Quote:
Originally Posted by Godsdrummer
I agree that is the Good message. But how that good message is related to individuals looks different and is a little more than just that you are forgiven. Rather more and two the point how and what is the relation to the kingdom of God.
In fact the Jews were not looking to forgiveness of sins as much as a king, and kingdom. After all their sins were forgiven through the sacrifice of the law, in a manner of speaking.
We cannot get away from the message both Christ instructed his disciples to proclaim and John proclaimed. The kingdom of God has come.
In Acts 2 Peter pointed out two facts, first that what they had received was what Joel had prophesied. Two that the Jesus that they had crucified God had made both Lord and Christ and sat on the throne of David, fulfilling the prophesy made by David of old. Hence we have the preaching of the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Try and get this next statement. These were the ones physically responsible for the crucifixion. When they ask "what must we do" it was in response to that fact. And it was to that fact they were commanded to repent.
Neither to the Samaritans nor the house of Cornelius was this direct command to repent preached rather simply Christ and his kingdom and belief in him. Simply put the Gospel was that Christ had died rose again and his Kingdom had come. And belief in that was entrance into his kingdom. |
I can agree with you, partially, and I like that we are trying to take Scriptures in the proper context. But are you saying that the message of repentance is not an essential part of the preaching of the gospel and entrance to the kingdom of God?
What about the following Scriptures where John the Baptist and our Lord Jesus preached repentance and faith in the gospel?
Matthew 3:2 And saying,
Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say,
Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mark 1:14-15 King James Version (KJV)
14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand:
repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Also, when Jesus gave the Great Commission, did he say that the message of repentance was to be preached ONLY to the crowd in Jerusalem?
Luke 24:46-47 King James Version (KJV)
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that
repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name
among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
J
ust because the word "repent" or "repentance" was not mentioned explicitly when Phillip preached to the Samaritans and Peter to the Gentiles, doesn't mean that they didn't. Jesus's instruction was to preach the same message to all all types of people, everywhere.
Finally, look at this passage in Acts 11. When Peter told the story to his Jewish brothers in Jerusalem, of how Cornelius and his household got saved, they associated repentance with the new birth experience.
Acts 11:17-18King James Version (KJV)
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying,
Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
J
ews, Samaritans, Gentiles all received and obeyed the same plan of salvation, wouldn't you agree?
Now I know this thread is about defining the word gospel. I don't think we can talk about it and not talk about a salvation plan simply because it is "the power of God unto salvation." It's not like we're stretching it to mean something totally different or irrelevant.
Yes, we can all agree that it means good news, and as votivesoul mentioned there are certain elements involved. But for the purpose of this conversation, can we just all agree that it is centered on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
What that means to the Jews and Gentiles, whether as groups of people or as individuals, can probably be worded in several ways, but can we all agree that:
The gospel is God's answer to the problem of sin. It's good news because it provides us a way (the only way in fact) to enter the kingdom of God, and get deliverance from the penalty and power of sin. It involves faith in Jesus Christ, acknowledging Him as Lord, God and King and believing that He has paid the price for our redemption when he died, got buried and rose from the grave.
I could go on and try to "stretch" it to say that involves repentance and the New Birth experience, but I think I have already my point. There are plenty of supporting scriptures to prove that it is the Biblical way of identifying oneself with the gospel. How else can one "obey" it?
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