Advent: Day 23:
“Christmas Day is the Birth of the Authentic Gospel”
Scripture: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel for IT is
the power of GOD for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and
also to the Greek. For in it the
righteousness of GOD is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘But
the righteous man shall live by faith’” (Romans
1:16-17).
Christmas Day is the birth of the gospel. JESUS’ life is the gospel. In Matthew
16 we see this clearly presented: “’
. . . But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the CHRIST,
the SON of the living GOD.’ Jesus said, ‘You
are Peter (Petros), and upon this rock (petra) I will build My Church; and the
gates of Hades will not overpower it. I
will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth
shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have
been loosed in heaven’” (Matthew
16:16-19).
It is important that we fully understand what the gospel truly
is. The authentic gospel that Paul was
speaking about in Romans 1:16 . . . “for
IT is the power of GOD for salvation . . .” is JESUS CHRIST Himself (see Peter’s
confession in Matthew 16:16). The truth that JESUS is “the Christ, the Son
of the living GOD” is the authentic gospel.
JESUS and JESUS alone is the power of GOD unto salvation!
The gospel is not a memorized evangelistic presentation or gospel
track . . . the gospel is not a simple recitation of a sinner’s prayer . . .
the gospel is not a list of “do’s and don’ts” . . . the gospel is not a full
slate of programs and events offered by the local mega church (or any size
church) . . . the gospel is not a set of laws, rules, or guidelines . . . the
gospel is not the Ten Commandments (which, by GOD’s ordained plan, are
impossible for us to keep) . . . the gospel is not calling the church to take a
stand and fight against the most current hot topic being debated in our culture
. . . and the gospel is not a well-designed strategy to implement a major
church growth campaign.
The gospel is JESUS CHRIST . . . authentic heart/spirit belief
that JESUS is the Christ, the Son of the living GOD (John 6:28-29; 1 John 3:4-5).
As we truly believe this gospel truth JESUS will abide within us (His
name is HOLY SPIRIT) and we will abide in Him and as a result we will bear much
fruit and apart from Him we cannot do anything (John 15:4-5; Galatians 5:22-23).
And this is how we know that we are the children of GOD, purchased by
the blood of JESUS . . . we bear Spiritual fruit . . . the fruit of JESUS,
which is JESUS “life-ing out” His life in us
and through us in the work of HOLY SPIRIT.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Richard
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