Before you pick up your stones, let me explain. Jesus is not “part of” the gospel, He is its entirety. The gospel is not Jesus and “________” (fill in the blank with any self-help method or deed in this world). For example, the gospel is not Jesus and essential oils. The gospel is not Jesus and works (Romans 9:30-33; Romans 10:1-4). The gospel is not Jesus and a specific organization or church/denomination (Psalm 146:3). For anyone, and I mean literally anyone to say come and be saved by Jesus and “________” (thing of this world) ... they are preaching a false gospel and a false Jesus that cannot save.
Now, I am not including things that naturally are included with Jesus, for example: faith, belief, love of the truth, the Holy Spirit, repentance, forgiveness, the cross, grace, or mercy for those are all intertwined in who He is and what He offers us. What I am trying to emphasize is that the gospel is not Jesus plus any earthy works or possession. The gospel is spelled out many times in the Scriptures so that we who can read it would have everything we need to hear, believe, and receive the salvation He offers us.
But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31 CSB)
John is telling his readers that what he wrote was written so that you might believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by belief you may have life in His name. For those who are missing what I am emphasizing, it is this: John says that the in his letter, you have all the information you need to hear and receive eternal life through Christ. There are people who falsely claim that the Scriptures are lacking and that you cannot find salvation therein because it’s not the whole gospel.
The evidence supporting that the Holy Bible we hold in our hands today is true to what the apostles/disciples originally wrote is incredible. If you doubt this (and I understand that some of you may have heard this and therefore believe it) then test it. The truth can always stand against scrutiny. Mike Winger has a twenty-part series devoted to, Evidence for the Bible. If you doubt the Scriptures authenticity and trustworthiness, test your convictions, test what you’ve heard or been taught. The truth stands firm when tested, if you aren’t willing to test it, you are either afraid it will crumble and don’t want to risk the fallout or prefer ignorance over truth. (53) Has God Spoken? EVIDENCE FOR THE BIBLE pt1 - YouTube
Okay, so John told us that within his letter was all the information we needed for salvation. Thankfully however, the gospel mentioned and repeated throughout the books/letters of the New Testament. In this compilation of letters, we are able to see the same gospel preached again and again giving us confidence in what the gospel is that the apostles and disciples proclaimed by the Holy Spirit. Something important to note is that the cross is vital to the gospel.
But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world. For both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation. May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy to the Israel of God! (Galatians 6:14-16 HCSB)
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:17-18 NKJV)
And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:17-19 ESV)
Another way I would like to challenge you to test the gospel that you have been taught is that you would commit to reading through the entire New Testament (260 chapters) and doing so with an intentional focus on seeing the gospel mentioned and defined. I would encourage you to write down notes when you find the gospel defined or explained to reference later. The gospel can be known by other names as well such as “good news” or salvation. If you commit to reading 10 chapters a day, you will be able to go through the entire New Testament in 26 days. There are plans online that you can find and print to help you read through the New Testament in a certain time period. Please find a plan or come up with your own to help you have this very important time of study. Remember to come before God’s word with a humble heart seeking His truth above all else. It will be a beautiful thing when you finished Revelation to be able to look back through your gospel notes. Ask Him to reveal the true gospel to you and dive in joyfully knowing that:
And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14 ESV)
I started writing this article, hoping to show you clearly what the gospel of Jesus Christ is, instead it seems that I have given you guidance on how to discover it for yourself.
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 CSB)
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!” (John 5:39 NLT)
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