The evangelist, Billy Graham, was asked to define the term evangelical. He answered, “Actually, that’s a question I’d like to ask somebody, too.” Evangelical comes from the Greek word euangelion, which is translated “good news” or “gospel.” So, a better question would be, What is the “good news” or “gospel”? The Good News is humankind has a second chance of redemption from the sin that has pulled us away from our Creator, who now offers Himself as our Savior. “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV).
Gospel
Did God Need to Become Flesh?
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15 KJV). The Seed War was declared by Yahweh between Himself and the Serpent. He would supernaturally place His seed in Mary to give us Jesus, while the Serpent has long sought to do the same giving us the Nephilim. “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God [fallen angels] came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown” (Genesis 6:4 ESV). God would give us His Christ, while the Serpent will give us his substitute Christ, the Antichrist (a Nephilim).
Repentance or Faith?
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15 KJV). One cannot repent or turn away from what they do not believe to be wrong, and they cannot believe something to be wrong without ceasing that behavior or repenting. The Gospel is the Good News of God giving us a second chance. Taking sides with God against yourself is repentance. Acting like the Gospel is true is believing the Gospel. Ours is to repent and believe, but only the Spirit can give us faith (Ephesians 2:8) and “repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2Timothy 2:25 KJV).
Good News
Disciples must talk about bad news in order to bring up the good news of the gospel. The world does not always want to listen, and even fellow disciples may weary as well. “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11 KJV). Christian, your greatest advertisement for Christ is the blessed, happy life you live for the LORD, in the meantime. “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14 KJV).
Battle Plan for Victory
If the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD was the consummation of biblical prophecies, and we are evolving towards the New Heavens and New Earth with a gospel to address societal ills, how are we doing? On the other hand, if we are waiting for the Rapture, and the world’s “going-to-hell-in-a-hand-cart,” again, how are we doing? Either way, not so good. What’s the battle plan? “And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16 KJV). The Gospel is a supernatural offering of the suffering, death, and resurrection of the Son of God for the world, as an atonement for the sins of all those who believe and are baptized (a loyalty oath). Societal ills will be affected by the holy living of disciples; otherwise, disciples have not experienced a supernatural gospel transformation. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2 KJV). Finally, Christ will not return to rapture His Church until the Father has decided that the Gospel has been fully preached in all the world. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14 KJV). Come quickly, Lord Jesus! Amen and amen.
I Can Do All Things
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). What exactly does that mean? I can do everything God expects of me because I have the supernatural help of Almighty Christ. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18 KJV). We have the supernatural job of teaching a hell bent world about Christ. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (28:19 KJV). We have the Throne Authority of the Immortal Father, the Sin Conquering Power of the Risen Son, and the ‘You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide’ Targeting Power of the Holy Spirit. That sets our confidence at its highest! Hallelujah!
Christian Liberty – Part 1
“Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1 NIV).
Would it surprise us to find that the Apostle Paul’s statement from nearly 2,000 years ago was an emancipation declaration that changed the lives of not only his first century readers, but broke the chains of addiction, servitude, and bondage of untold numbers of readers since then? Is Paul trivializing the magnitude of pain and suffering holding us today? Or, are we reading these statements of Scripture with a hardness of heart and unbelief befitting those further away from the first coming of Christ and nearer still to the second coming of Christ? “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8 NIV). Is the diabolical genius of the wicked one, simply to desensitize us to the plain meaning of the words of God, hardening us from receiving their simple truth, and barring the work of the Holy Spirit from allowing His straightforward message from having its clearly stated fulfillment in our lives? “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path” (Matthew 13:19 NIV). If you have the slightest inclination to seek understanding of what the Scripture is saying to you, then the Holy Spirit is still striving to teach you. “2 Turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding — 3 indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:2-6 NIV).
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We Need A Miracle 