Saturday, July 22, 2017

Do you really know what the gospel is?


We need to hear it, obey it, and share it.
We hear the gospel - the good news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and that he rose again the third day.
"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.
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" - 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV
We obey the gospel by crucifying our sinful life, burying that old sinful "man" in water baptism in Jesus name, and receiving God's resurrection power of His Holy Ghost to live a new life walking in His Spirit.
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." - Romans 6:1-6 KJV
We share what Jesus did for us - that He shed His blood for us - and we give our testimony - that we repented of our old life, applying the blood of Jesus to us personally when we got baptized in Jesus name, and how that Jesus filled us with His Holy Ghost, with us speaking in tongues as His Spirit gave us utterance.
Just like on the Day of Pentecost when the church began!
"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4 KJV
Then Peter preached the gospel - Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection - to all the Jews that had gathered when they saw and heard the believers receive the gift of God's Spirit.
"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:37-42 KJV
Later, God poured out His Spirit on the Gentiles, when He sent Peter to preach to them the gospel message.
"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
"Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." - Acts 10:44-48 KJV
The apostle John testified in the book of Revelation of those that heard the gospel, obeyed it, and shared it.
"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." - Revelation 12:10-11 KJV



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