THE CERTIFIED GOSPEL

The Gospel Paul Certified R.D.Ice

Early Christians used the Fish <")))>< IXTHYS as a symbol of the basic gospel message. Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior. Some still use this symbol today. [It's an acrostic.]

Peter writes in the context of assuring Christians of the hope we have, and of the dangers which face the church. "And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;" 2 Peter 1:19 (NKJV) Petersen in the "Message Bible" words this: "We couldn't be more sure of what we saw and heard—God's glory, God's voice. The prophetic Word was confirmed to us. You'll do well to keep focusing on it. It's the one light you have in a dark time as you wait for daybreak and the rising of the Morning Star in your hearts."

Peter refers to the Transfiguration and the things he and the others witnessed there. Jesus is the Eternal WORD who came in flesh & bone into our world to be the Lamb of God who takes away sin! This is the Good News of the Gospel of how God saves people for eternity!

For God So Loved The World!
First, a glimpse of heaven. [Luke 9:28-31]
Jesus on the mountain - transfigured!
His clothes are dazzling WHITE!
He's locked in discussion with the Big Two.
Moses (the Law), Elijah (the Prophets) -
the two witnesses who speak of Who He Is!
They are talking with Him about how
He will soon fulfill God's Purpose by dying.
The LAMB OF GOD who takes away SIN.

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. . . . No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." John 1:14,18


Paul preached the Certified Gospel of Jesus Christ.
"But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man." Galatians 1:11

We can imagine Paul saying something like this. "The Judaizers say I preach a secondhand gospel, which I have distorted. Let me tell you this is not true! My gospel has no human origin! There is nothing secondhand about my gospel! It was Christ Himself who gave it to me."

Paul is probably thinking of Acts 26:14-19. "But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."

Paul is especially harsh with the Galatians, because the Circumcision Party (Judaizers) had persuaded some Gentiles to abandon Christ. [Paul said in irony: "I would they were even cut off (castrated) which trouble you." Galatians 5:12 ] "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?" Galatians 3:1

Paul preached on Mars Hill that: "Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." Acts 17:31


1. Faith in the Cross on Calvary

The acceptance and belief of Christ shedding His blood and dying for us to provide eternal salvation so that anyone who believes and accepts can be born again in Christ. Since salvation was made complete on the cross on Calvary, it is part of the foundation of the certified gospel faith.

"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" Hebrews 1:3

2. Faith in the Fullness of the Holy Spirit

It is the purpose and hope of the certified gospel doctrine to bring back the faith of the early church Christians, the faith which clearly reflected the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Compare Luke 11:13 "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"

1 John 5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."

Acts 19:2. "He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." Paul immediately questioned their baptism.

Note that we baptize in the NAME of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" Matthew 28:19

Note Paul's benediction. "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." 2 Cor. 13:14 "The grace." This is Paul's most complete benediction. "Grace" is the undeserved salvation which comes through Christ-on-the-cross. "Love" is what God showed in acting through Christ while we were still enemies. "Fellowship" [koinonia - communion] is the joint sharing of the church in the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). A non-Spirit-filled-Christian would be a contradiction in terms. Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." [Note the KJV uses Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit interchangeably. "Ghost" had the idea of "Guest."]


3. Faith in the Spreading of the Gospel to All the World

Those who are born again through the redemption of the cross of Jesus Christ and have received the fullness of the Holy Spirit, will naturally find their faith growing and filling them with a desire to speak to others about HIM. Our devotion to Christ burns like a fire in our hearts!

"Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word." Acts 8:4


4. Faith in the Good God

Some like the Picketers believe that God hates the world. Yet John wrote: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:16-17

Certified gospel faith places absolute faith in a good God, the God who loves us, who not only provided the salvation for us, but continues to bless us. John wrote: "We love him, because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19

"Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him." Psalm 67:6-7


5. Faith in Christ Who Will Return

John wrote: "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." Rev. 1:7

Certified gospel faith is faith which hopes for the New Heaven and the New Earth as stated in the Bible, and which allows the faithful to live in complete devotion to the Lord. Suffering Christian - be brave! Christ is Coming Again!

"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 3:13

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." Rev. 22:12-13

I wrote in the BSNT: Rev. 22:20-21. "I am coming soon! Jesus answers the eager prayer of His Church [the messianic community]. The church of the first century ended each prayer with the words: "Come, Lord Jesus!" May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. John is jubilant as he gives this benediction! He has seen today and tomorrow in the vision, but most important, he has seen the day after tomorrow! He has seen the vision of God’s people in Eternity! So should we all see this! THE VISION OF THE AGES!