The Simplicity of the Gospel...the Wayfarer 2/10/16

The Simplicity of the Gospel
2/10/16

Romans 1:16

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

The gospel given us through the scriptures is not a complicated or contorted philosophy, ideology, or even a religion in the sense that many choose to follow.

That gospel is the simple proclamation of the TRUTH, The WAY, and the Life that is the only means to that salvation promised within the pages containing that gospel… not within the pages written by theologians, philosophers, or promoters of ideology and philanthropy.

Over the centuries, many “great minds” have attempted to define that gospel through the complexity that they  attach to its pages.

None have succeeded in adding or subtracting to that simple message preached by Christ Jesus from the beginning of His ministry, after His baptism... to the cross that HE endured to assure the clarity and subsequent promise of that message, and beyond that cross through the Revelation given to John to assure clarity be given until HIS return.

None of those “great minds” could promise eternal life, none were the sacrificial lamb that only Christ Himself was, none were perfect enough to become the means of salvation for all of mankind, nor am I or any other imperfect human being that would proclaim the righteousness and perfection of themselves over that of Christ’s simple teachings.

That is why I constantly attempt to convey the fact that the only righteousness that man may have is not and never will be his own, but that the righteousness of Christ Jesus is sufficient in and of itself.

Though I often read the writings of many of those “great minds”, to include those whose writings have led to the foundation of denominations and organizations that profess to be the only interpretation of that very gospel that is acceptable,  I do so in the knowledge that the concepts they promote must coincide with the gospel given us by Christ.

That gospel yields to no interpretation other than that simple truth given by Jesus throughout His ministry, that is the single interpretation acceptable to be given by any called of God to preach HIS GOSPEL!

The message preached by Jesus was one of love, not for a select few, but for all!

That message, and the many lessons taught because of the need to comprehend that message, remain within the pages of the gospel given in our scriptures.

Those lessons become mute, and meaningless unless the primary message is first given, understood and heeded.

The very writings of those “great minds” have often been perverted and obfuscated that simple, precious message, to conform to the various things preferred  over the original message of Jesus, and, by so doing, denying the very message itself.

That message remains, and will remain, each jot and title, without equivocation, without elaboration, without demand for any compensation or any requirement other than that given by HIM.

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

That message is given today, as it was then, preached by Jesus himself, to ALL!

The promise that attaches to that message is the New Covenant, that cannot be attached without first meeting that simple requirement given by Christ to attain it.

The Promise is not for only a few, but for all that believe, and meet that requirement.

It is not, however my words that count, not my words that must be the primary teacher, but HIS and only HIS.

The gospel is simple: eternal life is available, eternal joy is available, eternal perfection is available, but only for those who heed the simple message preached by Christ...those who choose to follow HIS teachings instead of those of men.

Any other choice is futile, vain, and cannot lead to the WAY, TRUTH and LIFE  given through Christ Jesus alone.

It is His birth, life, teachings, crucifixion for having taught those very teachings, and most importantly HIS resurrection that can give the only means of attaining the kingdom HE promised.

Ephesians 2:8-10

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The gospel is not complicated.

It takes the grace of God to attain salvation, and that grace will not be given without faith, faith in Christ Jesus alone.

The gift of that grace comes with no other requirement beyond absolute and total faith, and may not occur without it.

John 3:16-19

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Simplicity and clarity given only by Christ!

John 14:1-7

14 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

² In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

⁴ And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

⁵ Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

⁷ If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Again, Simplicity!

^{Revelation 22:11-14}

¹¹ He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

¹² And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

¹³ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

¹⁴ Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Amen and Amen, now and forever!

the Wayfarer