When I was very young, I remember seeing a sign referring to a “Full Gospel Church.”
Now, having been raised in a Presbyterian congregation, I don’t remember much talk about a gospel. But even after I learned what it was, I was having a problem with certain adjectives.
I wondered…if a congregation defined its gospel competency in fullness, did it distinguish itself from others which chose to function only fractionally in that respect? Did half gospel or quarter gospel assemblies actually exist? More importantly, were they the rule rather than the exception?
This was before the internet, of course, so I had no idea who to ask.
While this observation is absurd on at least one level, many pastors today are indeed serving up the Gospel message on dessert size dishes, leaving only enough room for a sweet slice of God’s unmerited grace on the plate. In other words, the Good News of the Bible [εὐαγγέλιον: (yūôngālion) gospel, good news] is being preached with no relevance to the Bible story as a whole.
But dessert doesn’t begin in the middle of the meal.
The Gospel is a story that began at the creation of the heavens and the Earth and continues to this day. As it progresses, it revolves around the eminence of a just and loving Creator and how He used men and women over the ages to open a door to friendship with Him if they so desired.
Jesus Christ isn’t just a Savior to mankind. He’s also an integral part of a Divine process. As the apostle Paul explains in his letter to the churches of Galatia:
“The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the nations shall be blessed in You’...Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law...in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” [vs. 3:8, 13a-14] [my emphasis]
So what does “the blessing of Abraham” have to do with my salvation?
Everything.
[Watch the video “Who Was Abram” https://www.facebook.com/cjournal.me/videos/1901573210057028/]
The Lord God promised Abraham that, through his Seed, Jesus Christ, we Gentiles would also be blessed. That’s why Paul reminded the reader that if he belongs to Christ, then, through Christ, he would also inherit what God promised to Abraham. [vss. 3:27-29] [see also: Rom. 8:16-17]
So I can see that, because Jesus was born, lived and died, He fulfilled the promise given to Abraham. And I can also understand why a full course Gospel meal has to begin with the appetizers.
But if I’m a serious student of the Bible, I can’t help but notice that God’s promise to Abraham has always been the only basis for any hope ever expressed by any author in any of the texts—that is, His promise of inheritance.
[What’s inheritance? see: Birthright Through Redemption]
Any good news recorded in the Scriptures cannot alter that hope. Nor can it omit anything or add to it.
It’s only about who’s now included.
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Last Updated: June 4, 2024 by cjournalme
It’s All About Also.
When I was very young, I remember seeing a sign referring to a “Full Gospel Church.”
Now, having been raised in a Presbyterian congregation, I don’t remember much talk about a gospel. But even after I learned what it was, I was having a problem with certain adjectives.
I wondered…if a congregation defined its gospel competency in fullness, did it distinguish itself from others which chose to function only fractionally in that respect? Did half gospel or quarter gospel assemblies actually exist? More importantly, were they the rule rather than the exception?
This was before the internet, of course, so I had no idea who to ask.
While this observation is absurd on at least one level, many pastors today are indeed serving up the Gospel message on dessert size dishes, leaving only enough room for a sweet slice of God’s unmerited grace on the plate. In other words, the Good News of the Bible [εὐαγγέλιον: (yūôngālion) gospel, good news] is being preached with no relevance to the Bible story as a whole.
But dessert doesn’t begin in the middle of the meal.
The Gospel is a story that began at the creation of the heavens and the Earth and continues to this day. As it progresses, it revolves around the eminence of a just and loving Creator and how He used men and women over the ages to open a door to friendship with Him if they so desired.
Jesus Christ isn’t just a Savior to mankind. He’s also an integral part of a Divine process. As the apostle Paul explains in his letter to the churches of Galatia:
“The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the nations shall be blessed in You’...Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law...in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” [vs. 3:8, 13a-14] [my emphasis]
So what does “the blessing of Abraham” have to do with my salvation?
Everything.
[Watch the video “Who Was Abram” https://www.facebook.com/cjournal.me/videos/1901573210057028/]
The Lord God promised Abraham that, through his Seed, Jesus Christ, we Gentiles would also be blessed. That’s why Paul reminded the reader that if he belongs to Christ, then, through Christ, he would also inherit what God promised to Abraham. [vss. 3:27-29] [see also: Rom. 8:16-17]
So I can see that, because Jesus was born, lived and died, He fulfilled the promise given to Abraham. And I can also understand why a full course Gospel meal has to begin with the appetizers.
But if I’m a serious student of the Bible, I can’t help but notice that God’s promise to Abraham has always been the only basis for any hope ever expressed by any author in any of the texts—that is, His promise of inheritance.
[What’s inheritance? see: Birthright Through Redemption]
Any good news recorded in the Scriptures cannot alter that hope. Nor can it omit anything or add to it.
It’s only about who’s now included.
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