The Gospel

One of the most important questions if not the most important question we can ask is "What is the Gospel"? Not only what is the gospel but how do we understand what the gospel is through the life of Christ while He lived amongst us? For a while, I really wasn't into reading a lot of books. You would be lucky to get me to read just one book when I was younger but as I made my way through college and now seminary, I love reading! In fact I have a bad habit at picking up a book, reading half way through and then picking up a new one before I am even finished with the one that I started before. For instance I am making my way through a total of 4 books. I know that is pretty ridiculous but it is something that I will have to work at. Anyways, one of the 4 books that I am making my way through right now is a book called "Hard to Believe" by John MacArthur. He incorporates the truth that there is no user-friendly, seeker-sensitive way to the Gospel! There are so many images of the gospel that are painted day to day. Prosperity gospel, turn or burn gospel, good works gospel, etc. For someone reason the world has such a hard time grasping the Real Truth. Obviously the biggest reason is selfishness! The idea that "Maybe if I take the core values of the gospel turn them to benefit what I want most in life and how it can benefit other people, then accepting the gospel would be much easier". People create huge concerns for how the gospel is being presented too harshly! Let's see. Last time I filtered through the word "Cross" on wikipedia, the result did not come out as a sweet, fluffy, non offensive process! People that accept the love of God but not the Cross, do NOT believe the gospel! Now the cross not only is offensive by the crucifixion of Jesus but because of the issue on WHY it had to be done! For all have fallen short of the glory of God! It all comes back to us as a society. In most cases people would choose to say that the cross is offensive because of what happened to Jesus but I bet many people making that case, really mean they are offended by the very accusation that they are the Problem! Uhoh.... We live in a world that teaches us that we are really good and that there is nothing wrong with us. We are strong and can live independently. We need nothing but ourselves. If this is true then the cross most definitely makes no sense BUT the Cross makes up the gospel! If it wasn't for the Cross, there would be NO Gospel! Because of what happened at the cross, both death and resurrection, we are offered Eternal LIFE! Here is the core message of the gospel: Die to Self, Pick up Your Cross and Follow Me. This means that any self motivating reason we might believe in, concerning the purpose of our life has to be destroyed! Because it is ALL about GOD! For many, this is Hard to Believe because deep down in our sinful flesh we want control and balance! We want our lives to reflect us and no one else. You might say, "Well, Eric that isn't true! I work hard to help others and bring them happiness." That might be true to a certain extent but deep down you know that through your good deeds, you are striving for others to see that you were the very person that exemplified the deed. God created us for good! God's purpose is solely for His Glory! Can we find joy in Him who saves? YES! Yes we can! But ONLY through Him! I could step around the harshness of the gospel and try to persuade you to believe but it wouldn't justify anything! As a believer, by the power of the Holy Spirit, I recognize my own ability to sin and screw up, but I am also transformed by the power of the gospel unto seeking the Lost and helping them see the Real Truth! If I fail to share the gospel in its entirety, I fail to bring glory to God resulting in leading others astray and unto a terrible eternal state, separated from God entirely!