What is the Gospel?

[Rival]

I think the Gospel of Jesus is that sins are forgiven.

Jesus wasn't necessary for this before.

 

[PruePhillip]

The romans subjected the christians to brutal persecution for centuries and much of their scriptures were burnt down and theologians killed.

After finally accepting christianity, they compiled and editted the christian scriptures as per their sensibilities and declared as heretical all others which differed from roman editted christian scriptures.

This is enough evidence for me that the original christian scriptures has been trampled with, and what is available is just a much editted version of the original christian scriptures.

This could also be a reason for its seeming incoherence at present, imo.

The Gospels and Epistles were widely read, memorized and copied.
The Tanakh, or Old Testament, speaks of the Coming Redeemer of Israel, including His own crucifixion (ie Psalm 22 & 69, and Isaiah 53)
and that He will be believed upon of the Gentiles, but rejected of the Jewish nation. Paraphrasing here - 'and it will be told to a people not
yet born, that He has done this.' Now why would God allow this record to be destroyed?

 

[viole]

Mainly aimed at Christians but open to everyone.

What is the gospel message? If someone asked you 'What is the good news?' What would you say?

It is a proposal you cannot refuse.

Ciao

- viole

 

[PruePhillip]

It is a proposal you cannot refuse.

Ciao

- viole

But... most do. In fact only a small minority truly accept its standards.

 

[InChrist]

Hmm. Thats not correct. It says Ho Thanatos which means death, then it says Kai which means "and". So death and Hades were following him. They are mentioned separately.

I just want to know how you interpret it, though I can say Hades does not mean death in this verse because it separates them with with "and".

I would interrupt it to mean that physical death will come upon one fourth of the earth’s population, then those departed souls will be in Hades awaiting final judgement...

The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Rev. 20:13

 

[firedragon]

I would interrupt it to mean that physical death will come upon one fourth of the earth’s population, then those departed souls will be in Hades awaiting final judgement...

The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Rev. 20:13

Hmm. Thanks.

 

[InChrist]

Hmm. Thanks.

You’re welcome. Have a good day.

 

[firedragon]

The Gospels and Epistles were widely read, memorized and copied.

When was that?

 

[ElishaElijah]

Mainly aimed at Christians but open to everyone.

What is the gospel message? If someone asked you 'What is the good news?' What would you say?

This is the Gospel:
“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,”
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭15:1-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

 

[metis]

This is the Gospel:
“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,”
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭15:1-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

That's fine as a "sidebar", but here's the Gospel mandate:
[35] And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him.
[36] "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"
[37] And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
[38] This is the great and first commandment.
[39] And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
[40] On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."

 

[ElishaElijah]

That's fine as a "sidebar", but here's the Gospel mandate:
[35] And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him.
[36] "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"
[37] And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
[38] This is the great and first commandment.
[39] And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
[40] On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."

Nope, not a sidebar, no one is saved by works, it’s a gift from God not of works lest any man should boast. Not only that, you can’t do those 2 commandments unless you are born again through Jesus Christ.

 

[metis]

Nope, not a sidebar, no one is saved by works, it’s a gift from God not of works lest any man should boast. Not only that, you can’t do those 2 commandments unless you are born again through Jesus Christ.

Well, then Jesus supposedly must have not have told James : Thus, also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:14–17)

What you are conflating with the above is works under Jewish Law [halacha].

In Jesus' Parable of the Sheep & Goats, he makes it VERY clear that doing the works that Jesus taught us to do is essential. IOW, sitting back and thinking only p.c. beliefs is the antithesis of what Jesus taught.

 

[ElishaElijah]

Well, then Jesus supposedly must have not have told James : Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:14–17)

What you are conflating with the above is works under Jewish Law [halacha].

In Jesus' Parable of the Sheep & Goats, he makes it VERY clear that doing the works that Jesus taught us to do is essential for salvation.

There are 2 Types of works and they are here in this verse:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:8-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The first works which you noted as being the gospel is not the gospel (the 2 greatest commandments).
The second works- we are His workmanship ( works that James is talking about) is the result of a changed life in Christ Jesus and these works are done with different motives.

 

[metis]

The second works- we are His workmanship ( works that James is talking about) is the result of a changed life in Christ Jesus and these works are done with different motives.

Which are still considered "works" as James used the term, and so did Paul:
Rom.2[6] For he will render to every man according to his works.

2Cor.12[12] The signs of a true apostle were performed among you in all patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.

Eph.2[10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 

[ElishaElijah]

Which are still considered "works" as James used the term, and so did Paul:
Rom.2[6] For he will render to every man according to his works.

2Cor.12[12] The signs of a true apostle were performed among you in all patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.

Eph.2[10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

The OP question was, What is the Gospel? The Gospel is not works but a gift by grace according to God’s mercy.

“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
‭‭Titus‬ ‭3:4-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬


“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

 

[viole]

But... most do. In fact only a small minority truly accept its standards.

Which means that Jesus died for nothing. Well, to be precise, had the Passover weekend off for nothing.

So, let us have a management digest of the history of the Universe:

1) God created the Universe and the pinnacle of His creation, men and women, with the intention of them being perfect. or on His image, at least
2) Man and woman, apparently, screwed up almost immediately. Which would immediately raise questions about their perfection
3) Because of that, God had to change roadmap. Suddenly, what looked so good, turned into being really bad. Which would immediately raise questions about God's planning skills
4) God got so desperate about His own work that He decided to reboot (like other suboptimal designs like Windows). A universal deluge will surely solve things
5) It did not. Obviously. Like Einstein would say, a clear sign of stupidity is to do the same things while expecting a different outcome.
6) So, He decided to change strategy. He suddenly find some use for a third of Him. Send Him down and get Himself moderately killed to save humanity
7) That did not work, either, as you say

So, what should a moderately rational skeptic think about that, assuming she does not die from laughing first?

Ciao

- viole

 

[firedragon]

The OP question was, What is the Gospel? The Gospel is not works but a gift by grace according to God’s mercy.

“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
‭‭Titus‬ ‭3:4-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬


“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Who wrote Titus?

 

[ElishaElijah]

Who wrote Titus?

You’ll have to start your own thread, that’s off topic.

 

[firedragon]

You’ll have to start your own thread, that’s off topic.

If you don't know who even wrote it, why do you quote it?

That is why it's relevant.

Cheers.

 

[ElishaElijah]

If you don't know who even wrote it, why do you quote it?

That is why it's relevant.

Cheers.

Be happy to answer in a different thread but the whole Bible is authored by God who spoke through people by the Holy Spirit. So I will quote all of the relevant Scriptures to answer the question What is the Gospel?