The Gospel: start and end HERE

In the Mission Statement (AKA, the first blog post: “Revive”), I stressed “The Gospel” but did not put meat on the bones of what that means. I need to do this–I cannot take for granted that everyone knows what I mean by that. Well, the gospel is as good as it gets(.) Ever. Because it is infinitely that good! Let me explain in lightspeed fashion.

You were a sinner BEFORE you ever sinned; you are also a sinner because you sin. How? It is because you are the offspring of original sinners, imbedded with their nature of disobedience (defying God’s word–in every way– with the same inclination to eat of that tree). To borrow from C.S. Lewis, we are all “sons of Adam and daughters of Eve”. Paradise was lost, death has/had dominion, and our perverse nature has a desire to rebel against the designer: GOD. Continually. Our rebellion is deeper than conscience–with a desire to be our own god by both inward and outward unholiness and independence from Him. We are worse than we think we are…BUT God is far more gracious than man ever dreamed! Before the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8), it was in His plan to chase down his adulterous, runaway, bride—to atone for her sin; his enemy’s sin (Rom. 5:8); ransoming her heart, mind, body, and soul in the resurrection of His very life from the grave. Jesus, the eternal God—begotten not made–became a HOLY HUMAN BEING: living for us, “becoming” our sin, dying our death, satisfying the wrath of God, opposing the very gates of hell, taking heaven by storm with His own good works and applying them to us—making a way when there was no way! This is all because he loves His bride, desires an inheritance of nations, and THIS story brings God supreme glory. All who BELIEVE and are born of the Spirit are heirs of God, co-heirs with Christ, and have the honor of representing Him in this life and the life to come.

His bride are a people of all times and locations who call upon the name of the Lord. They are characterized by a life of faith; believing in the death and resurrection of Christ thru the power of the Holy Spirit that indwells those who believe. YHWH—the only God, He saves to the uttermost because salvation belongs to Him (Rev. 7:10). It is by the blood of THE LAMB (Jesus) and the word of HIS TESTIMONY (Rev. 12:11) that we overcome EVERY tribulation that EVERY believer faces. This is the GOSPEL and it’s magnus opus moment was the cross and empty tomb where Christ ransomed His bride and carried her in his own body. This EPIC Good News still has the power to save those who believe it. This is what I mean by “The Gospel”.