The Rejection of Jesus Christ and His Gospel

[Robert Pate]

"He came unto his own and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe upon his name" John 1:11, 12.

The Jews were the first ones to reject Christ, but not all of them. Many believed upon him and became Christians, Acts 2:41, Acts 4:4.

It was the religious Jews that rejected Christ. Jesus did not fit the profile of their Messiah. They believed that their Messiah was going to over throw the Romans and establish the Torah, instead he called them hypocrites and white washed sepulchers, Matthew 23:27.

Things have not changed much in 2000 years. The religious are still the same ones that reject him and his Gospel. The religious person establishes in his mind what his Christ should be like and then tries to find a religion that fits the image of his Christ. Same thing that the Pharisees did.

The Catholic church has this image of Christ that is so far different than what he really is that it has caused them to reject him and his Gospel completely. The Catholic church does not have a Gospel that justifies the ungodly, Romans 4:5 and reconciles us and the world unto God,2 Corinthians 5:19. Their Christ is not the Christ of the Bible. It is the Christ of their image.

Same thing for the Calvinist. The Calvinist Christ is so different from the Christ of the Bible that they have rejected him and his Gospel completely. You cannot convince a Calvinist that Jesus is the savior of the world, even when Jesus claims to be the savior of the world, John 12:47. The fact that Jesus is the savior of the world is also the foundation of the Gospel. So they not only reject him, they also reject his Gospel.

This is the purpose of religion to distort the true nature and the person of Jesus Christ and his Gospel. You will not hear the "Historical Gospel" of Jesus Christ preached in today's organized church. Christ's Gospel is not compatible with organized religion. Try telling people that salvation in Jesus Christ is totally and completely outside of them and is by faith alone and see what happens.

To put anything ahead of Christ and his Gospel is to reject Christ and his Gospel. It is not Jesus Christ plus your religion. It is Jesus Christ and his Gospel plus nothing.

 

[Robert Pate]

I guess that I could have titled the above article "Who Or What is Your Jesus?"

Do you believe and trust in the Jesus of the Bible, or have you fabricated in your mind your kind of Jesus, which is usually a false Jesus.

Religion will dictate what your Jesus will be like. If you are a Catholic your Jesus is still on the cross, crucified. Why is it Catholics never portrait Jesus sitting on a throne as "The Lord of Lords and the King of Kings?" Maybe they just like keeping him on the cross.

What about the Calvinist Jesus that failed to atone for the sins of the whole world? Can you believe and have faith in a Christ that only atones for some sins, but not all sins? If you are a Calvinist you will be required to believe that Jesus is a failure.

 

[S.T. Ranger]

It was the religious Jews that rejected Christ.

IF we are talking about those that believed on Christ the Lord, then it would be fairer to say...everyone rejected Christ:



Mark 16:9-14

King James Version (KJV)

9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.



The disciples (the eleven) did not believe Christ's preaching of the Gospel, and did not believe He had risen from the dead.

Jesus did not fit the profile of their Messiah.

Which is, understandably, the same profile the disciples had. This is why Peter tried, with a sword, to keep Christ from the the Cross.

They believed that their Messiah was going to over throw the Romans and establish the Torah

It is understandable, based on what Prophecy taught of Messiah. They did not understand that Christ had come to save men from sin, rather than from Rome (or any other foreign occupier).

It would not be until the disciples were Baptized with the Holy Ghost that they would fully understand Christ's Work. It is then they are immersed into God and receive the Spirit Christ promised would come after He returned to Heaven.


God bless.

 

[Robert Pate]

IF we are talking about those that believed on Christ the Lord, then it would be fairer to say...everyone rejected Christ:



Mark 16:9-14

King James Version (KJV)

9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.



The disciples (the eleven) did not believe Christ's preaching of the Gospel, and did not believe He had risen from the dead.





Which is, understandably, the same profile the disciples had. This is why Peter tried, with a sword, to keep Christ from the the Cross.





It is understandable, based on what Prophecy taught of Messiah. They did not understand that Christ had come to save men from sin, rather than from Rome (or any other foreign occupier).

It would not be until the disciples were Baptized with the Holy Ghost that they would fully understand Christ's Work. It is then they are immersed into God and receive the Spirit Christ promised would come after He returned to Heaven.


God bless.

I agree with what you are saying. The big reveal came on the day of Pentecost when the Gospel was revealed to everyone. Thousands heard and believed Peter's Gospel and were saved, Acts 2:41, Acts 4:4.

 

[jamie]

IF we are talking about those that believed on Christ the Lord, then it would be fairer to say...everyone rejected Christ:

Excellent post, thanks.

 

[Robert Pate]

To reject the Gospel is to reject Jesus Christ. It is not possible to say that you love Jesus, but you don't believe his Gospel. Catholics claim that they love Jesus, but totally reject the Gospel that justifies the ungodly, Romans 4:5 and reconciles the world unto God, 2 Corinthians 5:19. If you love Jesus you will love his Gospel. Calvinist claim that they love Jesus, but try to get around his Gospel by claiming that they have been predestinated to salvation before the foundation of the world. No Jesus needed.