FAITH with EVIDENCE - The Truth of the Gospel through Jesus Christ
About the Gospel
Gospel means good news, the joyous good news to the world about Jesus Christ, who came for our salvation.
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." John 1:1-3
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14
The Old Testament foretold the coming of the Messiah. The Savior of mankind was fully implemented by Jesus Christ in the time of the New Testament. The miraculous fulfillment of the prophecy and the fact-based events of eyewitness accounts proved beyond the doubt Jesus is truly the Messiah, the Son of the living God.
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (God with us).” Isaiah 7:14
The calendar year around the world began in AD, After the Death of Jesus Christ. The year Jesus went to the cross for the entire human race after He completed His ministry.
"He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God." 1 Peter 1:20-21
“Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” John 4:42
Jesus the deity in flesh is the only manifestation of God Himself to mankind with absolute clarity of His message. There is no ambiguity that Jesus is the only way to God’s kingdom.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6 “… you believe in God, believe also in Me.” John 14:1 “I and My Father are one.” John 10:30 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven." Matthew 10:32
We are warned that many false prophets will rise after Christ. They claim to be prophets and deities, but none of them are sinless and able to forgive sins nor can they conquer death themselves. In order to enter the kingdom of God, our sin must be forgiven, for God is Holy.
Jesus Christ the unblemished Son of God shed His sinless blood and died for us, so that we can become righteous with God.
“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29
Most obstinate people say that we all have sinned in our lifetime not to mention the original sin of Adam and Eve. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8
The wages of sin is death. As we know payment is needed for debts. Clearly only someone without sin can qualify and be able to pay for our sin debt. The Son of God Jesus Christ died for our sins.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
God’s love for us and His empathy for our redemption are evident through Jesus Christ.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 NIV
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory." 1 Timothy 3:16, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
“And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world." 1 John 2:2 ”In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…” Ephesians 1:7
“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life." 1 John 5:20
The Gospel is about Jesus' fulfillment of God’s promise of grace. The Gospel books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John records the good news of Jesus, His birth, teachings, miracles, ministry, crucifixion, death, and resurrection.
The book of Acts details the events after Jesus’ resurrection and the beginning of the church age. After Jesus Christ resurrected from the death, He appeared to His disciples and over five hundred eyewitnesses in a period of forty days. Jesus proved He is the power of resurrection and there is life beyond the grave.
The significance of the eyewitness accounts cannot be over stated. Because of the disciples’ integrity, their firm belief of bearing false witness is a forbidden commandment. Every one of them saw the resurrected Jesus and was willing to face death to testify to the truth.
“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:30-31
The disciples having the first hand knowledge and proof of facts, we can understand their unwavering faith.
”Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29
If we transport our minds back to the time of the New Testament to hear Jesus teachings, to see His miracles, and to witness His resurrection, it would be difficult to deny the truth of Jesus lest we are blinded by the secular world.
The wide gate of the world leading to destruction intoxicates many. Jesus Christ, our true Shepherd ushered in the church age for His followers and shined light on the darkness of the world. The Gospel and the New Testament help us to learn that Jesus is the only way, so that we may follow the true Shepherd.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."John 5:24
The elaborate episodes of the Gospel are part of God’s plan to extend His grace to us, so that we shall not perish (John 3:16) by loosing our way to His eternal kingdom.
Jesus will return again as prophesied in the book of Revelation. The end time message gives us warning, hope, and comfort. The season of the well-prophesied end-time signs are here. The fig tree already puts forth leaves (Matthew 24). The cunning of the false prophet is looming on the horizon. The rising of the antichrist will soon be on the world stage (2 Thessalonians 2:7).
“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:36
Jesus is our hope and comfort in turmoil and despair. Christ has prepared the eternal kingdom of God for us. "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4
There is no down side to learn all about the truth of the Gospel to focus on Jesus' promise and assurance.
Jesus is coming back soon. No one knows the day and the hour but God. "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." Matthew 25:13
“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding.”Proverbs 3:13
Abide in Jesus Christ and rejoice in Him. With God’s promise, we can boldly and joyfully proceed in life by trusting in Him. It’s all between you and God.
