... when you add something to something, you have changed it. Add a second story to your house, and you have changed the house. It is still yours. You continue to live in it. But it is different.
No, this would not be the correct analogy here. This would be more like describing a coin to someone, and then at some point you finish your description by describing some small details on the coin that you had not mentioned previously, such as perhaps the mint mark or the date of the coin. The coin is still the same even after you have included a more detailed explanation of it.
John S. wrote:
You contradict yourself. It is not the same gospel if it was added to .
The good news was still the same, but some details of the appropriation of God's kingdom and the remission of sins is enhanced by the news of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
If the gospel was changed or different later, as you seem to be arguing, do you think then that after Christ's resurrection, the apostles and other followers were rebaptized again into Christ, once they learned of the death, burial, and resurrection aspects of the gospel? I don't think so. Do you?
John S. wrote:
I am nowhere required to "receive the remission of sins." It is something that happens to me, for me -- by God.
I agree. The remission of sins is God's work and something he does to you when you repent of your sins and believe upon Jesus Christ.
John S. wrote:
The kingdom? Certainly the soverneign rule and authority of God is a critical part of the message.
Amen. That was one of my points. I'm glad to see that we agree on this.
John S. wrote:
Not sure "exactly" what they preached.
You were the one who said that they "preached Christ." I was simply asking you to clarify what that meant to you. Apparently, you were using the phrase ambiguously. That answers my question. Thank you.
John S. wrote:
I do not think there are any sermons recorded in the gospel accounts except that of Christ's.
There are a few sermons, but for the most part, what they said is summarized in a few sentences here and there throughout the Bible. By examining all the passages and their descriptions, we can get a good idea of what they were preaching. The Holy Spirit helps fill in the rest of our understanding here.
David Miller wrote:
What did Jesus Christ himself say when he "preached the gospel"? Did Jesus talk about himself when he preached the gospel?
When Jesus told the disciples of John the Baptist to report that the gospel is preached to the poor, did he mean his death, burial, and resurrection, or something else? Did he mean that he was declaring himself to the poor, or was there something else that he had in mind?
John S. wrote:
Let's stop here. I need to know a) why you are geting all winged out
Do you mean "wigged-out"? I'm not wigged-out. I'm very calm and inquisitive.
John S. wrote:
and 2) what is the point of this discussion. I no longer know.
The point is that you chose one passage in the entire Bible to define the term "gospel." The gospel is an important concept. The gospel is that message which converts people and transforms lives.
1 Corinthians 4:15 ... for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
John S. wrote:
You seem to latch onto specific translated wording, i.e. "gospel" rather than reading the more general "good news." Before the cross, the good news was the coming of the kingdom of God. Matt 6:33 gives us a Jesus asking us to seek the kingdom (read soverneign rule and authority of ... ) of God. It had come. It was not like other kingdoms. It was within. It was current. Good news. After the cross, the kingdom, for me, is Jesus Christ. He is the soverneign rule and authority in my life. He governs my actions and does so in a very personal way. He speaks to me, counsels me, partners with me.
That is good to hear, but I was not so concerned about your personal testimony here as much as your theology that sees the gospel as being defined by one passage in the Bible and no other. I think I have a pretty good understanding now of what you think here. I don't see any need right now to keep going on with this thread.
David Miller wrote:
Could it be that you have a very narrow view of the gospel? Is it possible that you have never truly heard the gospel yourself?
John S. wrote:
I have been a child of God for 47 years, David. I have received His infilling. I hear his voice. He hears mine. How about you? Your questioning above is out of place and has nothing to do with honest debate. It is the street preacher "go to hell" style that you seem to believe in, raising it's ugly head for no purpose except to put down. It is not an honest question.
There is no need to get defensive, John. The questions were honest and sincere questions concerning whether you considered your knowledge of the gospel to be full and rich, or if there was the possibility that you might have something to learn here. Your answer told me what I needed to know. I will be quiet now. Thanks.
Peace be with you.
David Miller.
---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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