The Gospel is the good news to be heard by all…
There is an almighty God who we should fear and give glory to. A God who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. A God who is perfect, just in all his ways, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
God created man in His own image and with His own likeness and set the first man Adam in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it. But Adam sinned, and because of Adam’s decision to rebel, we are all sinners by nature and choice, and have fallen short of the Glory of God. The “wages” of sin is death. Thus, we are all justly deserving of everlasting punishment, the destruction of our body and soul in hell. But even though we were all once sinners, long ago God devised a plan to save and redeem us.
God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son; Jesus Christ, to die for us, paying the debt for our sins, so that through Him we may be saved. A “spotless lamb” in which there was no sin, the perfect sacrifice or substitute to take our place, a free gift by the grace of God. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
After three days and three nights, Jesus was resurrected and exalted to High Priest, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and now sits at the right hand of the Father. God recorded all this in the Holy Bible, which God gave to us through the hands of his various chosen prophets, as both a historical record, prophetic account, love poem and an instruction book for life. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Jesus Christ promised that all those who believe in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Upon His glorious return they will be raised up; those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. This belief is not to be confused with a mere mental belief, but a complete humbling of yourself and a coming to the realisation that only through Christ can you be redeemed, and that Christ is the way, the truth and the life, and nobody comes to the Father but by Him. It is total surrender to Him as both Lord and Saviour. It is having absolute trust in and living by His every word.
If you repent of your sins, believe in the gospel, and put your faith in Jesus Christ, His promises, and His teachings; you will inherit salvation which leads to everlasting life. With this salvation comes spiritual rebirth; God will send you His Holy Spirit which will help you, comfort you and put you in remembrance of all things in His word. The Holy Spirit will guide you to surrender to Christ as Lord, obey the commandments of God, to spread the Gospel, to be baptised for the remission of sins, to regularly celebrate the Lord’s supper and much more. Having personally experienced the grace of God in Jesus, a believer trusts God as Creator, Christ as Saviour, and the Holy Spirit as Helper. Christ rewires every aspect of our lives so that the life and power of Jesus flows in us. That is what salvation is, and it goes on forever.
God knew His elect before the foundation of the world. It is He that has decided to draw us to Him by His grace, because of His mercy and compassion on us, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. God is greater than all and no one is able to snatch you out of His hand. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom he foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.
We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the present darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. The devil, who is called Satan, and all his angels, have been cast out from heaven for their choice to rebel against to God. They are our greatest threat in this world, even though at times it may seem like it is each other. For Satan works in the hearts and minds of all who are disobedient to God. We must be careful what we believe and to verify everything against scripture, for many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world. But fear not, for God is with us always, even to the end. It is His good pleasure to give us, as His “little flock”, the kingdom.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. One day God will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
We now await our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. He is coming soon with eyes like a flame of fire and all His angels with Him, and every eye will see him. But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Therefore, those of us who are eagerly awaiting His appearing, must be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. There are some things in scripture that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction. Take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. ______________________________________________________________________________________
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