righteousness of the people who walk in
his ways. God will meet those obedient servants, who are doing the
righteous works, at his second coming.
"Isa 64:4
For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived
by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared
for him that waiteth for him. 5 Thou
meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember
thee in thy ways..." The obedient people will be
the bride of Jesus Christ and the bride will be arrayed in fine linen, clean and
white: for the fine linen is her own righteousness.
"Rev 19:7
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of
the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean
and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."
That is, the righteousness gained by obeying the commandments of God will
be her own marriage apparel at the event of her marriage with the Groom, the
Lord Jesus Christ. This bride of Christ is the body of Jesus Christ, which is the
true Church.
5. Conclusion
As we
obey God with fear and reverence, he will do his work of pleasure in us and will save us by
his grace.
"Phil 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling. 13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure.
Eph 2:10 For
we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath
before ordained that we should walk in them."
The striving we do and the affliction we go through in this path
will be pale in comparison with the reward we will receive.
"2 Cor 4:17
For our light affliction, which
is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory;. 5:1 For we know
that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building
of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
If
we die with him we will live with him. If we suffer for him, we will rule with
him.
"2 Tim 2:11
It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also
live with him:
12 If
we suffer, we shall also reign with him:"
Christians think that salvation is
just an escape from hell. However, this salvation will
change a man/woman to be like his creator even to
look like him in his glory.
"1 John 3:2 Beloved,
now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we
know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him
as he is."
And it will lift him/her up from the dust of
this earth to be seated on the very throne of God.
"Rev 3:21
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne,
even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."
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