What is the Gospel?

1 Corinthians 15:3-5-"³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve."

The Greek word for gospel is evangelion and this word literally mean "good news." Their is no other truth that you can hear that will give you more hope and joy than knowing Jesus has conquered death, hell, grave, and judgement and that we sinners who was once fully deserved God's just wrath and who don't even deserve to be in God's presence can now be with Jesus forever. So then, why don't many people see this timeless glorious truth as being "good news?" One reason for this can be found in the bible and it is because Satan has blinded the minds of unbelievers from seeing this truth. The bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:4- "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." Another reason the gospel is not good news to many is they refuse to believe the bad news of sin. The world has done everything in its power to just explain away sin and make light of it. For instance, adultery is now called just having an "affair." But the serious nature of every sin is why Jesus had to come and die. See, it was "Our" sins that nailed our Savior to that Cross and also laid him in that tomb.  But now he is risen from the grave and the Resurrection of Jesus is the receipt, evidence,stamp,  proof that our sins are paid for! This is the best news.

We are Saved by the Gospel-Rom 1:16

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

Paul defines exactly for us what the Gospel is...

The text in 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 gives us the most accurate explanations of what the gospel is. The very basis of the gospel is the death, burial, and the resurrection of Jesus which is all according to the Scriptures. In other words, Jesus death, burial, and Resurrection wasn't  an accident , but it was all planned by God in eternity past and it was all recorded down in his Holy Word years before the events ever even took place.

Godliness and Fearing God

Psalm 128:1-"Blessed is every one that fears the LORD; that walks in his ways."

In this text of Scripture, the Hebrew word for fear is "yare" and it  gives the idea of both a dread and also an idea of awe and reverence. In other words,mixing the two ideas, this text of scripture is saying, blessed is everyone who takes God seriously opposed to just taking him casually. If Jesus is who he said he was-God in human flesh- and if he did what he claimed to do- die for my sins on the Cross when I deserved to die and go to hell  because of my sins and if Jesus really did raise from the dead on the third day to give me eternal life, how can I ever take him casually?

1 Timothy 4:8-"For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."

To define what is godliness let me first define what is ungodliness. Ungodliness is not necessarily committing gross sins such as murdering but it is simply living a life of ignoring God and living as though he doesn't even exists. On the contrary, godliness is to take God seriously and to live a life that is Christ-centered and to live a life that depends , honors, acknowledges God in every facet and area of your life. 

The areas of Godliness include fearing God, loving God, and desiring his presence. Christ has called each of his beloved Saints to walk on this hard road that leads to life. On this walk, we have to guard ourselves from falling into two extremes which we are all at times prone to fall into which are lawlessness or legalism.  The Christian life is a balanced life. Fearing God will keep us from the error of lawlessness and loving God will keep us from legalism.  Loving and fearing God would cause us to desire God more and more. Desiring God is the very heart beat of the Godly person.

Do you desire God?

God promises-"You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

The great desire of the Apostles Paul's heart was "That I may know Him"