| Author | Message | ||
| Max |
Hey! Why are you looking to ME for answers? Why is the gospel "good news" to YOU? Don't be shy. TESTIFY! | ||
| Patti |
What does the gospel mean? The gospel means "good news." Why does it mean "good news"? It means "good news" because . . . . Let's not speculate; let's go straight to the Scripture. Here are the texts that inspired Luther's "tower experience"; that made him realize that salvation could only come by trusting in the obedience of the One. Romans 1:15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." Here Paul gives a specific definition of the Gospel. Notice the characteristics: Verse 16. It is the power of God for salvation. Not for conquering sin in our lives, but for salvation. Verse 16. Of everyone who believes. Not everyone who believes and exhibits fruits of the Spirit, or has the love of Jesus in his heart. It says, Everyone who believes. Period. (There are quite of these "believe" statements from Jesus Himself in the book of John also.) Verse 17 is loaded! Verse 17. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed. A righteousness, that we read of in chapter 4 and 5 which is the "obedience of the One." It is Christ's righteousness; human hands had no part in making it. Verse 17. A righteousness that is by faith from first to last. This text is what prompted Luther's formulation of the Reformational battlecry, "Faith alone!" The righteousness that the Gospel offers us is by faith from first to last, meaning that we still have no part in it; it is laid up in heaven where moth and rust cannot corrupt nor destroy. "Faith alone" does not mean that we inherit the kingdom because of our pious act of believing; it indicates that the righteousness by which we are saved is never a physical part of us: We cannot see it, we cannot touch it, we cannot experience it. It is ours by faith (believing in the undiscernable) alone. Verse 17. just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." This is an NIV translation. Here are what some other translations have to say: NASB: "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.'' Or But he who is righteous by faith shall live" RSV: "He who through faith is righteous shall live." It is only the righteousness of faith that is unto eternal life (salvation). A very precise definition of the Gospel is given in these texts. 1. It is a message of salvation. 2. Salvation comes by a righteousness from God alone. 3. This righteousness, revealed in the Gospel, is by faith alone, not of anything that we "experience." 4. Those who are righteous by believing in the obedience of Jesus Christ shall live, eternally. In a nutshell: The Gospel = righteousness by faith (the obedience of One by which the many are declared righteous) It is all about Jesus, Who alone is worthy of honor and glory and praise. | ||
| Cindy |
Morning Max, on this "supersunday"....:-)) Ready for Baltimore to win? And what are you doing up so early? 6:04? :-)) I guess I'm too independent of my own to look to you for "answers" :-)) I thankfully have my own "Answer Man"... in Christ...:-)) But I do look to you for your comments and analysis! I think you have a sharp mind and, like I've mentioned before, a brilliance that is evident in your writing... :-)) I may have disagreed with you at times, but have always enjoyed the passion evident in your posts. Like you and others here, my great interest has been THE GRACE OF GOD REVEALED IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST; and also how to LIVE GRATEFULLY IN THAT GRACE! It is good to exchange our ideas along with Scriptures... Why is the Gospel "GOOD NEWS!" to me? Oh my, that could take pages to expound on! Briefly, to me it is good news because I know I am unworthy to come into the Presence of my Holy Creator. My actions, thoughts and even motives are corrupt and fall so short of perfection, even on my best days! (I know His Spirit is the only one who can even convict me on this... Some unbelievers would disagree and probably say it's just because I was raised to think this way, and I just need some healthy self-esteem, to get over this neurotic view...) Yet, I believe and trust... Because JESUS came and lived an absolutely perfect life for me, in my place; died the sinner's death that I deserve--the wrath of God poured on HIM instead of ME!; and then was resurrected and seated at the right hand of God (immediately, not in 1844! :-)); I now have ACCESS into God's throne room as a CHILD of the KING! No longer does SIN separate me from God! This PEACE WITH GOD gives REST to my soul! I don't have to scramble to live a certain way of rules and regulations to please God. I can live in grateful response to Him because HE ALREADY IS PLEASED WITH ME! I AM IN CHRIST when I believe, trusting in HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ALONE!... And because I AM IN CHRIST, I am counted by God to be PERFECT! As God pronounced, "THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED". The reality of living in the Kingdom of Heaven NOW is something I must REMEMBER to do. I "remember" Jesus' perfect REST, not a "days'" rest... By accepting His care EVERY day, the fact of Sovereignity of God in my life does give me a CONFIDENCE. HE is in control, and I can safely REST IN HIS CARE; HE is the GOOD Shepherd! HIS HOLY SPIRIT is the GIFT of HIS PRESENCE to be with me ALWAYS! This is really to keep me focused on Him as my only righteousness... Back always to Jesus, "the Author and Finisher of our faith." And still His Presence guides us always towards more "holiness"... this living "under the Cross", in community with others; loving the unlovable, and forgiving the unforgivable... as Christ has loved and forgiven us! The Gospel is all something that gives real meaning to my life. I've had too many sorrows (and joys!) in this life to think that this brief life is all there is... I want it to continue forever. Just with no more tears! Grace always, Cindy A song we sang last night at church comes to mind: "AND TROUBLED MINDS CAN KNOW HIS PEACE... CAPTIVE HEARTS CAN FIND RELEASE! THE KING OF LOVE THE KING OF LOVE HAS COME!" | ||
| Max |
Thanks, Patti. | ||
| Valm |
In a word, REST. Valerie | ||
| Max |
Hi Cindy, So sorry I missed the Stupidbore XXXV football game, but am marginally glad the Ravens won. Whoever they are. Reason: Poe's poem: "Quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore!'" I'm going off-line while I craft my longer reply to you. Back soon, Under grace, Max | ||
| Max |
Cindy again What was I doing up so early -- 6:04A? Watching ìMeet the Press,î ìFace the Nation,î and ìThis Week with Sam ëní Kookieî -- Oops, I mean ì...Sam ëní Cokieî -- while getting ready to go to church. Iíve been going to the Evangelical Free Church in Redlands, CA. Pastor Gary Inrig preached today. His text: Galatians 6:6-10. He laid down the basis for the message in that text by establishing the all-sufficiency of the gospel. I didnít take notes this time, because my writing arm is still healing from repetitive motion injury. And so I canít recall which Galatians text he prefaced his remarks with. So Iíll choose one: Galatians 2:15-16: We ... know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.î Being ìjustified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law,î then, has consequences -- the big THEREFORE: ìFor through the law I DIED to the law so that I might LIVE for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME. The life I live in the body, I live BY FAITH in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.î So Paul is dealing here with his CHANGED life, his life BEING TRANSFORMED by Jesus Christís Holy Spirit from glory to glory. With that point well established, Paul goes on to list many things that the new, transforming life involves -- things to avoid and things to cultivate. In chapter 6 we reach the lesson text: Galatians 6:6: ìAnyone who receives instructions in the word must share all good things with his instructor.î Pastor Gary pointed out that the ìgood thingsî included financial support for the minister. (Donít get the idea that he was ìfishing for funds,î since our church is waaay ahead financially and supporting missions in many parts of the world. His point was that the New Testament doesnít have a tithing requirement. But giving is an act of worship, a faith-response to all-sufficient grace. Paul goes on to state the ìlaw of the harvestî (Gal. 6:7-10): Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked [or manipulated or outmaneuvered]. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in DOING GOOD, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.î Iím not going to outline the whole sermon, but I do want to list Garyís five sub-laws that derive from this ìlaw of the harvestî (I did write these down): YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW 1. IDENTITY sub-law: We reap ONLY WHAT we sow. Example: Sow wheat seeds, reap wheat. Sow wild oat seeds, reap wild oats. 2. INVESTMENT sub-law: We reap ONLY IF we sow. If a farmer doesnít farm he canít eat his crops. 3. INTERVAL sub-law: We reap ONLY AFTER we sow. Farmer has to wait for the crop to grow -- planning involved. 4. INCREASE sub-law: We reap MORE THAN we sow. Sow one sack of wheat seeds, reap bushels and bushels of wheat. I also thought his Five Points of Spirit-led giving were good: 1. SPIRITUAL giving. Giving = worship. 2. GRACE giving. We donít give to earn anything; we give out of our overflow of grace. 3. GENEROUS giving. Since we have a lot of former OFTAs in our church, Gary pointed out that under the grace (New Testament) covenant, a person earning $300,000 per year was not giving proportionately if he gave only 10%. After church at lunch a surgeon friend of mind -- whom I believe earns in excess of $500,000 per year said that part of the sermon really hit him in his gut, and he was going to have to ìrethinkî everything. 4. INTENTIONAL giving. Not impulsive, but planned. 5. FAITH giving. You donít EAT the seed, you SOW it. Well, thatís enough. Grace always, Cindy, MC | ||
| Cindy |
Max, Good evening! Thanks for posting the "sermon notes"; a lot to think about! In my past life :-)), we were REQUIRED to pay tithe... Now I am re-evaluating this whole financial thing, especially with our income so little and our expenses so large... I know I want to be more generous in giving; right now my giving is more of a sporadic thing... And yet, where's the fine line of providing for your household, but not neglecting the "grace of giving"? :-)) I pray the Holy Spirit will impress and guide me... Grace always, Cindy | ||
| Max |
Cindy, I think God is leading you exactly where he wants to you go and that with your humble and submissive attitude -- the product of pure grace -- the Holy Spirit will indeed "impress and guide" you. -MC | ||
| Max |
Ps. I would say, though, that "the overflow of grace" is not exactly the same thing as "the overflow of income." In his sermon section on sacrificial giving, Gary pointed out that during America's Great Depression the percentage of giving per household was higher, much much higher than in our time of the greatest prosperity, not only in the history of the nation, but also in the history of the world. --MC |
