"Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me and for the gospel will save it," (Mark 8:35). These are Jesus' words to anyone who wants to follow Him. If anyone wants to call themselves a Christian (literally meaning a lowly imitator of Jesus Christ), then they must be willing to lose their life for the gospel (Matthew 16:24). In order for someone to save their soul, a treasure greater than even the whole world (Mark 8:36), they must give their life for God and the gospel.
Anyone who wants to live a soul keeping life for the gospel will need to know what God's Word says. While it is true that a lot of the Bible can be difficult to understand, Christians are expected to study it and learn from it (2 Timothy 2:15). The apostle Peter once wrote that Paul's letters (Romans, Ephesians, Philipians, etc.) were written "with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction," (2 Peter 3:15-16). Yes, the Bible can be hard to understand, but to distort God's Word (to terribly misunderstand it, or to willfully twist it to one's own desires) will bring destruction. There's no exception to this. Jesus says, "If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels," (Mark 8:38). Anyone who disregards God's Word will be disregarded by Him. If you want to save your soul, you need to know what the Bible says about the gospel.
The Word of God gives a clear answer to what the gospel is, however the world has its own thoughts on the matter. The world speaks in such a confusing way (Genesis 11:7), and can twist God's words into their own thoughts. The world then presents their confusing distortion of God's Word as if it were truly what God says (Jeremiah 14:14). The world's thoughts are lower than God's thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). The world's gospels are no gospel at all (Galatians 1:6-7). Because of this, it is necessary to address and dismantle some of the world's lies before the truth can take its rightful place (2 Corinthians 10:5).
The gospel is NOT just another piece of Christianity:
- Many people think the gospel makes up one piece of a Christian's life, but it's only one piece like all others. If that were the case, then Christians would not have to be too concerned with the gospel, as long as they understood other key teachings in God's Word.
- Directly contrasting this mindset, the apostle Paul wrote, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed," (Romans 1:16-17). From these words it is clear that the gospel is "the" power of God (not just "a" power or one aspect of God's power) and that it is only through the gospel that God's saving righteousness is revealed. Since only the righteous can live a Christian life (Habakkuk 2:4) and have God's power towards them (Ephesians 1:19), then everyone who wants to follow God and share in His power must keep the gospel of first importance.
- The gospel is the single most crucial aspect of Christianity. Its significance far outweighs that of any other part of a Christian's life.
The gospel is NOT a lifestyle:
- There are Christians who believe the gospel is a way of life. Some have read that God sent His apostles to "heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons," (Matthew 10:7-8) and then believed that doing all of this is the gospel. If that were the case, then someone could save their soul by how they live their life.
- This is contradicted by Paul's words to Timothy, when he wrote, "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers," (1 Timothy 4:16). Paul does not mean that Timothy can be saved by listening to his own life. It is only "the living God, who is the Savior of all people," (1 Timothy 4:10) and apart from God no one's life has any worth (John 15:5). Therefore, it is the doctrines Timothy is teaching that will save both himself and his hearers. It is from the teachings in God's Word that someone can hear what can save their soul (1 Timothy 4:13).
- The gospel is something Christians teach and believe, and it is not something Christians do. While God's followers are called to live a certain way (James 2:14-16), a Christian's life has no power to save them or others.
The gospel is NOT a waste of time:
- Plenty of people think there are better things to do than teach the gospel. Some assert that God wants us "to loose the chains of injustice," by sharing food and providing the poor with shelter, (Isaiah 58: 6-7) and then claim that these things are more useful than the gospel. If that were the case, then there would be no earthly reward in the gospel.
- Opposing this belief, Jesus says, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for Me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life," (Mark 10:29-30). Those who live for the gospel will face persecutions, but they will also be given a hundred times more than anything they could have gained by not preaching the gospel (rewards not only in heaven but also on earth). This is why Paul preached the gospel all the time, even when he was in chains. When Agrippa, a Roman statesman, heard one of Paul's preachings, Agrippa said, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" (Acts 26:28). Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” (Acts 26:29).
- Everyone, whether they know it or not, is longing for all of God's followers to be saved (Romans 8:22). So, it is good to speed up this waiting (2 Peter 3:12) through the preaching of the gospel that people may believe and become another one of God's followers (John 1:12).
The gospel is NOT separate from God:
- A few Christians claim the gospel does not have to be directly linked to God. They suggest that the goodness of the gospel can be shared without having to mention God or His words. If that were the case, then the gospel could be received outside of Christ and the Bible.
- In combating this view, Paul calls himself "a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God," (Romans 1:1). Paul states his calling is not just to be a servant for any gospel but "the gospel of God". The Bible and its author are inextricably connected (Hebrews 6:17). It is impossible to preach the gospel without God (Philippians 4:13). To do so would be the same as binding an oath with God based on what comes from Him but not based on God Himself (Matthew 23:19-20). Jesus says, "anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it," (Matthew 23:22).
- If someone is going to share the gospel that comes from heaven, then they must equally offer the God who provides the gospel. Someone who neglects God also neglects what can truly save souls.
The gospel is NOT true for you but not for me:
- Some Christians hear the gospel and claim it is not something all people have to believe. They think that the gospel offers something good for them personally, but it's not necessary for everyone to accept it. If that were the case, then the gospel would either contain something everyone already has within them or something anyone can find elsewhere.
- Standing before these claims are Jesus' words, "I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved" (John 10:9). There are those who try to save themselves by not going through the gospel, but Jesus says, "anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber," (John 10:1). Thieves and robbers will not save their souls (1 Corinthians 6:10). No one who rejects God and His Word will be able to escape destruction (Matthew 7:26-27).
- The gospel is for everyone always (Luke 2:10). Only those who believe the gospel of Jesus Christ will save their souls.
What is the gospel?
Paul answers this question in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 from verses 1 to 11:
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
If you want to save your soul you must believe the gospel: That Christ died for everyone's sins (Matthew 26:26-28) and He rose to life again; not metaphorically but in the physical flesh (John 20:26-29). If you want to believe the truth that is not in vain, then you must put your trust in what the Bible says (Proverbs 3:5-6). If you want to live for the gospel, you must preach it of first importance in accordance with God's calling to all who follow Him (1 Corinthians 9:16-18). If you want to receive rewards on earth and in heaven, then you must always be prepared to share the gospel with others so that they too may believe it and save their soul (1 Peter 3:15). If you want to live for God, then you cannot wait any longer to begin sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15).
Do you want to be a true Christian? You must know, believe and share the gospel.
Source
- The Bible (New International Version)
Special Thanks to
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