Chapter 9. THE GOSPEL
a. General. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the good
news to God's children that they have been saved by the blood of Jesus
Christ. The gospel does not offer eternal life and is not a means to
obtaining spiritual life. Rather the gospel is a declaration of eternal
salvation because of the finished work of Jesus Christ, and instruction
about His walk as an example to be followed by God's children.
b.
Proof Scriptures. The scriptures that declare that the gospel
is not to give life but is to bring to light the eternal life that is
already possessed by those that love its message include the following:
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift
of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and
now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and
they that hear shall live.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh
profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit,
and they are life.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that
perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power
of God.
2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our
Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought
life and immortality to light through the gospel:
c.
Who Can Hear The Gospel. Even though the gospel may be preached
to those that do not have eternal life, they cannot hear it nor believe
it. The gospel can only be believed by those that already have spiritual
life:
John 8:43-47 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye
cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and
the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the
beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth
in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is
a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth,
ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say
the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's
words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are
not of God.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things
of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither
can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that
perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power
of God.
1 Corinthians 1:23-24 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the
Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto
them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of
God, and the wisdom of God.
John 10:25-28 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed
not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness
of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep,
as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and
they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall
never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
d.
The Gospel For Believers. The gospel was intended for those
that already have spiritual life and are believers, and was never intended
as a means to obtain spiritual life. The gospel is only of benefit to
those that already have faith and is not a means of obtaining faith:
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it
is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
2 Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that
are lost:
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the
minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Hebrews 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto
them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed
with faith in them that heard it.
Acts 13:26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham,
and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this
salvation sent.
e.
The Gospel Does Not Offer Eternal Life. The gospel does not
offer eternal life to those that are dead in sin, but rather the gospel
declares to those that have been born of God's spirit and who realize
themselves to be sinners that they have eternal life because of the saving
work of Jesus Christ. The gospel does not give life but rather it brings
to light the life that is already present:
2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our
Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought
life and immortality to light through
the gospel:
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed
me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the
brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering
of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.
Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and
glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to
eternal life believed.
f.
Practical Salvation In Obeying the Gospel. While the gospel
does not offer eternal salvation or eternal life, it does proclaim and
offer a practical or time salvation during this present life to those
that can hear and do obey the gospel:
1 Corinthians 15:1-2 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.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it
is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Philippians 2:12-13 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. For it is God which
worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
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