|
click below
for
AUTHOR'S
VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE
IS
THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL HIDDEN?
2
Corinthians 4:3 - 2 Corinthians 4:5 "- - But even if our
gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4)
whose minds the God of this age has blinded, who do not believe,
lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the
image of God, should shine on them. 5) For we do not preach
ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bond
servants for Jesus’ sake.
In today's
secular society it is hard to know what to believe. In the
decades following the turn of the 21st Century discourse has
turned to the subject of "fundamentalism" and in
keeping with the spirit of the times, a conclusion seems to be
drawn that connects fundamentalism of any kind to
represent a non-thinking, highly dangerous and threatening
religious viewpoint. Theologians more and more quickly
disassociate themselves with anything called fundamentalist
Christianity. Thousands are turning away from the true Gospel
which is the original and fundamental Gospel. That which
was brought into being by the Apostle's of Jesus Christ the
Messiah.
Instead of
accepting the Gospel in its purity and simplicity, churches are
turning to a message of an evolving Gospel. They
are altering the text of the Bible or throwing out conventional
Bible interpretation. They can not accept the Bible as a reliable
document to follow literally. This is called "Progressive
Christianity."
Such a viewpoint is taught by highly
intelligent theologians, strong on intellect but dangerously weak
in truth. Obviously the original text presented features that
these "thinkers" considered too restrictive or too
unpopular for the secular, instant gratification masses. They
have judged Almighty God not to be the sort to have presented a
Gospel that required one door, Jesus; one mediator, Jesus; one
chance, believe or perish; one commodity that can save from sin,
the blood of Jesus the crucified 'Lamb of God.' Such blind
leaders of the blind have judged themselves to be more
enlightened and qualified to explain the nature of God and His
Gift than those who originally were blinded by the magnitude of
resurrected Lord's glorious presence.
If the Gospel is not
taught in its fullness, it remains hidden. Who is wise enough to
receive it?
Jesus explained it this way, " - - unless
you be converted like a small child, you can not enter into the
Kingdom of Heaven. " The qualifications are to believe as a
child, simply and unquestioning.
The Gospel, 'good
news' bring blessings not hurt; peace not warfare; sharing not
taking and hoarding; Godliness, not cruelty and violence toward
others. There is nothing that equates the fundamental Islam to
fundamental Christianity. They have another Jesus, another
spirit, another 'revealed' message. It should not be difficult to
see that the message of the Quran of Islam is not consistent with
the Gospel of 'Good News' to all humanity.
Cults and
religions disallow the free gift of God, which includes
peace with God; righteous standing before God, freedom from God's
judgment; or the Joy of His presence. They deny the identity of
Jesus as God's son as the Savior who paid the price for sin. They
deny that Judgment will fall upon those who would have it any
other way.
The Bible
explains, there is one man, one
savior, one Lord destined to reign over the whole
earth and He is the one who was pierced for us and
rose to allow us to inheritors of the same resurrection. This is
the gospel. We are free to choose. But to choose wrong is to
choose NOT to avail yourself the gift of eternal life.
Matthew
16:16 But
who do you
say that
I am?
(This
question will separate true believers from unbelievers)
Jesus
asks his disciples this question; "Who
do you say that I am?" Peter, answers and says, "You
are the Messiah, (the Christ) the son of the Living God."
Jesus then tells Peter, "- - - Flesh and blood have not
revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. This is an
example of how we receive knowledge of hidden things,
Hidden
things of God: Revealed by the Holy Spirit:
1Corinthians
2:0 - -"Eye has not seen nor ear heard, neither has entered
into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for
those that love him. 10: But God has
revealed them unto us by his Spirit:
for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
11. For what man knows the things of a man, except by the sprit
of man which is in him? Even so the things of God, know man
knows, except by the Spirit of God.
THE
GOSPEL IS ABOUT ONE MAN
Jesus of Nazareth, The Jesus of
the Gospel
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 Yeshua, or Yeshua (Jeshua equals Jesus meaning
- JHVH (Jehovah) 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 Messhiach (Messiah), the
Anointed One, the Son of God. Jesus
name in Hebrew, Yeshua , 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 (Yeshua) 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' 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 childbearing
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.
Jesus
the Son of God; The Messiah
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.)
Who
is Jesus? The Son of God.
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 Jesus' 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
life that Jesus lived was a life lived within the limits of the
human condition. Yet scripture states that He knew no sin, and
though he was tempted in all areas just as we are. He remained
undefiled and separate from the sin nature which is particular to
all of the natural born human race. (Hebrews 4:15, 7:26)
He
was a man, but certainly unlike humanity in a special way. The
human race according to the bible, has an Adamic hereditary line
or genealogy, descended from the line of Adam. Since Adam the
human race is under a curse. The fall and the curse is portrayed
in the first chapters of Genesis. At the moment, you may not
believe in Adam or in any kind of curse, but for the time being,
set that argument aside. God can work that issue out with you at
a later time. It is necessary to believe that the Bible is not a
fable or fiction. To argue against the Bible is to lose the
blessing of believing in it, both in small questions and in
larger questions.
Jesus
submitted his will to God the Father
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 Godlike 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 several 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.
Jesus
Christ, The Word Made Flesh
The
Son of God, the Word was made Flesh. He was born into human form
but he also had preexistence 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 preexistent some may conclude that we
all preexisted. 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
Bible's 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 Jesus' 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,
the 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.
Who
is Jesus Christ? The Lamb of God
A sacrifice is made, The
price is paid.
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
Isaac 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 prefigured in the sacrifice
which Abraham was prepared to make of his own son, Isaac 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
was 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 demystify 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).
Notable
Encounters That Jesus Had With Individual Men & Women
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.
THE
GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Jesus'
Message was the Gospel of the Kingdom
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 fell to Adam and 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.
Judging
the True Gospel
The
Gospel of the Kingdom is a Gospel of power, peace and
righteousness: The Gospel I believe, has three important
elements, all of which touch or 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,
has been ordained to be the Head of the Kingdom of God? It is He
who has been given all authority within the Kingdom. It is He who
was appointed by
God
the Father, approved by Him in the resurrection of His body from
the dead.
Redemption,
Being freed from the Consequences of Our Old Nature. 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.
The
issue of righteousness outside of the law hangs upon this "New
Creation". He who was without sin was made sin for us, so
that we could become the righteousness of God. The teaching of
the "power of the cross" and the "exchange at the
cross" are the hinge upon which the miracle of the new birth
and righteousness articulates. The Extension of Jesus
Ministry
The Hidden Gospel The long hidden Gospel of the
Kingdom has to the do with the EXTENSION OF JESUS MINISTRY upon
the earth by Christ acting through every believer. We become as
Kings and Priests in the earth, with Jesus in us and working
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 third aspect
which has been missing in the revelation of Christianity for
hundreds of years and is only now coming to light, although there
is great resistance to the message by the spirits of darkness.
The very wonderful truth of "Christ In Us, our hope of
Glory" expresses a new life, a new character, and new
spiritual potential. We become not church members in the manner
of the worldly 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
knowledge. Jesus chose men and women to grow close to and to
share in the witness of His glory. It was they who witnessed all
of the miracles and wonders of His word and deed. 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 a 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 religious spirit that brings a
believer into the bondage of unbelief and the traditions of man.
The Gospel says that we are transformed into a new life of
provision and authority and supernatural ministry but tradition
says otherwise; The gospel says we are as He was in this world,
tradition says otherwise; The gospel says we are Kings and
Priests and the anointing teaches all things, tradition says
otherwise; The gospel 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 man to meet God,
tradition will 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)
"Through
mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so
that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully
preached the gospel of Christ." (Romans 15:19)"
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) "And
I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the
fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ." (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
establish 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)
False
Gospels
There
are many cultic or non
Christian "gospels" being taught. Every cult and sect
has any of three things which are wrong with it: The wrong Jesus,
the wrong Gospel, the wrong spirit.
"For
if he that cometh preaches 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
cursed." "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)
Fellowship
with the Holy Spirit "Instructs us in the Gospel"
The
Gospel of the Kingdom was communicated directly to the Apostle
Paul by revelation of the Spirit of God, and face to face with
Jesus Christ (revealed "to one out of due time " a time
after the forty days when Jesus made in the flesh visitation with
his disciples before ascending into heaven.) Paul was visited
personally by Jesus. The epistles indicate a time of
extraordinary revelation of His Gospel.
Now
for any who will seek it, there is the same Spirit of revelation,
"the Spirit of Wisdom and Truth". The Holy Spirit will
communicate all the things which are of Christ and show them to
us in prayer, reading of the word and in meditation.
"But
I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me
is not after man."
(Galatians
1:11) "And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto
them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately
to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run,
or had run, in vain." (Galatians 2:2)
The
Gospel is the Good News of Salvation
Salvation
is not limited strictly to promised heavenly rewards, having been
made free of the fierce judgment of God's wrath upon sinners.
Salvation encompasses total restoration, (salvation, healing and
deliverance.) "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard
the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also
after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of
promise," (Ephesians 1:13) A
Prayer of Faith,The Prayer Which Brings Salvation
If
any person believes the Gospel in their heart and declare this
aloud to witnesses, that person shall be saved; changed and made
alive in Christ! The testimony of the believer which brings
salvation is a prayer of Faith, which is a spoken proclamation
declaring a promise from the Word of God. It should include some
of the following understandings. "Who is Jesus? What did he
do for ME? What will He do in ME because I believe?" These
are elements of the Gospel you should know after reading these
chapters.Grafted into the Vine of God's Elect
The
gospel of Jesus Christ extends God's grace and provision outside
of circle of the people of God's original covenant. Beyond the
fellowship of the Elect of Israel -- outside of the boundary of
the Abrahamic line.
"That
the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and
partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:"
(Ephesians 3:6) "For the hope which is laid up for you in
heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the
gospel;" (Colossians 1:5)
When
the Gospel is Preached in its Fullness
Through
mighty signs and wonders by the Spirit of God, from Jerusalem and
round about, I have preached fully (the gospel in its full
measure) the Gospel of Christ. (Romans 15:19)When Fully Preached
there are Signs Attesting its Truth.
Yes,
God can and will manifest His power to bless in order to
demonstrate His power! "For our gospel came not unto you in
word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much
assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for
your sake." (1 Thessalonians 1:5)The Gospel Age is the
Season of the Lord's Favor
The
church age has been called the age of Grace, the year of the
Lord's favor, or the acceptable year of the Lord. (Read Isaiah
Chapter 61, the portions the Jesus quoted in
Luke
Chapter 4.)
In
a future time, which may be nearly upon us, the night will come
when no man can work. The time will come for judgment and
purifying the earth. This promised, prophetic time will see "the
thorough purging of the threshing floor with fire. (a figurative
picture of Jesus spoken by John the Baptist, (Matthew chapter
3:12 and Luke Chapter 3:17.)
The
day of the free access to Christ's forgiveness of sins is a
window of opportunity which will not be extended indefinitely and
in terms of us as individuals we do not know what tomorrow will
bring. We may have no tomorrow, as the evangelist Billy Graham
has expressed so strongly in all of his appeals.
It
is a certainty that there is coming a time of wrath and judgment
upon those who have not believed or received the word of Gospel.
"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God,
and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:" (2
Thessalonians 1:8) "Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto
themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are
now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto
you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the
angels desire to look into." (1 Peter 1:12)The Gospel Begins
in Simplicity
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)
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." (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.
Just
how long will Satan's fraudulent "lease" be allowed to
stand? There are differences of opinion on this. The answer is
hidden in the "mystery of iniquity". I believe this
mystery of iniquity is part of the agreement that God has made
with Satan to allow him an opportunity to test, sift, and to
attempt to deceive the saints. At the culmination of this time of
the mystery of iniquity, Satan will even be allowed to set up a
bogus kingdom with a false messiah. At the end of this age, Satan
will present the world with false messiah. Those in the world who
are not redeemed will accept him and worship as God. Most agree
that the 'end-times' are very near to the present time.
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:
Freed
from the Consequences of Our Old Nature
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.
The
issue of righteousness outside of the law hangs upon this "New
Creation". He who was without sin was made sin for us, so
that we could become the righteousness of God. The teaching of
the "power of the cross" and the "exchange at the
cross" is the hinge upon which the miracle of the new birth
and righteousness articulates.
The
Hidden Gospel: Not
Redemption Only, but the
Extension of Jesus Ministry
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)
The
anointing to minister came upon Jesus (called The Son of Man in
the Gospel writings) The day that John the Baptist baptized
Jesus, the Holy Spirit descended bodily in the form of a dove and
alighted upon him. He (the Holy Spirit) has a divine function,
that is to identify and to initiate the purposes of God toward
people in all kinds of circumstances with all kinds of needs.
However, the circumstances and needs themselves did not
move Jesus to minister to one person or another. It was the inner
voice of the Spirit who directed which of the sick folks in the
five porches was to receive the special healing.
Those
who become his disciples today, which is to say all of those who
are reborn of the Spirit, are eventually deigned to minister
"Christ."
We
believers must have the same "Holy Spirit power" to
equip this ministry. We must become familiar with the voice of
God through the Holy Spirit within us, who will direct us into
the purposes of God. To minister "in Jesus name" is a
feature of this anointing.
As believers we know that we
have "Christ is in us". We are qualified to say "in
the name of Jesus," we are authorized to lay hands on the
sick that they may recover. Is not Jesus present with us to work
on our behalf?
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 Antichrist 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.
Through Him the Body is given needed provision and authority for
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 expressed with 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)
"Through
mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so
that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully
preached the Gospel of Christ." (Romans 15:19)" Paul
said in essence that he preached the Gospel in full measure, or
the "full Gospel message."
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
establish 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)
What
makes a cult? False Gospels, Other Gospels?
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 preaches 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)
E
Book 1:
The
Gospel Without
Religion
E
Book 2:
A
Disciples Handbook
E
Book 3:
Mysteries
in the Bible
Index
to all Charles Pinkney Christian Titles
|
