Trout
July 1st 2004, 09:42 AM
TheologyWeb Proudly Presents Our Featured Member Article:
What is the Gospel?
by Sheepdog (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/member.php?u=144)
600
"...For They Will All Know Me..."Jer. 31:34. The context is that this is a prophesy of the New Covenant: But
this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." Jeremiah 31:33-34. A covenant is an agreement, like a contract. While the New Covenant was made to Israel, historically the promises here apply to Gentiles who enter the New Covenant as well. When we become Christians, we may know God!
600
What do you think of when I mention Christianity? Some may think of good morality and peity and the like. The more cynical may think of hypocrisy, self-righteousness, and judgmental people. Others think of but one or many roads to God, and still others a dead end.
But what does the Church stand for? What is Christianity all about? Many if not most people who read this know all the Sunday school answers, but really! Is there not more to Christianity than a set of rules, a bunch of stories, and tradition? I believe there is, and the Church (at least in America) has not done a too spectacular job of teaching that which is central to Christianity, the core of it, if you will. What i speak of is called "the gospel message," or simply "the gospel;" without this message, there is nothing in Christianity but a dead religiosity.
So where shall I start? Yes this essay will talk about God, so I apologize to skeptical readers, as I'll be focusing on what Christians hold to (read on, I bet it isn't what you think). I hope to get more into the question, "is it true," sometime in the near future. But that aside, I think I'll start at the most obvious and personal subject:
THE HUMAN CONDITION
It is no secret that most people think they are good by nature. Indeed, we are often quick to point out mistakes, bad deeds, and bad habits of others, yet we eith don't see them in ourselves, or when we do we go to great lengths to rationalize them. Even convicted criminals have been known to deny that they are evil.
Because of this, it is difficult to speak to people about Christianity these days, Christianity being a belief system that teaches that everyone is a sinner and is in need of a savior. But, if you are a good person, you just need to try harder, right? Some folks seem to think so.
Yet, how good are we, really? Perhaps it would be helpful to consider how we define what is "good." Certainly, compared to Hitler, we are indeed good. However, if Hitler was the standard, many murders and rapists would be considered "good." Obviously, we need a better definition of good; how about, "to be good means to be better than my next door neighbor." Something like this may seem reasonable. After all, we all know people who are ok, but not quite as good as we are.
The problem is, what we are really doing is setting a standard that is arbitrary, such that we are guaranteed to make the standard (assuming, of course, we will always make this set standard). Why do we suppose that our definition of good is itself good, when other people hold to a higher standard of good? (e.g. the Pope). What makes us better than them!? (Obviously, if they are better than us, then nothing).
Also, when we declare that we are better than other people, are we not being prideful? When I speak of pride, I don't mean what we usually call "self esteem"-- in common language, what I refer to is arrogance! And no doubt, we are quick to condemn others when they act or speak arrogantly about themselves. Yet, are we not being hypocritical when we are arrogantly snubbing our noses at other arrogant people!? C.S. Lewis made a rather sticking point on this topic,
In fact, if you want to find out how proud you are the easiest way is to ask yourself, "How much do I dislike it when other people snub me, or refuse to take any notice of me, or shove their oar in, or patronize me, or show off?" The point is that each person's pride is in competition with every one else's pride. It is because I wanted to be the big noise at the party that I am so annoyed at someone else being the big noise.C.S. Lewis. Mere Christianity. 109. The Mackmillan Company, New York. 1960.
So, how can we say we are "good" when in saying so, we become hypocrites? But indeed, the Bible sets an impossible standard on what is good:
Jesus said, "No one is good except God alone." Mark 10:18.
And it gets worse, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23.
No one old enough to make moral choices is innocent, because we have all sinned (that is, we have all violated God's moral codes). Some think that despite this shortfall, we may do good works, and just maybe God will balance it out. However, even that mindset is flawed, because;
"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." Isaiah 64:6.
In other words, we cannot do anything that is good in God's sight, as long as we are in our sin. If we cannot do good, but have sin in our lives, how can we face God when He judges us and hope to not be condemned?
What is there to do about this situation? Fortunately, God is not a distant,
abstract being, but rather He loves us. God does not desire that anyone be condemned to Hell (1Tim. 2:4). This is how much God loves us:
"For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for theungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8.
Would you die for someone? Perhaps a family member, or maybe someone who is famous. However, Jesus Christ died for us, while we were for all intents and purposes worthless! How comprehensible is that!?
Isaiah 53, which Christians believe is a prophesy of Christ (if you read it, you'll be left to wonder if it could apply to anyone else historically), states:
"Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him." vv. 4-6.
This may be hard to understand by some, so let me explain this: We sin, and thus are separated from God such that we are distant from Him and deserve His wrath, yet Christ died on the cross to bear our sins. In other words, He substituted Himself for us what we deserve, so that we may be reconciled to God.
However, it is not enough to understand or retain intellectual knowledge of this. We must put our faith in Him, or believe in Him.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:16-18.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9.
Grace, here, is an undeserved favor, or God giving us that which we do not deserve. To be saved, as you may have guessed, means to receive eternal life rather than go to Hell. So, what does it mean to believe, or have faith? Faith simply is trust or loyalty to the person or thing one has faith in. We aren't talking about what is called "blind faith," though many indeed believe things blindly. Faith, in and of itself, need not be blind. Belief, as we are using it, is more or less synonymous faith; we aren't talking about belief that something is so, as in understanding the meaning, but acceptance or trust that something true.
Just that easy, huh? Of course, some may find this hard to accept since most grew up in traditions where good deeds or following a set of rules is expected. And indeed it is expected, but not for the reason most people think. You see, as one learns more and grows in faith, one tends to do good and set aside sin. This is because good deeds and moral piety no longer become a tedious tasks, but how we want to express ourselves to God. Jesus articulates the relationship between faith and good works well:
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:4-5.
As we "abide" in Christ (the connotation here is a continuing or "persevering" faith), we produce fruit ("fruit" being figurative for good deeds which are pleasing to God). As Christians grow in faith, they surrender to God, set aside sin, and seek to do good in His sight. Yet, we do not do these things to be saved, but because we are saved.
In light of what all I've said, what do you think? If you have never committed
yourself to Christ, you can do so now. Below is presented is a prayer one may say. A prayer in and of itself will save no one, but only the faith behind it may. This is presented only as a suggested format, but if it expresses what a commitment you wish to make, feel free to personalize it to your own situation:
Lord God, I recognize that I am a sinner, and I realize that I cannot save myself.
Today, I commit myself to You in faith. I repent of my sinful life, and surrender it to You.
Thank you for forgiving me of my sins.
Justin Moser
600
Notice - The featuring of a particular member article does not constitute endorsement of every single item or point of view contained therein by each and every member of TheologyWeb leadership. We strive to have a varied cross-section of representations of differing opinions on secondary Christian issues. The only requirement for the featuring of a particular article is that said article must not contradict the essentials articulated in the TheologyWeb statement of faith found here in our Mission Statement (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/mission/)or be blatantly offensive to the Christian worldview of the site Owners.
What is the Gospel?
by Sheepdog (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/member.php?u=144)
600
"...For They Will All Know Me..."Jer. 31:34. The context is that this is a prophesy of the New Covenant: But
this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." Jeremiah 31:33-34. A covenant is an agreement, like a contract. While the New Covenant was made to Israel, historically the promises here apply to Gentiles who enter the New Covenant as well. When we become Christians, we may know God!
600
What do you think of when I mention Christianity? Some may think of good morality and peity and the like. The more cynical may think of hypocrisy, self-righteousness, and judgmental people. Others think of but one or many roads to God, and still others a dead end.
But what does the Church stand for? What is Christianity all about? Many if not most people who read this know all the Sunday school answers, but really! Is there not more to Christianity than a set of rules, a bunch of stories, and tradition? I believe there is, and the Church (at least in America) has not done a too spectacular job of teaching that which is central to Christianity, the core of it, if you will. What i speak of is called "the gospel message," or simply "the gospel;" without this message, there is nothing in Christianity but a dead religiosity.
So where shall I start? Yes this essay will talk about God, so I apologize to skeptical readers, as I'll be focusing on what Christians hold to (read on, I bet it isn't what you think). I hope to get more into the question, "is it true," sometime in the near future. But that aside, I think I'll start at the most obvious and personal subject:
THE HUMAN CONDITION
It is no secret that most people think they are good by nature. Indeed, we are often quick to point out mistakes, bad deeds, and bad habits of others, yet we eith don't see them in ourselves, or when we do we go to great lengths to rationalize them. Even convicted criminals have been known to deny that they are evil.
Because of this, it is difficult to speak to people about Christianity these days, Christianity being a belief system that teaches that everyone is a sinner and is in need of a savior. But, if you are a good person, you just need to try harder, right? Some folks seem to think so.
Yet, how good are we, really? Perhaps it would be helpful to consider how we define what is "good." Certainly, compared to Hitler, we are indeed good. However, if Hitler was the standard, many murders and rapists would be considered "good." Obviously, we need a better definition of good; how about, "to be good means to be better than my next door neighbor." Something like this may seem reasonable. After all, we all know people who are ok, but not quite as good as we are.
The problem is, what we are really doing is setting a standard that is arbitrary, such that we are guaranteed to make the standard (assuming, of course, we will always make this set standard). Why do we suppose that our definition of good is itself good, when other people hold to a higher standard of good? (e.g. the Pope). What makes us better than them!? (Obviously, if they are better than us, then nothing).
Also, when we declare that we are better than other people, are we not being prideful? When I speak of pride, I don't mean what we usually call "self esteem"-- in common language, what I refer to is arrogance! And no doubt, we are quick to condemn others when they act or speak arrogantly about themselves. Yet, are we not being hypocritical when we are arrogantly snubbing our noses at other arrogant people!? C.S. Lewis made a rather sticking point on this topic,
In fact, if you want to find out how proud you are the easiest way is to ask yourself, "How much do I dislike it when other people snub me, or refuse to take any notice of me, or shove their oar in, or patronize me, or show off?" The point is that each person's pride is in competition with every one else's pride. It is because I wanted to be the big noise at the party that I am so annoyed at someone else being the big noise.C.S. Lewis. Mere Christianity. 109. The Mackmillan Company, New York. 1960.
So, how can we say we are "good" when in saying so, we become hypocrites? But indeed, the Bible sets an impossible standard on what is good:
Jesus said, "No one is good except God alone." Mark 10:18.
And it gets worse, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23.
No one old enough to make moral choices is innocent, because we have all sinned (that is, we have all violated God's moral codes). Some think that despite this shortfall, we may do good works, and just maybe God will balance it out. However, even that mindset is flawed, because;
"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." Isaiah 64:6.
In other words, we cannot do anything that is good in God's sight, as long as we are in our sin. If we cannot do good, but have sin in our lives, how can we face God when He judges us and hope to not be condemned?
What is there to do about this situation? Fortunately, God is not a distant,
abstract being, but rather He loves us. God does not desire that anyone be condemned to Hell (1Tim. 2:4). This is how much God loves us:
"For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for theungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8.
Would you die for someone? Perhaps a family member, or maybe someone who is famous. However, Jesus Christ died for us, while we were for all intents and purposes worthless! How comprehensible is that!?
Isaiah 53, which Christians believe is a prophesy of Christ (if you read it, you'll be left to wonder if it could apply to anyone else historically), states:
"Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him." vv. 4-6.
This may be hard to understand by some, so let me explain this: We sin, and thus are separated from God such that we are distant from Him and deserve His wrath, yet Christ died on the cross to bear our sins. In other words, He substituted Himself for us what we deserve, so that we may be reconciled to God.
However, it is not enough to understand or retain intellectual knowledge of this. We must put our faith in Him, or believe in Him.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:16-18.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9.
Grace, here, is an undeserved favor, or God giving us that which we do not deserve. To be saved, as you may have guessed, means to receive eternal life rather than go to Hell. So, what does it mean to believe, or have faith? Faith simply is trust or loyalty to the person or thing one has faith in. We aren't talking about what is called "blind faith," though many indeed believe things blindly. Faith, in and of itself, need not be blind. Belief, as we are using it, is more or less synonymous faith; we aren't talking about belief that something is so, as in understanding the meaning, but acceptance or trust that something true.
Just that easy, huh? Of course, some may find this hard to accept since most grew up in traditions where good deeds or following a set of rules is expected. And indeed it is expected, but not for the reason most people think. You see, as one learns more and grows in faith, one tends to do good and set aside sin. This is because good deeds and moral piety no longer become a tedious tasks, but how we want to express ourselves to God. Jesus articulates the relationship between faith and good works well:
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:4-5.
As we "abide" in Christ (the connotation here is a continuing or "persevering" faith), we produce fruit ("fruit" being figurative for good deeds which are pleasing to God). As Christians grow in faith, they surrender to God, set aside sin, and seek to do good in His sight. Yet, we do not do these things to be saved, but because we are saved.
In light of what all I've said, what do you think? If you have never committed
yourself to Christ, you can do so now. Below is presented is a prayer one may say. A prayer in and of itself will save no one, but only the faith behind it may. This is presented only as a suggested format, but if it expresses what a commitment you wish to make, feel free to personalize it to your own situation:
Lord God, I recognize that I am a sinner, and I realize that I cannot save myself.
Today, I commit myself to You in faith. I repent of my sinful life, and surrender it to You.
Thank you for forgiving me of my sins.
Justin Moser
600
Notice - The featuring of a particular member article does not constitute endorsement of every single item or point of view contained therein by each and every member of TheologyWeb leadership. We strive to have a varied cross-section of representations of differing opinions on secondary Christian issues. The only requirement for the featuring of a particular article is that said article must not contradict the essentials articulated in the TheologyWeb statement of faith found here in our Mission Statement (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/mission/)or be blatantly offensive to the Christian worldview of the site Owners.