The Gospel of Christ
Galatians 1:6-8 “6 I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; 7 which is not another gospel: only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.”
As this passage says, there is no gospel for us other than the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 4:23), that is, the gospel of Christ, the gospel of our Lord Jesus (2 Thessalonians 1:8), the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4), and the gospel of the glory of God (1 Timothy 1:11). This gospel is the gospel of peace to us (Acts 10:36, Ephesians 6:15), the gospel of grace (Acts 20:24), and the gospel of salvation (Ephesians 1:13). And this gospel is what God promised to us beforehand from the Old Testament.
Romans 1:2 “which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures, concerning his Son.”
Some people, in order to deceive others, alter the gospel of God and preach another gospel, one that is different from the truth. However, the gospel which God promised beforehand in the Scriptures, that is, in the Old Testament, concerns only Jesus Christ. Therefore, we must know that apart from this gospel concerning Jesus, there is no other gospel for us.
Romans 10:13 “for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Acts 4:12 “And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved.”
These words reveal the core of the gospel, because after Jesus came into this world, no one can come to God except through Jesus.
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 10:9 “I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.”
This truth is clearly shown in the fact that “Jesus became the eternal High Priest for us.”
Hebrews 4:14-16 “14 Having then a great high priest, who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling1 of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need.”
[1To be touched with the feeling: to understand one’s condition and have compassion.]
As this passage says, Jesus became our High Priest, whose priesthood never changes. He knows our weaknesses, has mercy on us, and has enabled us to draw near boldly to the throne of God’s grace through Him.
Hebrews 10:19 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus.”
Hebrews 7:24-25 “24 but he, because he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchangeable. 25 Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Therefore, according to this gospel of Christ, we must now always draw near boldly to God through Jesus, that is, in the name of Jesus.
Ephesians 5:20 “giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.”
Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Hebrews 13:15 “Through him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name.”
To summarize again, “the gospel of the glory of God,” which God made known beforehand to people through the Old Testament Scriptures, is this: in all things, nothing can be done apart from our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, after Jesus came, “whoever calls on the name of Jesus receives salvation,” and this word is the “gospel,” that is, the “good news,” which God has given to all mankind.
Truly, the news that we, who are sinners, can receive the forgiveness of sins, and that we, who could only die, can live forever, is truly great and blessed news to us!
Acts 13:38-39, 43 “38 Be it known unto you therefore, brethren, that through this man is proclaimed unto you remission of sins: 39 and by him every one that believeth is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. 43 To him bear all the prophets witness, that through his name every one that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.”
John 20:30-31 “30 Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name.”
Amen.
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