The Gospel of Jesus Christ calls for a response. No response is a response.
When the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached the Holy Spirit is present to convict a person of their need to be saved by Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, many hear the Gospel but do not respond, or they hear the Gospel and instead of accepting Christ as their savior they turn to religion. Religion is more appealing because it is about you. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is about Christ and what he has done to reconcile us and the world unto God, 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19.
On the day of Pentecost when Peter preached the Gospel for the very first time 8,000 Jews heard and believed Peter's words, Acts 2:41, Acts 4:4. This event gave birth to the New Testament church. Nothing like this had ever happened before. The lowly disciple were transformed into bold preachers of the Gospel. Even the threats from the Pharisees could not stop them from preaching the Gospel, Acts 4:13-22. The response was incredible. It literally turned Jerusalem upside down. With the preaching of the Gospel comes persecution. If there is no persecution then it may not be the Gospel.
When the believer hears and believes the Gospel he receives faith and the Holy Spirit. This is why Paul wrote... "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (which is the Gospel)Romans 10:17.
There is no other way that one can receive faith and the Holy Spirit. Being religious will not bring the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote "This only would I learn of you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law (because you did something) or by the hearing of faith?" (hearing the Gospel) Galatians 3:2. If one wants more faith or more of the Spirit, then learn and live by the Gospel.
There is only one Gospel. It is the Gospel that justifies the ungodly, Romans 4:5 and reconciles us and the world unto God, 2 Corinthians 5:18,19. There are other Gospels, but they are false Gospels, such as the Gospel of Calvinism or the Gospel of Catholicism, these are false Gospel that cannot save or reconcile us to God. Where there is the preaching of the Gospel there will also be the preaching of false Gospels. It is Satan's purpose to pervert the Gospel of Jesus Christ and in doing so lead many astray.
WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?
The Gospel is that work that Jesus did in our name and on our behalf that reconciles us and the world unto God, 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19. God requires two things for the salvation of fallen man.
1. A life of perfect obedience according to God's Holy Law.
2. A perfect atonement for our sins and the sins of the whole world.
In our name and on our behalf Jesus has victoriously met these requirements, so that we can now stand before God's holy court as justified. This is what Paul meant when he said, "And you are complete in him (Christ) Colossians 2:10. The law has been fulfilled, sin has been atoned for. God now sees us as perfect and complete "In Christ". What God has done for us in Jesus Christ is a gift from God, Ephesians 2:8. This gift from God becomes ours by simple child like faith in Christ and his Gospel, plus nothing.
When the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached the Holy Spirit is present to convict a person of their need to be saved by Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, many hear the Gospel but do not respond, or they hear the Gospel and instead of accepting Christ as their savior they turn to religion. Religion is more appealing because it is about you. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is about Christ and what he has done to reconcile us and the world unto God, 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19.
On the day of Pentecost when Peter preached the Gospel for the very first time 8,000 Jews heard and believed Peter's words, Acts 2:41, Acts 4:4. This event gave birth to the New Testament church. Nothing like this had ever happened before. The lowly disciple were transformed into bold preachers of the Gospel. Even the threats from the Pharisees could not stop them from preaching the Gospel, Acts 4:13-22. The response was incredible. It literally turned Jerusalem upside down. With the preaching of the Gospel comes persecution. If there is no persecution then it may not be the Gospel.
When the believer hears and believes the Gospel he receives faith and the Holy Spirit. This is why Paul wrote... "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (which is the Gospel)Romans 10:17.
There is no other way that one can receive faith and the Holy Spirit. Being religious will not bring the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote "This only would I learn of you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law (because you did something) or by the hearing of faith?" (hearing the Gospel) Galatians 3:2. If one wants more faith or more of the Spirit, then learn and live by the Gospel.
There is only one Gospel. It is the Gospel that justifies the ungodly, Romans 4:5 and reconciles us and the world unto God, 2 Corinthians 5:18,19. There are other Gospels, but they are false Gospels, such as the Gospel of Calvinism or the Gospel of Catholicism, these are false Gospel that cannot save or reconcile us to God. Where there is the preaching of the Gospel there will also be the preaching of false Gospels. It is Satan's purpose to pervert the Gospel of Jesus Christ and in doing so lead many astray.
WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?
The Gospel is that work that Jesus did in our name and on our behalf that reconciles us and the world unto God, 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19. God requires two things for the salvation of fallen man.
1. A life of perfect obedience according to God's Holy Law.
2. A perfect atonement for our sins and the sins of the whole world.
In our name and on our behalf Jesus has victoriously met these requirements, so that we can now stand before God's holy court as justified. This is what Paul meant when he said, "And you are complete in him (Christ) Colossians 2:10. The law has been fulfilled, sin has been atoned for. God now sees us as perfect and complete "In Christ". What God has done for us in Jesus Christ is a gift from God, Ephesians 2:8. This gift from God becomes ours by simple child like faith in Christ and his Gospel, plus nothing.
