God has a plan

What is the gospel? Last week Pastor Leo of Valley Christian Fellowship addressed that. This week, I’d like to build on his article.

When asked about the gospel, most folks answer in typical ways. Some equate the Gospel with music, and certainly gospel music is huge today. Others say; “the books of the bible”, and that’s true, the Gospel narratives are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Others say; “the Gospel is the truth.” That too is correct, but we live in a society where truth has become relative to any given situation. Others respond with the Gospel is “the Good News.” Again, that’s correct. But just what is the good news of the Gospel? The Apostle Paul summarized the Gospel in a letter to the Corinthian church.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

Paul wrote that to a group of Christians living in a pagan city. They had given their lives to Jesus, but they had gotten off track. So, Paul reminded them about the foundations of their faith, the gospel.

He wrote how he preached the gospel to them, and they embraced it. When the gospel message is embraced, that’s gospel saves us from the sin that separates us from God.

So, Paul reminded the Corinthians of what the Gospel is all about. First, the gospel says. “That Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures.” The entire bible, Old and New Testaments speak about God’s plan to intervene on behalf of people. As we draw near to Good Friday and Easter, we remember how Jesus went to the cross to atone for our sins, where he died and was buried. But death could not hold him, so as Paul wrote, “he rose from the dead, according to the scriptures.” This is Paul’s gospel, and that is the only gospel.

All of the law (the commands), and all of the prophets proclaimed that God had a plan. And all the New Testament speaks about that plan.

With the gospel proclaiming Jesus’ resurrection, so whoever trusts in him, will have victory over the great unknown, death itself. Because he lives, those who believe in him are delivered not only from sin, but they too will raise to ever lasting life.

As we draw near to the time of year that we celebrate all Christ did, I encourage you to take time to investigate the evidence for the gospel. Read your bible, go to church, and find out about this gospel and how, by the gospel, anyone can be made right with God.

Pastor Rich Lammay is senior pastor at High Sierra Fellowship. For more information, visit www.hsfellowship.org