2009年11月5日星期四

What is the Full Gospel?

The full gospel comprises two main parts:

(1) Jesus Christ and Him crucified
(2) His second coming

The first part (Jesus Christ and Him crucified) has two portions too:
(1) Justification by faith (concerning salvation)
(2) Sanctification by faith (concerning victorious living)

The apostle Paul says in (1 Cor2:2):"For I resolve to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucifed."

The point is: Jesus Christ is the answer to all things in our life!

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness."(2 Peter 1:3)

Everything we need for life refers to everything we need for salvation. Everything we need for godliness refers to everything we need for victorious living. It is to be noted that Jesus Christ is the answer to EVERYTHING we need in life and godliness!

How can we receive this so-called EVERYTHING we need? The answer is through our knowledge of Him. In other words, the answer is in knowing Jesus Christ and what He did at the cross of calvary.

His own glory refers to His resurrection. His goodness refers to His death on the cross as an atonement for the sin of mankind.

The death of Christ has triumphed over the problem of sin. The resurrection of Christ has triumphed over the problem of death. Therefore, by believing in His death for us, we are set free from the law of sin. Similarly, by believing in His resurrection, we are set free from the law of death.

The apostle Paul summarizes clearly this wonderful message of the cross in (Roman 8:1-2):"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."



What is the central theme of the Bible?

The central theme of the Bible is JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED!

If you read through the whole Bible from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 with a seeking heart to know Christ and Him crucified, you will be blessed. For this is what the Lord declares in (Jeremial 29:13-14) : "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you. "

The Bible comprises 66 books, of which 39 books are in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. In short and concise words:
(1) The key message throughout the whole of Old Testament from Genesis to Malachi is PREPARATION OF CHRIST!
(2) The key message in the four Books of Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) in the New Testament is MANIFESTATION OF CHRIST!
(3) The key message in the Book of Acts in the New Testament is PREACHING ON CHRIST!
(4) The key message in the 21 Epistles from Romans to Jude in the New Testament is EXPLANATION ON CHRIST!
(5) The key message in the Book of Revelation in the New Testament is The SECOND COMING OF CHRIST!

So focus on Christ as you read the Bible and you will get to know Him and what He did on the cross.