Humankind’s story began in the Garden of Eden and will end in the Holy City for a few or the Lake of Fire for many.
Understanding what happens between the Garden and the City is crucial because you’re part of the story and because it determines how you live here on earth and where you spend eternity.
It’s amazing and frightening how history repeats itself.
As we revisit the start of our existence, you’ll see that many have previously travelled the modern Christian journey. And if they sat with us today, they’d help us understand what matters most in life and how to run and win our race.
What you’ll hear and read in the course Believe The True Gospel summarises the whole Bible and the foundation of our faith in God. That’s because without understanding God’s plan of salvation or the true Gospel that makes a new creation in Christ and enables us to receive the Holy Spirit, we cannot know God, obey His commands, and defend the truth in a wicked world.
The true Gospel of Jesus Christ is the very power of God at work in the lives of believers. (Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 1:18)
There is only one Gospel and one Christ.
This Gospel is also known as the Good News, the Gospel of Christ, the Gospel of God, the Gospel of salvation, or the Gospel of the Kingdom. No other gospel can bring anyone to saving faith. That’s why we must be careful what Gospel we hear and believe. (Galatians 1:6-10, Hebrews 2:1)
The central message of the true Gospel is Christ crucified, as stated by Apostle Paul.
He wrote;
“Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.
It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom.
So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.
But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
(1 Corinthians 1:21-24 NLT See also 1 Corinthians 2:2, Galatians 3:1)
Is the Gospel foolish to you? How much do you treasure it? Would you give up everything, including your very life, to believe and stand for it?
The Preciousness Of The True Gospel
The way we handle anything shows how much we value it.
Likewise, taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ lightly is evidence that we lack a proper understanding of it, or that we have bought into a counterfeit gospel and believed in another christ.
Here are a few amazing truths about the preciousness of the true Gospel;
- God activated His plan of redemption right after the fall of man. It is about reconciling and restoring man’s relationship with God, which was lost when man fell. (2 Timothy 1:10)
- Without the Gospel, no one can enter and inherit the Kingdom of God.
- It is a treasure worth selling everything for.
- The Gospel is not man-made but God-made or God-initiated. God the Father sent Jesus Christ to become human on earth to die at the hands of those He came to save. (Galatians 1:11)
- The Gospel is a mystery God hid from the angels and most people who existed before Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.
- God announced it to Abraham. (Galatians 3:8, Romans 16:25-26, Ephesians 6:19)
- Moses also preached it to the Israelites. (Hebrews 4:2, 6)
- God prepared Christ to be crucified before the foundation of the earth. (Revelations 13:8)
- Christ preached it to those who died long ago because of disobedience to God. (1 Peter 3:19-21)
- Our response to this Gospel determines our earthly usefulness and eternal destiny.
- The Gospel defeated the power of our sinful nature, Satan, and his accusations against those in Christ.
- The twelve disciples and many followers of Christ suffered persecution, poverty, and even death because of this Gospel.
- The Gospel is the power of God that saves the lost, opens the eyes of the blind, and sets the bound free from sin and death. It stands in eternity as a testament to God’s love that made us His sons. (Hebrews 2:10, Galatians 3:26)
After Jesus rose from the dead, he met two disciples on their way to Emmaus. He helped them understand what had just happened with His death. For many hours, He explained how the Old Testament pointed to Him. (Luke 24:27)
A few days later, on the day of Pentecost, Apostle Peter laboured for many hours to explain what was happening and why the Holy Spirit had come.
Not long after that, Stephen also took his listeners back to the Old Testament to help them understand the Gospel. (Acts 2:40, 7:1-60)
So, you see, the true Gospel is incomplete without going back to Genesis, where things went wrong, tracing God’s steps in redeeming humanity, and explaining why Jesus had to appear in the New Testament.
The Gospel is not a 10-minute affair with someone at their doorstep, on a street corner, or at an altar call after a moving sermon in church.
It’s broader and more profound than that.
No wonder many claim to know Christ and are saved but do not understand what salvation is, why it was necessary, or the price Christ paid for it! Can someone believe without understanding? Can they claim to know the Gospel if they cannot explain it?
Like Apostle Paul, I’ll not shrink or shy away from declaring and proclaiming to you God’s whole counsel, will, plan, purpose, or truth. (Acts 20:27)
He preached the Gospel in its fullness to become innocent of all men’s blood who rejected it. (Acts 20:26, 18:6, Ezekiel 3:17-19)
Genuine Gospel preachers are in the ministry of teaching, explaining, declaring, persuading, convincing, and compelling people to believe in Jesus Christ. (Acts 28:23-24, 17:3-4)
Here is a summary of the Gospel according to Apostle Paul:
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve.
After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.”
(1 Corinthians 15:3-8)
That’s a beautiful summary.
However, to fully understand the scope of the Gospel, we must consider why Christ had to die in the first place and what the implications of His death and resurrection are for us.
Let me ask again, is the Gospel you received precious to you? Would you give up all you consider precious in your life for its sake?
The true Gospel cost Jesus Christ everything for your sake, so you may deny Him nothing of what you are or have for His sake.
I pray you realize the Gospel is not a joking matter.
Have you noticed that false gospels and different christs are preached on the streets, pulpits, and media?
The false always fights the truth in the world and masquerades as the truth! Satan’s agenda for humanity has been the same since the fall of man: to blind, to destroy, to steal, and to keep us from worshipping God.
The solution to all of Satan’s schemes is the Gospel, which rescues us from his kingdom of darkness and brings us into God’s kingdom of light. Only then can we see, worship, and serve God every day of our lives.
Believing in a false gospel is like buying fake gold with excitement, only to discover much later that it was fake.
Likewise, it shall be on Judgement Day. Many who believed false gospels and different christs will weep and gnash their teeth when they realize the deception that destroyed their lives on earth and souls in eternity.
Apostle Paul had this to say about false preachers of the gospel;
“I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.
Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.
I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.”
(Galatians 1:6-9 NLT)
This is your opportunity to examine your life and answer the following essential questions;
- Did you believe the true Gospel?
- How are you blessed through God’s promises to Abraham?
- Do you know your identity in Christ?
- Is the power of God at work in your life to overcome sin and live a holy life in a wicked world?
- Are you equipped to share the Gospel with those who are perishing?
- Are you ready for the return of Jesus Christ?
- Is your name written in the Book of Life?
To learn about the true Gospel and find answers to the above questions and more, please take the course Believe The True Gospel. To fully understand the connection of the Gospel to your purpose, identity, assignment, and fruitfulness in life, first take the course Discipleship House Blueprint.
Enjoy the journey.
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