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