Friday, March 11, 2011

The Gospel

The gospel is not the news that we can receive an absent Jesus into our lives. The gospel is the shocking news that Jesus has received us into his.

12 comments:

Pastor Jonathan said...

Amen. This is what the apostles shouted, the martyrs died for, and the Church in the 21st century needs to hear over and over again. Keep saying it and never stop!

Rebecca said...

I don't think one can be separate from the other. It has to be a both/and situation.

hucknjim said...

To the last line I would add "whether we know it or not." We have only to accept that reception, and I firmly believe that it can and does occur after the soul has departed this life.

John

Unknown said...

YES - If I bring Jesus into MY life, he belongs to me. In such case, he is not the LORD, the Son of the Father.

In I enter the life of Christ by my own decision - then Jesus is simply a utilitarain force by which my life is influenced for my own good.

If Jesus brings me into himself - then it is all about HIM. He is LORD, LIFE, and God, the Son of the Father.

Amy said...

Love it!

Timothy Parker said...

And I add the followng shorthand too: our lives are not our own.

hw robertson said...

1 Corinthians 1:28-30 (New International Version, ©2011)
28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
its not what we do beyond belving as mather did, who Jesus is.When pete said who Jesus is,Jesus said the Father had revieled to peter.SEEMS the TRINITY has it covered if we desire a relation with the Father,Son&Holy Spirite

Michael said...

Yes...Yes..Yes...We need more Baxter..Keep it coming brother!

Anonymous said...

"If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers, and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned…abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love."

Anonymous said...

Hey anonymous,
I think your trying to say that not everyone is currently in Christ. I think you are wrong if you read the passage 15:2 says that the branches "in me" are to be cut off. Also if you read the whole book of John every "I AM" statement applies to believers and non-believers; so why would this one be different. Also Jesus uses the word picture of a vine. Unless Jesus was confused on his botany I think he would know that branches aren't added to vines they can only be cut off... so with that in mind everyone is already in "the vine" because you can't cut off a branch thats not in a tree.

Matthew Wells said...

This is what it means according to Scripture:

“This is love: not that we love God [not that we can receive Him], but that He loved [received] us.” (1 John 4:10)

Matthew Wells said...

Meaning, as much as what you do is absolutely apart of the Gospel and is necessary, Jesus still gets all the credit.