Sunday Stillness – What is the Gospel?

Sunday Stillness – What is the Gospel?

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Last week I gave a rundown on how we were studying the Bible in our Bible Study. We were trying to find out exactly “What is the Gospel?” by reading big chunks of Scripture.

You can read more of the study by going to Six Important Things to Remember When Studying Scripture.

I said I would give my answers this week.

I will share my answers and what we decided as a group.

My answers:

What was the BAD NEWS that we needed GOOD NEWS?

All men have sinned (separation from God) and fallen from God’s grace and condemned to a separated from God forever.

What was the GOOD NEWS?

Jesus died for our sins in order to bring us back into a right relationship with God and live eternally with Him.

Our discussion:

What is the BAD NEWS?

darkness, rejecting the Truth, lack of belief in Jesus, sinners, separated from God, God’s wrath on us, helpless, hopeless.

What part did God play in the Good News?

God takes the initiative to rescue us through Jesus. There was a purpose to save the world through Jesus. It was a gift. God did this legally and justly. He provided death Himself to give us life. Jesus came to live and to die.

That’s Why we Praise Him – Tommy Walker

What part must man play?

Believe, receive, be born again in the spirit, born into a new family – God’s family, trust, a relationship with God (Scripture uses the words, children of God, one with the Father, followers, adopted, reconciled.) Our belief is active and will bring about the relationship. We need to rest and trust in Jesus.

What is sin?

Going against the Word of God, doing our own things, not doing God’s way, not worshipping God, darkness, rebellion against God.

Are you doing your own things or what God wants us to do?

We need to bow down, relinquish self.

What do good works have to do with the Good News?

They flow out of our belief. We desire to do good works.

We talked a lot about good works to be sure we understood that we cannot gain any more or less favour from God by good works. It is not for “brownie points”. Good works cannot build our relationship with God. Sometimes believers count their good works and think that will get them closer to God – That is WRONG. Sometimes believers feel bad when they sin and have fallen short of what they believe God expects and feel helpless and “not good enough”. That is WRONG too. We must make sure pride in our good works does not happen. We need to keep our good works in perspective. Good works have nothing to do with us but everything to do with God.

The object of our faith is CHRIST ALONE. Belief is forsaking all others except for Jesus. We want a right relationship with God. We turn our lives over to Jesus. We trust and rest in God alone.

Christ Alone sung by Kristian Stanfill –

What are we saved from?

God’s wrath, judgment, separation

What are we saved to?

Eternal life – with God forever.

What is the Gospel? My answer

Christ died for our sins, which had alienated us from God; Christ was buried, raised on the 3rd day, and went back to Heaven. All this is how God planned from the beginning in order that we could be reconciled to Him forever. We only have to ADMIT our sins, BELIEVE in Jesus and CHOOSE to follow Him. Then we are saved and will have everlasting life with God.

The simple answer that we came up with:

Jesus is our Saviour. He died for our sins, was resurrected and went back into Heaven to be with the Father.

So that was it. Very full. I found it fascinating to take such a large chunk of Scripture and look for specific answers.

And I learned a new word: Propitiation –

that by which God is rendered propitious, i.e., by which it becomes consistent with his character and government to pardon and bless the sinner. The propitiation does not procure his love or make him loving; it only renders it consistent for him to exercise his love towards sinners.

 

It’s an important word as it is part of the Gospel – God’s sacrifice in Jesus to appease His wrath.

Tweetable:

I found it fascinating to take such a large chunk of Scripture and look for specific answers.(click to tweet)

TODAY IS SUNDAY STILLNESS.

Please link your post about what God has been teaching you. And please remember to visit your neighbour, leave comments and get to know more people in this group. We are a growing community of believers.

Thanks,

Janis 

JanisCox-photo2web

Janis is the author of the award winning children’s book, Tadeo Turtle, published by Word Alive Press. Available in Kindle Format, in bookstores, online and from her website. Curriculum available upon request.

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You can find her on Facebook, and Twitter. Tadeo has his own Facebook Page.

 

I sometimes link to:

STILL SATURDAYS @SANDRAHESKAKING

PLAYDATES @LAURABOGGESS

THE WEEKEND BREW @BARBIESWIHART

TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS

THE SUNDAY COMMUNITY – #GIVE ME GRACE @SEE SPEAK HEAR MAMA

SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS – @SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS 

Embracing His Will @Motivate and Rejuvenate Mondays

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17 comments

  1. What a wonderful way to study scripture during this most blessed of all seasons, Janis. Much love to you as you contemplate the Easter story and what Resurrection means to you.

    1. Thank you Laura. I am finding it is the first time, other than Bible studies, where I can get deeper into the Word and grow myself as well.
      Blessings,
      Janis

  2. It was great to review the questions and answers…even though I knew the answers already, it was a reminder for me to be prepared to have an answer at all times. Thanks for sharing and hosting the link-up.

    1. Ann,
      I actually found things I didn’t know – as I had to take the whole picture and make it down to a statement of “what is the Gospel”. I loved doing that. Thanks for following along with the questions.
      Blessings,
      Janis

  3. Great questions and even better answers. Studying scripture is always revealing and insightful. I love the connections we can make to our own lives through God’s word. Barbie and I are blessed you linked up to The Weekend Brew.

  4. Janis, I was listening to a Joyce Meyer cd today and she talked about obeying God because it’s right, not because we want to “get” something. It’s the same with works…we do the works because of faith and because it’s right, and because we’re called to it, not because we want to “earn” favor with God. Great song…one of the best contemporary hymns around, and Kristian Stanfield is so great too.

    1. Mary,
      I love this song and we sang it again in church today. Wow!
      And you are correct – that’s what I am learning – we can’t earn anything – it is all grace.
      Blessings,

      Janis

  5. Praise God for His Gospel of grace — salvation to whosoever calls on the Name of Jesus and trusts in His death, burial and resurrection as the only Way to Heaven! Thanks for the great post & for hosting & God bless!

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