The Good News - An Introduction to the Gospel
In this week's episode, I begin to explore what "The Gospel" is and why we should care about it. The word "Gospel" means "good news" and the Merriam Webster dictionary describes it as "the message concerning Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation." It tells us who Christ is, what it means to be in the Kingdom of God and how we can be saved.Unfortunately, many people are apathetic towards this message today, either because they think they've heard it all before or because they feel it is irrelevant. But is it? Jesus tells us we need to believe in him to be saved (John 10:9) and this leads us to ask what this means? The word "saved" can be translated "rescued" or "healed" but from what? I start to answer this question by talking about our human nature, the presence of evil, the power of sin and how Christ can help us to overcome them all. This week is packed with Bible references but we are only just scratching the surface of the gospel message. I will go into more depth on the meaning of Jesus' atoning sacrifice in future episodes. Firstly, we need to understand why this message is still vital for us to understand today.Bible references:The GospelChrist Died For Us (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 5:6-8, 1 John 2:2, Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24, Mark 10:45, 1 Timothy 2:6, Hebrews 9:14, 9:22 9:28, 10:10, Philippians 2:5-8); Jesus' Resurrection (John 11:25-26, Romans 6:9-11, 10:9-10, John 20, Luke 24, Philippians 3:20-21, John 6:47, 1 Corinthians 15:26, Revelation 1:18); All Authority Given to Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20, Hebrews 1;2, Colossians 1:18, Daniel 7:13-14); Jesus Defeats Devil (1 John 3:8, Acts 10:38, Hebrews 2:14-15, Colossians 1:13, 2:15, John 12:31, John 16:11); Jesus is King of Kings (Revelation 17:14, 19:16, 1 Timothy 6:15, Psalm 136:3)Paul in Areopagus (Acts 17); New Heavens & New Earth (Isaiah 65:17-19, Revelation 21, 2 Peter 3:13); Cain & Abel (Genesis 4); Human Wickedness & The Flood (Genesis 6-9), Abraham Nations/Priests (Genesis 12:3, 17:1-8, 18:18, 22:18, Exodus 19:6, 1 Peter 2:9) Jesus Way,Truth, Life (John 14:6); Believe in Jesus/No Death (John 11:26); Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18, Colossians 1:19-20, Romans 5:8-11, Ephesians 2:13-17); The Incarnation (Philippians 2:5-8, John 1:14, Colossians 1:5, 2:9, Hebrews 1 &2, John 10:30, 14:9); Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23); Jesus Paid Price for Sins (Colossians 1:14, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 2:2, Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24 & 3:8, John 3:16-17, Galatians 3:13, Matthew 20:28, 1 Corinthians 6:20, Romans 8:3); Jesus New Temple (John 2:19–21); We Are Temple of Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Peter 2:4-5, Acts 2, Joel 2:28, John 14:15-31 & 20:19-31); Forgiveness Through Humans (John 20:23); Sheep Gone Astray (Isaiah 53:6); Parable of Lost Sheep (Luke 15); Jesus Good Shepherd (John 10); Powers and Principalities (Ephesians 6, Colossians 2:15, Ephesians 1:21); Father of Lies (John 8); You Are Gods (Genesis 3); Last Will Be First (Mark 10:35-35); Jesus Came to Serve (Matthew 2:28); Others More Important than Self (Philippians 2:3, 1 Corinthians 10:24); Satan Ruler of this World (1 John 5:19, Luke 4:6); Ruler of this World Has Been Judges (John 14:30 & 16:11); Satan Falling From Heaven (Luke 10:17); Prince of World Cast Out (12:31); Lying Smooth Voice, Jeremiah 6:14, Isaiah 30:10); Renewal and Regeneration (Romans 12, Titus 3:5, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ezekiel 26:26, John 3); Wages of Sin is Death (Romans 6:23); Dead in Sins (Ephesians 2:1); God of Justice (Isaiah 30:18, Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 33:4-5, Jeremiah 9:24, Luke 18:7-8, Matthew 12:18); God and Truth (John 17:17, Proverbs 12:22, Psalm 119:160, John 18:37, John 8:31-32; Father's Discipline (Hebrews 12:5-11, Job 5:17, James 1:2, Revelation...
