The Gospel of Christ
THE gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes it. (Rom. 1:16.) Men and women are saved by the power that inheres in the gospel. The power is not in the preacher, but in the gospel that he preaches.
When the gospel is preached. Christians are made; when no gospel is preached, there are no Christians made.
The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel of Christ. (Rom. 1:17.) Jesus Christ is the author of the gospel of Christ. Paul said: "But I certify you. brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man. neither was I taught it. but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." (Gal. 1:11. 12.)
Preachers today should be sure that what they preach is the gospel of Christ, and that they do not receive it of man. Jesus Christ is the author, not Moses or David or some other man. "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation: which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him?" (Heb. 2:3.)
We are further taught to look "unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith: who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb. 12:2.) Jesus commanded the apostles to preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15. 16.) The seed of the kingdom is the word of God. (Luke 8:11.) This good seed must be planted in good soil. The good soil is honest hearts. When the seed is planted in this good soil, a good crop is produced.
The inspired Paul says that we are begotten by the gospel. (1 Cor. 4:15.) The same thought is expressed by Peter when he says: "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God. which lives and abides for ever." (I Pet. 1:23.) "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth." (James 1:18.)
There are three fundamental facts of the gospel of Christ. (1 Cor. 15:1-4.) First. Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures: second, he was buried: third, he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Facts cannot be obeyed, but they can be. and must be. believed.
We believe the facts of the gospel. These basic facts were proclaimed for the first time on the first Pentecost after the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. This took place in the city of Jerusalem. "Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Isa. 2:3.)
Jesus said to his apostles just before he was taken up that "repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem (where you are)." (Luke 24:47.) Please note that word beginning. He further said upon the same occasion: "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but wait in the city of Jerusalem, until you are endued with power from on high." Luke 24:49.) In another account of the same incident Luke says: "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard of me." (Acts 1:4.) The apostles stayed in the city of Jerusalem until the day of Pentecost. Then for the first time the basic facts of the gospel of Christ were preached. When the gospel is preached, it causes men to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Then they will want to know what they must do to be saved. This was on Pentecost. "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37.)
These believers in Christ were told to "repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." (Acts 2:38.) This is in exact accord with what Jesus said should be preached, beginning at Jerusalem. We have the three outstanding commands of the gospel of Christ. First, we must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 16:31); we must repent of our sins (Acts 17:30); and we must be baptized for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38).
Jesus Christ gave every one of these commands. To be saved we must obey his commandments. If we believe the facts of the gospel and obey the commands of the gospel, we then can enjoy the promises of the gospel. Just as we have three outstanding facts and three outstanding commands, so there are three great promises to be enjoyed.
First, we are promised the remission of our sins. How sweet the promise! How it is enjoyed by those who have met the stipulated conditions of pardon! Too many are wanting to enjoy the promises without obeying the commands. We learn from Acts 8 of a man who was taught the facts of the gospel, and then he obeyed the commands. What followed? "And he went on his way rejoicing." (Acts 8:39.)
God gives the Holy Ghost to them that obey him. (Acts 5:32.) The Holy Ghost dwells in the heart of every Christian. On the birthday of the church Peter held out two promises to all who would believe and obey. They were promised the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38.)
The gift of the Holy Ghost is not the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Even if we never did understand exactly what the gift of the Holy Ghost is, we are promised remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost if we obey the commands of the gospel.
God will perform faithfully his part. We should do our part. And we are promised life eternal. "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life." (1 John 2:25.)
We shall know the enjoyment of this promise at the end of a faithful Christian life. Jesus Christ is not only the author of the gospel, but "being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Heb. 5:9.)
Lord, help us all to obey him.
