It seems that in the course of living a "religious" life, we can lose sight of some of the most basic essentials of Christianity, essentials which contain within them foundational truths and indispensable revelation. Among these essentials truths is the fact that the Christian faith is built upon a man, one man who is the only begotten son of God.  Who is this man and what makes him special? Did he come to teach about love? Did he come to model a moral lifestyle? Did he come to found a religion replete with ritualistic protocols? Who do men say that I am?, Jesus asked his disciples. If we do not get the correct answer to that question, you can not avail yourself of the 'gift of God' which he brings.  There is a simple African hymn-tune that states: God loved the world and sent a savior, That we might live with Him forever, If you believe, if you receive, You can be born again.  Jesus was born a man, he was a man, but he was more than a man.

His name in Hebrew was Y'Shua, or Yeshua (Jeshua equals Jesus meaning - JHVH is salvation.) It was only after his ministry, death and resurrection that he became known as the Christ. Christ was not his last name. Christ (Greek Kristos) is the equivalent title for the Hebrew Mashiach (Messiah), the Anointed One, the Son of God. Jesus name in Hebrew, Y'Shua , means Jehovah is Salvation. Angels were sent to announce the miraculous birth both to Mary and to Joseph, in the gospel accounts. The angels told them what his name was to be, You shall call His name Jesus (Y'Shua) for he shall save his people - -(Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:31).  Prophecy foretold the Messiah's birth in detail. Prophecy is the testimony or witness of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 19:10.) It began in the earliest verses of the Book of Genesis and continues through the books of the law, the psalms, and the prophetic books of the first covenant, (old testament.) There is an unbroken line of scriptural promises and scriptural fulfillment attesting to the birth of Jesus. In addition Jesus Christ was portrayed metaphorically as a spiritual type throughout all of the Old Testament. In a sense the whole Bible is a composite picture which, when constructed shows the fullness of God in one Man, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. 

Prophetic words spoken and recorded hundred of years in advance, describe the birth, life, and death of Jesus Christ in perfect detail. His birth was to be at a certain place, at a certain time, under certain circumstances. At the birth of Jesus, God affirmed that Word of prophecy with precision. precisely and in perfect timing. Jesus's life continued on its prophetic course, as sure as hands on fine clock, from the time of Jesus matured and was presented to the public, to his being received as the messiah (by some) rejected, tried, and crucified. All of these events followed a precise time-line corresponding to the sure words of prophecy. 

God's prophets were afforded no misses in their predictions. A prophet who missed only 10% of the time was declared a false prophet and subject to death by stoning. 

There are many interesting books and commentaries which biblical scholars have written that detail the scores of specific prophetic scriptures and their fulfillment in the life of Jesus. Though the study of prophecy per se goes beyond the scope of this writing, it is important to note that Messiah was clearly promised by God.  Jesus and Salvation is of the Jews. (from and through the Jews.) 

The Jews were the people that God chose and nurtured in order to bring forth the Messiah. God chose a man, (Abraham) made a covenant with him with the singular purpose of having a people for His own special treasure and pleasure. These are they whose way was foreknown from Moses to King David, and to the prophets, through trials, through captivity and deliverance. This people of God was to prepare for the "seed." His man, His king, His savior. 

It was God's Wisdom, to construct this Way, in such a manner as to make the working impossible in man's eyes and in man's reasoning, so that He could prove the excellency of His own power. When God chose and man (Abraham,) he chose one as good as dead, old in years and whose wife (Sarah) was far past the age of child-bearing and nurturing. 

When He chose a king, He chose a shepherd boy, (David). When He chose a woman to bear the Messiah He chose a virgin. When Jesus Christ chose his disciples he chose unlearned fishermen or workmen. When He chose how to establish a kingdom he chose a king who would forego an earthly crown and die the death of sinful man upon a cross. 

God chose the way of faith. 

Faith is essentially a way of being persuaded by believing rather than by observation and reasoning.
God chose to make reason and human smartness a pitfall to hearing and believing His word and His promises. 

The Anointed One, The prophesied Son of David. This Messiah, destined to sit upon the throne of an earthly kingdom will yet sit upon the throne of an earthly kingdom. But that time is still to come. He will at the end of this age put a total end to all opposition and rebellion against God's purposes. This end time event is described prophetically as The Day of Vengeance (Day of Wrath) or the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord is a time promised in scripture, when all unbelief, unrighteous, and rebellion will be addressed and overcome by God himself. It will not be accomplished through negotiation or compromise; it will not be accomplished with reasoning, negotiation, nor with political bargaining, nor with treaty making. Rather, God will exercise supernatural power, all of the forces of heaven and earth against all the nations and peoples who stand in rebellion against the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.  (See Rapture ------ See commentary on preterist doctrine.)

In a prophetic period which through our best understanding of present day news and signs, is coming in the very near future, the Messiah of the Gospels will return in majestic glory revealed in the skies. He will not be that charismatic politician winning over the peoples of the earth. He will rule with the force and authority of the name of God Almighty. And one more very important attribute, lest you should be deceived; He is the one who carries the imprint of the nails in His hands! (Zechariah 13.6.) 

Jesus was conceived by the Spirit of God. This makes him the only begotten son of God. He is the seed of the woman who is mentioned in Genesis 3:15. It is important to understand that the father's blood line of Jesusí parental inheritance is that of God himself who was and is sinless and undefiled. Yet within the human seed is the nature of humanity, weaknesses, want and human emotion. 

The Jesus of the Gospels demonstrated meekness, submission and servant-hood. He did not present himself as a worldly leader, nor a member of the religious establishment.
 

Jesus did not demonstrate God-like powers at will from his infancy onward, though some apocryphal tradition states this. Scripture indicates he did no miracles until his baptism in the Jordan river by the prophet who announced and made the way for Jesus' ministry, John the Baptist. After his baptism at about the age of 30 the Spirit of God came upon him and filled him with the necessary endowment of miracle-working power. Even with supernatural spiritual endowments there were times when Jesus himself was not able to heal or do mighty works, this was owing to the belief or unbelief of those he ministered to. 

 

While Jesus did not flaunt God-hood it would be an error to say that he did not know of his DIVINE nature or of his divine calling. He spoke of being about his Father's business even as a child. Jesus was filled with grace and wisdom, both of which are spiritual enablements given by God. Jesus was the Logos (the Word, the whole counsel of God) made flesh. 

A movie which came out a few years ago, The Last Temptation of Christ, portrayed Jesus as mostly human and flawed with the worst of human weaknesses, dark passions, indecision and unbelief. It is a depiction of a Jesus with no divine or supernatural inheritance, whose only vision was of some kind of vague personal sacrifice. Though this is interesting fiction it does not dignify the person of Jesus Christ as having transcendent divinity or as having any potential for impacting humanity with eternal consequences. 

The Son of God, the Word was made Flesh. He was born into human form but he also had pre-existence with God. This can not, however, be said of the rest of the human race. Jesus spoke of His own glory which he had with the Father before the world was in his prayer recorded in John chapter seventeen. From this it can be stated with certainty that Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God was also God. This becomes one awesome mysteries of the nature and person of God. I find it beyond my ability to comprehend but I expect that it will be revealed to my understanding at another time. 

Pre Incarnate Jesus

The Man Jesus Christ existed in eternity before his manifestation as the Son. Because Christ was pre-existent some may conclude that we all pre-existed. The question is appealing in some ways, curious and interesting at least. It is argued as a reality by those who have received spurious, demonically inspired revelation. But let it be said by a person who once thoroughly believed in reincarnation, that I have set that belief aside in favor of the bibleís teaching. It is appointed unto man to die once, and after that the judgment.(Hebrews 9:27). 

Reincarnation or Resurrection? 

The doctrine of resurrection is affirmed in the Bible. Resurrection excludes the possibility of reincarnation. One life is promised, one body and eternal judgment for that one life at some time in eternity. The resurrection of Jesusí own physical body from the dead, will be replicated for every living human soul, both the good and the bad, righteous and unrighteous. Jesus was called, ñthe first fruits of they that sleep (1Corinthians 15:20.) 

The doctrine of the resurrection is given so much attention in the New Testament especially in the epistles that I could quote texts by the dozens, but at this reading it would be beyond the scope of this writing. Yes, it is unreasonable to the rational mind, to assert that a body which is dead or has even returned to dust can be brought forth alive out of the dust. But that is in fact the teaching of scripture from the prophet Daniel to Jesus, and restated by the apostle Paul in particular. 

The returning Messiah Jesus, will be presented as he was already presented to the disciples in Gospel accounts, alive in the flesh, bearing the same nail scars and the same spear wound in the side. As he left in a physical body ascended into glory, he will also return in a physical body. As he departed from the Mount of Olives he will also return in glory to that same spot to begin his reign. 

No Resurrection, No Gospel

The doctrine of the resurrection is the proof and the cornerstone of the Gospel. Jesus had to rise again, having defeated death, alive with the keys to hell and the grave. The gospel which the apostle Paul presented stated this, If Jesus Christ is not risen from the grave, then all of our preaching, is for nothing and our faith is for nothing; furthermore our futures would hold only misery. (1 Corinthians 15:17-19 paraphrased) 

We could not have a supernatural Gospel without a supernatural Christ. We could not derive supernatural spiritual benefits from believing in a Gospel presented by a mere man, even if he was a great man! If this were the gospel we followed, the best we could do would be to try to live an honest and moral life with the limited powers of our own willpower, but we could not have received total acceptance by God without Jesus Christ's sacrifice. Because he was the Lamb of God. 

I believe that certain Christian religious traditions have shorted us on any one thing. This is the knowledge and understanding of Jesus Christ's sacrifice as the Lamb of God and the legacy of blessing that His sacrifice brings to change the life and circumstances of every soul on earth. This is the ante-type which is depicted in detail by the passover of the Israelites from Egypt but even centuries earlier in the story of Abraham and Isaack at Mount Moriah. (Genesis 22)

The sacrificial death of Jesus, God's only begotten, is the principle reason that Jesus came. It is the cornerstone of the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  This Gospel message of good news is not one option among many for possible consideration. The gospel of the Lamb is established in the very heavens where the Book of John's revelation depicts with great emphasis how the lamb is the focal point of the heavenly realm. Every person on the earth will be held to account for it. For, the earth is the Lord and everything that is in it. (Exodus 9:29 Psalm 24:1) 

The sacrifice of the lamb of God is a better sacrifice than any of the First Covenant, in which bulls and goats were killed and the blood of those offerings was applied to cover (but not remove) the sin of the nation. These offerings could not touch the innate sin nature of the people themselves, but were only a temporary fix, a covering over for the sin of the people. The Book of Hebrews goes into detail about the new covenant and the nature of the sacrifice which Jesus made on our behalf. If we compare the first and second covenant and the provisions of the new which transcend the original.  In the Old Covenant, The lamb of God was pre-figured in the sacrifice which Abraham was prepared to make of his own son, Isaack. Here on Mount Moriah, where the crucifixion was to occur 2000 years later, Abraham uttered the prophetic words recorded in Scripture in Genesis, "God Himself will prepare us a lamb."  
Isaac wqas the son of God's promise. Abraham took his only begotten, Isaac, to the mountain and as he prepared to put him to the knife, said to his son, God himself will provide the lamb. (Genesis 22:8).  --------- The lamb of God was described prophetically in the Book of Isaiah, chapters 52 and 53. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before the shearer is silent, he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:3-9).  -------- The description of the purification of the priests who prepared to bring offerings into the Holy of Holies is a depiction of Jesus Himself. It was His blood that would purify and sanctify the mercy seat It was blood that was sprinkled seven times upon heaven's altar. 

Jesus' Blood: Shed for all humanity 

-- Was shed, when He sweat drops blood in the Garden of Gethsemene, gripped with the terror of separation from his Father, who turn from him, abandoning to death; and the prospect of being made a Curse separated from God by the sins of the world. 
- -Was shed, when the servant of the high priest smote him upon the face. 
- - Was shed, when the Roman soldiers ridiculed him, mocked him, stripped him, buffeted him and torn out His beard. 
- - Was shed, When he was flogged with the Roman flagellum, the deadly scourging with the lash, Each of the nine strands were tipped with an object which cut or wounded. 
- - Was shed, when the crown of thorns was plaited upon Jesus' head. 
- - Was shed, when Jesus hands and feet were penetrated by the spikes which would hold him suspended above the earth upon a Roman cross (the curse of hanging on a tree.) 
- - Was shed, when the Roman officer pierced his side with a spear and blood and water flowed out upon the ground. 

Blood Purchased the Provisions of the Gospel 

Discussing the blood of the lamb may strike you as something primitive, strange  or disgusting but it is the fact that it is the living blood which makes a sacrifice spiritually effectual. From the writings of Moses we learn that the Life is in the blood. Blood is the life of the soul and holds potential for both blessing and for defilement. Innocent blood is said to cry out from the earth. The blood of victims of war and of violence cry out with a certain voice from the earth. 

Jesus' blood was blood untainted by sin or the curse or death. It is 100 per cent imbued with the power of life. This blood had within it perfect eternal life; it still has, in the present, perfect eternal life. That blood that sprinkled the earth from the Mount of Olives, to Pilate's hall of judgment, to the via Dolorosa, to the hill called Golgotha, is still nurturing the whole earth. As Jesus was dying the death of crucifixion upon a cross, he declared the sentence which his blood would continue to enforce, Father forgive them, they do not know what they do. Jesus blood purchased the price for our sins, sins past, sins present, and sins future.  "Father forgive them- - " Among the last words spoken by Jesus upon the cross is the legacy which any person whose soul is in want can appropriate as his or her own personal blessing and legacy, eternal life.

Who is Jesus?(Aside from being the Son of God)  A Really Nice Guy
It is written in the law of Moses that we should make no graven image. Among all of the ten commandments this one may not lend itself readily to application although the first references seem to figure in the question of idolatry. I think, however, it has much more to apply to our present knowledge or lack of knowledge about God. One of the characteristics of human nature is to draw inferences and conclusions based upon things we see with the natural eye. 

Throughout the nearly two thousand years of Christian tradition we become the victims of iconography, Icons which in some manner or another depict God or the Son of God. Any of us who have ever been to a major museum have seen depictions of Jesus Christ created during different historical eras. The characteristics of portrayal is to make a presumptuous statement about the personality, the humanity or the divinity of the subject that is being portrayed. Iconography has colored our interpretation of who Jesus is. Some of these images are very static with a very narrow portrayal. A sense of Jesus Christ's humanity was not apparent for centuries. When he was depicted by the first Christian artists there was not a trace of life or humanity. For the period from the 4th century until the 14th, he was no more than an stylized icon, lacking any features which would make him like us. Later, after the fifteenth century, he was portrayed as very human in works by Rembrandt, or Caravaggio, Rubens, and others. The point that I am making is in respect to narrowness and misunderstanding of who Jesus was. Religious traditions sometimes portray Jesus in such a narrow light that we can not associate him in all of his attributes, human and divine. 

The human quality of Jesus, a perfect man living among us, needs to be preserved. I think the phrase "Jesus was a nice guy," may strike a negative chord among some who are religious and formalize so much of Christian life into liturgy. But I say it for a reason. We need to de-mystify Jesus and make Jesus accessible to people, especially in the now of the Gospel rather than the then of religion. The Lord is not someone who placed himself out of the reach of humanity. 

To think of Jesus as a friendly, loving and kindly person does not interfere with his divinity nor his sovereignty.  There are other aspects to Jesus too, as depicted by the the Hebrew names of Jehovah: Nissi, Tsidkenu, Rapha, Shama, Jireh, Sabaoth, and numerous others, as well as: the 'Righteous Judge', the 'Captain of the Army of God', or as the 'Ancient of Days', and many other powerful and illuminating titles. One day, we will all fall before Christ, the Righteous Judge. But for now Jesus is still bringing gentle compassion, forgiveness, restoration and blessing to those of us with a need. He is extending a hand of friendship to those who need a friend. 

Jesus' friendly and compassionate personality is described as a friend to sinners, one who went out of his way to meet and have fellowship with those that the religious community had excluded (Matthew 9:10-13.) Jesus was known to have been in the middle of fun and frolic where there was feasting and drinking. He said of himself, that he was accused of being a glutton and a wine bibber, but in spite of this Jesus, declared that wisdom is known by her offspring. (Matthew 11:19 paraphrase). 

Stories are numerous where men or women who were considered 'the wrong sort,' received mercy from the Lord's hand of compassion and acceptance:  Zaccheus the publican; (described in Luke 19:2-10) 
The Samaritan woman at the well of Sychar; (John 4:5-30). 
The woman taken in adultery; (John 8:4-11). 
Mary, a former prostitute anointed Jesus feet at the house of Simon the leper; (Luke 7:37-47). 
Jesus who came to the grave side of Lazarus and wept; (John 11). 
Jesus who consoled the man healed of blindness after the church council expelled him; (John 9). 
At a certain future day when Jesus will be the host at a great feast and serve all of those attending.
(Luke 12:37). 

The friendship factor as it pertains to the person of Jesus is something that must not be lost. There is a proverb that states, There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24) This is the love and friendship of Jesus Christ.  There are so many hurting, there are man who are bruised, and there are man needing a friend. The love and power of the Spirit of Christ Jesus can supply this. It is a kind of supernatural miracle that someone who needs and asks believing can receive. 

                Too often, religious tradition has taken away the spiritual nature and power and potential of our relationship with Jesus Christ and replaced it with human- centered ideas and institutional church behaviors.
The foundational Gospel is the message of God's plan for restoring the earth and reconciling its people under His own rulership; to gather them unto himself. (Exodus 19) It is a prophetic plan and timetable for God's rulership.  (Matthew 4:23)   "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people."
The Gospel addresses the restoration and redemption of  the race of mankind, delivering the people from the control of Lucifer.  It was Satan, Lucifer, who once had the dominion of worldly rulership.  Jesus regained authority over principalities and powers and made a triumph (a victorious parade) before every  spiritual power entity, ( angels and demons) and displayed that He, Jesus, the son of man had received kingship, all ruling authority, in the World.  "The Son of God came to destroy the works of the Devil."(1John 3:8)

Jesus came Against Satan's Kingdom With Messianic Power
"And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people." (Matthew 9:35)  "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. "(Mat 11:5) "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:"(2 Tim 1:10) "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:" ( 2 Tim 2:8)
Destroying Bondages and Removing the Curse
The curse of the law and the curse of  Adam was/is evident in all sickness and evil that is manifest in the world.  Satan is reluctant to surrender control and authority and must be driven out by the conquering king. Those who have been born of God are given authority in His Name.
Just how long will Satan's "lease" be allowed to stand?  There are differences of opinion on this.  The answer is hidden in the "mystery of iniquity".  Most agree that the "end times" are here and now.  The Mount of Olive discourses that Jesus outlined the end-time events are recorded in Matthew  24, Luke 21 and Mark 13.  They describe the end of the age and the final defeat of the Evil One in an all-out conflict in the end.

The day of the Lord is the prophetic reference to the time of the Judgment of God against those who resist his Gospel and live in rebellion to Him.

The Gospel begins simply in its scope as a simple seed of promise, but deepens and grows as the mustard seed of the parable into a great size;  into greater and greater revelation and spiritual wisdom of Christ.
"But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.

And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." (1 Pet 1:25)  "Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ -" (Romans 16:25)
 As long as any disciple lives and grows in the knowledge of Christ he or she will never exhaust the fullness of its splendor, or the greatness of its wisdom. We are as the apostle says, looking in a foggy or cloudy mirror. But some day that mirror will be clear.
 

The  Message of Jesus' teaching and preaching was:
The "Gospel of the Kingdom"

Too often, it is religious tradition that takes away the spiritual nature, the power and the potential that lies in our life in Jesus Christ. Religion replaces Spiritual life  with human-centered ideas and institutionalized church behaviors. The foundational Gospel is the message of God's plan for restoring the earth and reconciling its people under his own rulership; to gather them unto himself. (Exodus 19) It is both a prophetic plan and timetable for God's rulership.

"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." (Matthew 4:23)

The Gospel addresses the restoration and redemption of the human race, delivering its people from the control of the Devil. It was Satan (Lucifer) who once held the reigns of dominion in terms of worldly rulership. Jesus regained spiritual authority over all principalities and powers and made a triumph (a victorious parade in which the vanquished king and all of his princes are paraded in chains) before all hierarchies of spiritual power including angels and demons. In this spiritual display it was made known that He, Jesus, the son of man, had received kingship and all ruling authority. "The Son of God came to destroy the works of the Devil." (1John 3:8)

"And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people." (Matthew 9:35) "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them." (Matthew 11:5) "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel:"(2 Timothy 1:10) "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my Gospel:" ( 2 Timothy 2:8)

Destroying Bondages - Removing the Curse

The curse of the law and the curse of Adam was/is evident in all of the sickness and the evil that is manifest in the world. Satan is reluctant to surrender control and authority and must be driven out in the name of the Victorious King. Those who have been born of God are given authority in His Name. In the present situation, Satan knows that he no longer has the authority to rule in this world, but he, being a cheat and a liar, will not tell us that he is disqualified.

Therefore until we are informed about his unlawful trespasses and violations and begin to exercise the authority that God has given us over him, he will continue to rule by deception and fraud. God wants us to read him his rights. The fact is he no longer has any rights and he must remove himself from God's property.

In the Mount of Olive discourses, Jesus outlined end-time events. These prophetic revelations are recorded in Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Mark 13. This series of revelations answer particular questions relavent to the end of the age and the final defeat of the Evil One in an all-out conflict in the end.

The day of the Lord is the prophetic reference to the time of the Judgment of God against those who resist his Gospel and live in rebellion to Him.
 

Judging the True Gospel
The Gospel of the Kingdom is a Gospel of righteousness, power, peace and finally judgment: The Gospel I believe, has three important elements, all of the central elements touch and are founded upon the rulership and authority of the King and Heir of all things, Jesus Christ.

The King: Who is this King of Glory? This one man, Jesus of Nazareth, is ordained to be the "king" of the Kingdom of God? It is He who has been given all authority within the Kingdom. God the Father appointed him heir of all things and approved by Him in the resurrection of his body from the dead.

Redemption goes much further than belief and ideology. Fallen man had to be changed supernaturally from the inside out. A provision had to be made to deal with the sinful nature residing within every person in a fallen race. God's plan to is to make something new out of that man, a new creation, recreated by the Spirit of God. This new right-standing status is not achieved by philosophy, theology or religious ritual or belief but through the power of a new life.

A long hidden feature of the Gospel of the Kingdom has to the do with the "extension of Jesus Christ's ministry" upon the earth. In this provision of the Gospel, Christ becomes an active power within each believer and is enabled to act through every believer. We become as Kings and Priests in the earth. Jesus becomes resident in us in order to work through us to minister the supernatural work God. Through the enablement of the Holy Spirit who was given to each disciple for the sole purpose of doing these works.

 

It is this revelation of the Christian Gospel which has been missing for hundreds of years but is now slowly coming to light. There is great resistance to the message which activates God's children to their full potential, Godly calling, and maturity. The enemy of our souls desperately works to keep God's children in darkness. Many church "pillars" set forth arguments sighting ample Scriptural documentation which has the net effect of resisting the liberty of the Spirit. These arguments when spoken or preached, work a spiritual uneasiness inside of the servant of God who seeks to follow the right pathway. A nagging sense of condemnation is experienced by those seeking wholeness and liberty. Men and women who bring this message find themselves as targets of criticism or ostracism, they are viewed as agents of evil or as purveyors of radical, unbiblical doctrine.

Nevertheless, the wonderful, wonderful truth of "Christ In Us, our hope of Glory" expresses a new life, a new character, and new spiritual potential. We become so much more than mere church members in the manner of the religious tradition but partakers of Jesus character and of his ministry (Gr. diakonia).

Commissioning Disciples   The Gospel of the Kingdom is expressed in relationships more than in an informational components, or knowledge. Jesus chose men and women to grow close to and to share or "bear witness" to his glory. It was they who witnessed all of the miracles and wonders in his words and deeds. Yet amazingly, it was not enough for his living disciples to witness his words and his works for 3 years, the Gospel required more than that. They needed an empowerment from God; the same power that was in Jesus had to re-energize each man and woman. The Enabling "Anointing" Spiritual Ministry: Healing, Preaching and Deliverance "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised," (Luke 4:18)

"Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the Gospel is preached." (Luke 7:22) "And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the Gospel, and healing every where." (Luke 9:6)

Darkness continues to withstand the full Gospel message from being taught. The "leaven of the Pharisees" is still an active agent of resistance to the Gospel of the Kingdom. It is this anti-Christ religious spirit that brings a believer into the bondage of unbelief and the traditions of man. The full Gospel message says that we are transformed into a new life of provision and authority and supernatural ministry but tradition says otherwise; the full Gospel message says we are as he is in this world, tradition says otherwise; the full Gospel message says we are kings and priests and the anointing teaches all things, tradition says otherwise; the full Gospel message says he ascended and gave gifts to man and that every man has received these gifts in order to minister, tradition says otherwise; the Gospel says there is but one mediator between God and man and we do not go to a man in order to meet God, tradition may direct otherwise. The Gospel says not by man, not by man's own will, or by any worldly means, tradition says otherwise.

The Gospel of the Kingdom is Manifested Power "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."(Romans 1:16)

Good News: Hope and Blessing

Why is the Gospel called the "good news"? Through it is found liberty, peace with God, joy and righteousness. "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Romans 10:15)" (Romans 15:29)

The Message of the Gospel is Hidden to Human Minds
The natural man with all of his intellect can not receive things which are spiritual, for it takes faith to believe. "But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:" (2 Corinthians 4:3) "But they have not all obeyed the Gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?" (Romans 10:16) "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."(2 Corinthians 4:4) "For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4:2) "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my Gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began," (Romans 16:25) "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." (1 Corinthians 1:17)

There are many cultic sects and non Christian "Gospels" being taught. Every cult and sect has any of three things which disqualify them from representing the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. The wrong Jesus, the wrong Gospel, or the wrong spirit.

"For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another Gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." (2 Corinthians 11:4)
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel:" "Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ." (Galatians 1:6,7)
"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." "As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8,9)