If one does not know or understand the "Historical Gospel" of Jesus Christ the Bible will not make sense. One of the reasons that there are so many religions is because of a lack of understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What was God's purpose in Jesus Christ? Or what did God accomplish in his Son Jesus Christ? The Bible plainly tells us that "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son" John 3:16. If you do not believe that God loves the world, you will also believe that God does not love you. It is a basic Christian belief to believe that God loves his created beings, which are the crown of his creation.
WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE FOR THE SALVATION OF FALLEN MAN?
God requires two things.
1. A life of perfect obedience according to God's Holy Law.
2. A perfect atonement for man's sins and for the sins of the whole world.
That's it. Nothing else is required for the salvation of fallen man. Problem is that "There is none righteous, no, not one" Romans 3:10. We have all been bitten by that old serpent the devil. We do not become sinners by what we do. We are born sinners, Psalm 51:5. If sinful man is to be saved his salvation must come to him totally and completely outside of himself. Thank God that it has in the person of Jesus Christ.
JESUS CHRIST IS GOD'S NEW ADAM AND OUR REPRESENTATIVE.
"Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" Romans 5:12.
Our old representative, Adam, brought sin and death upon us. Our new representative (Jesus Christ) brings righteousness and eternal life.
"Therefore by the offense of one (Adam) judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus Christ) the free gift came upon ALL MEN unto justification of life" Romans 5:18.
CHRIST'S ACCEPTANCE INTO HEAVEN IS OUR ACCEPTANCE.
In Jesus Christ we have been justified, sanctified and redeemed, 1 Corinthians 1:30. We have been MADE perfect and complete in him, Colossians 2:10. God now sees ALL THINGS in his Son Jesus Christ, Colossians 1:20. ALL THINGS have been reconciled unto God by his Son Jesus Christ.
"And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given unto us the ministry of reconciliation. To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them: and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation" Romans 5:18, 19.
It's over, it's finished, God has done all that he can possibly do for the salvation of fallen man. Because of the doing and the dying of Jesus God now sees all that have faith in Jesus as perfect and complete "In Christ". There is no need for Calvinism, Catholicism or any other religion. We can now boldly say... All that Jesus is and all that Jesus did is mine by faith.
If we will read the Bible in the light of this glorious Gospel it will make sense. If we read the Bible in the light of Calvinism, Catholicism or whatever religion, we will remain in darkness.
WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE FOR THE SALVATION OF FALLEN MAN?
God requires two things.
1. A life of perfect obedience according to God's Holy Law.
2. A perfect atonement for man's sins and for the sins of the whole world.
That's it. Nothing else is required for the salvation of fallen man. Problem is that "There is none righteous, no, not one" Romans 3:10. We have all been bitten by that old serpent the devil. We do not become sinners by what we do. We are born sinners, Psalm 51:5. If sinful man is to be saved his salvation must come to him totally and completely outside of himself. Thank God that it has in the person of Jesus Christ.
JESUS CHRIST IS GOD'S NEW ADAM AND OUR REPRESENTATIVE.
"Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" Romans 5:12.
Our old representative, Adam, brought sin and death upon us. Our new representative (Jesus Christ) brings righteousness and eternal life.
"Therefore by the offense of one (Adam) judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus Christ) the free gift came upon ALL MEN unto justification of life" Romans 5:18.
CHRIST'S ACCEPTANCE INTO HEAVEN IS OUR ACCEPTANCE.
In Jesus Christ we have been justified, sanctified and redeemed, 1 Corinthians 1:30. We have been MADE perfect and complete in him, Colossians 2:10. God now sees ALL THINGS in his Son Jesus Christ, Colossians 1:20. ALL THINGS have been reconciled unto God by his Son Jesus Christ.
"And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given unto us the ministry of reconciliation. To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them: and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation" Romans 5:18, 19.
It's over, it's finished, God has done all that he can possibly do for the salvation of fallen man. Because of the doing and the dying of Jesus God now sees all that have faith in Jesus as perfect and complete "In Christ". There is no need for Calvinism, Catholicism or any other religion. We can now boldly say... All that Jesus is and all that Jesus did is mine by faith.
If we will read the Bible in the light of this glorious Gospel it will make sense. If we read the Bible in the light of Calvinism, Catholicism or whatever religion, we will remain in darkness.