SPELLING EDITED

E-7. What is the TRUE GOSPEL of Jesus CHRIST?

What is the true gospel of Jesus Christ? Let us see what Jesus himself taught us in the New Testament of the Bible. For you see, the TRUE Gospel IS what Jesus taught his disciples which they wrote down and recorded for us to read in the entire New Testament of the Bible under the New Covenant. Now, there are many opinions on what is the true gospel! So which OPINION can we trust? Are you willing to take the chance of you trusting any of those opinions with YOUR eternal life at stake? What if your church denomination is teaching you only PART of the Gospel? For you see, you can be reconciled to God by ONLY believing PART of the gospel. So then, you do not believe the FULL Gospel of Jesus Christ, then that could cause you to NOT receive eternal life in the world to come. A brother in the Lord wrote to me saying that the true Gospel is to be poor in spirit. And to be poor in spirit is the CORE truth of what every person NEEDS to have first in order to even SEEK to be saved. For you see, or for an example, if you are poor in health, as in, sick and dying, then that means you NEED to be healed. But if you do not SEEK the HELP you need, then you will not be healed. And very similar to taking STEPS to be healed, there are STEPS we take to being SAVED. So then, the first step to being saved is to be poor in spirit, which to me means to know and understand that you can not save YOURSELF and that you NEED a Savior.

Now, what this brother has said is a good analogy and I agree with him that a person who is still yet spiritually dead in their sins needs to know that they NEED a Savior. And I agree with him that a person can NOT save themselves by their own good works. But again, this is only PART of the WHOLE Gospel of Jesus Christ. As I said a moment ago, the TRUE Gospel is the ENTIRE New Testament which is the NEW Covenant written in the New Testament of the Bible. And therefore, it is not SOUND Biblical teaching to quote certain selected verses of Scripture and make that claim that those few verses are the GOSPEL of salvation. A dear brother in the Lord wrote to me just recently calling me a heretic and that I do not know what the gospel is. He quoted 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and dogmatically demanded that the gospel is DEFINED in these four verses of Scripture. Let us take a moment and read those four verses of Scripture out of the context first before we read some more of what the gospel truly is because Paul does not stop declaring the gospel after verse 4. But rather, Paul corrects the Christians at Corinth for not keeping in memory the REST of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and wherein you stand; 

2.  By which also you are saved IF you KEEP in memory WHAT I preached unto you unless you have believed in vain. (Please notice that it is possible for Christians to believe in VAIN to not receive eternal life in the world to come IF we do not keep in memory what the Apostle Paul received from our Lord Jesus Christ)

3.  For I delivered unto you FIRST OF ALL that which I also received, (In other words, there are different PARTS of the same true gospel of Jesus Christ. For you see, Jesus is BOTH the author or the beginner of our faith and the FINISHER of our faith, according to Hebrews 12:2. So verse 3 and 4 here are just the FIRST PART of the true gospel of Jesus Christ) how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; 

4.  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:”

Can you not see that the many different church denominations INTERPRET the Scriptures differently and they teach different gospels on how to be saved. So HOW can we know which gospel is the TRUE gospel?

Well for me, I have chosen to search the Scriptures for myself to see if what the many church denominations are teaching agrees perfectly with what the Bible ITSELF teaches us. In other words, YOU can take the time to read and study the entire New Testament for yourself as I did. Or you can read this IN-DEPTH study in God's word and then WEIGH all the sound Scriptural evidence for yourself to see which gospel best fits the WHOLE word of Almighty God. Here is some really good advice directly from the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Please read Acts 17:11.

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

 In other words, PROVE for YOURSELF by reading and studying the Bible for yourself to see whether or not what you are being taught is the truth of the whole word of God. And I am sure all will agree that there can only be ONE true gospel of Jesus Christ. And most will agree that there are different PARTS to the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Keep reading and you will see what I mean by the gospel having different parts.

Let us begin this study in God’s word by reading the words of Jesus himself at the BEGINNING of his ministry. The heading in my Bible says The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Remember that Jesus is the author or the beginner of our faith and ALSO the FINISHER of our faith, according to Hebrew 12:1-10. There is a beginning of our salvation and then there is the actual receiving the END of our salvation, according to 1 Peter 1:3-9. So as you can clearly see, there are more parts to the whole gospel than just our initially being reconciled to God through faith in the shed blood of Jesus. The Greek word “sozo” which is often translated as saved, has many meanings, according to my Strong's Exhaustive concordance, and one of the meanings is the be in the RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God. So when we are initially saved when we first believe we are forgiven of all our past sin and reconciled to God to be in a right relationship with God. And the BEGINNING of our BEING saved does NOT require any work of our own. But the receiving of the END of our faith is indeed CONDITIONAL. In truth, the literal meaning of the phrase “you shall be saved” found in Romans 10:9 LITERALLY means “you shall be BEING saved”.

To learn more about the true gospel of Jesus Christ let us start at the beginning of the gospel of Jesus. Also, you can read all the studies under the heading >>>CAN WE LOSE ETERNAL LIFE?<<<

But for now, please read Luke 4:14-21.

“And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. (The first thing we see is that Jesus was ANOINTED with power and authority by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel)

15.  And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. (Next, we see that Jesus TAUGHT the word of God)

16.  And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. (Then we see that Jesus READ directly from the Scriptures)

17.  And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 

18.  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 

19.  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Here we see an outline of the many aspects of the true gospel of Jesus Christ. In other words, the true gospel is the FULL gospel as opposed to only part of the gospel)

20.  And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 

21.  And he BEGAN to say unto them, This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears.” 

In this last statement in verse 21, we can see that there is more to preaching the gospel just one time and that we must also teach the word of God, READ the word of God, and then by the leading of the Holy Spirit, CORRECTLY interpret the Scriptures. Jesus interpreted Isaiah chapter 61, but Jesus ONLY read the first TWO verses. Jesus only FULFILLED the first two verses at his FIRST coming. So PART of the true gospel is that Jesus is coming again. This is important to know when witnessing to the Jews because they are looking for their Messiah who is coming as a King to deliver them. We will talk more about this later, but for now, I want you to see and understand the basic CORE teaching of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ that Jesus and his Apostles teach us in the New Testament under the New Covenant. Keep in mind that the prophecies were written to the Jews FIRST and then God turned the gospel of salvation to the Gentiles. The Jews understood that the prophecies in the Old Testament foretold of a MESSIAH that will come who would be ANOINTED by God.

Isaiah 61:1,2.

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD has ANOINTED me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 

2.  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;”

Jesus had just returned from the wilderness where he was led by the Holy Spirit right after his baptism in the River Jordan by John the Baptist where the Holy Spirit descended from heaven to rest or remain on Jesus and where the voice of Almighty God came from heaven was heard declaring to Jesus, You are my beloved Son, in you, I am well pleased.

Luke 3:21-23.

“Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, AND praying, the heaven was opened, 

22.  And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, You are my beloved Son; in you, I am well pleased. 

23.  And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,”

It was AFTER Jesus was ANOINTED with the Holy Spirit that Jesus BEGAN his ministry to preach the gospel that he was given by God to preach.

And part of the gospel given to Jesus to preach was to REVEAL to the Jews that he was the one that the Scriptures PROPHESIED to come to save the people from their sins. Now, the Jews as a whole were not looking for their Messiah to redeem them from their sins, but rather, they were looking for a Messiah to rescue them from their enemies and to restore the kingdom of God on the earth. Even the disciples of Jesus were still wondering when Jesus was going to deliver them from their enemies and restore the kingdom even after Jesus showed himself alive forevermore for forty days after his resurrection.

Please read Acts 1:1-9.

“The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus BEGAN both to DO and TEACH, (Here we see that the true gospel of Jesus Christ is more than just preaching and teaching. The true gospel is ALSO DOING the works Jesus did through the eternal Spirit dwelling IN him to EMPOWER him to not only overcome sin but also to heal the sick and cast out devils. Jesus BEGAN the gospel and made it possible for his disciples to be filled with the Holy Spirit and power to continue to preach, teach and DO the gospel of Jesus Christ.)

2.  Until the day in which he was taken up, after that (Or after Jesus ascended bodily into heaven right before the eyes of his disciples) he THROUGH the Holy Ghost had given commandments (Instructions, or teachings) unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 

3.  To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 

4.  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, says he, you have heard of me. 

5.  For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Later we will see that teaching the baptism of the Holy Spirit is also a part of the FULL gospel of Jesus Christ) 

6.  When they, therefore, were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (The disciples of Jesus were still wondering about the REST of the prophecy in the Scripture and the promise of God to deliver them from their enemies and restore the kingdom to his people Israel to rule? So this also is a PART of the whole gospel of Jesus Christ)

7.  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in his own power. (Basically, Jesus is saying Do not concern yourself with the times and season of when I will return to deliver Israel from her enemies. It does not concern your generation. But rather OBEY what I am teaching you to wait until you be endued with power from on high when the Holy Spirit descend upon you to dwell in you so you will be empowered to be witnesses unto death for the sake of the gospel)

8.  But YOU shall receive power, AFTER that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: (This is a VITAL part of the true gospel of Jesus Christ that has been neglected and even rejected by some church denominations) and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 

9.  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.”

Let us fast forward to the when the day of Pentecost was fully come and see what the FIRST gospel message preached by the church of Jesus Christ teaches us and then we will come back to what Jesus taught to us in John chapter 3. The church actually began on the day of Pentecost when the 120 followers of Jesus were filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues or other languages other than their own language. It was when they were being MOCKED by those hearing and seeing them saying that they were drunk when Peter stood up boldly to preach the very FIRST gospel message of the church and 3000 souls were saved by their hearing and believing that first gospel message.

Please read Acts 2:12-42.

“And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What means this? 

13.  Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. 

14.  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, You men of Judaea, and all you that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you and hearken to my words: (Here we see that we, as disciples of Jesus, are to be bold to stand up against those who mock the truth of God’s word to SHOW them from the word of God that what Jesus teaches was prophesied long before Jesus was ever born)

15.  For these are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 

16.  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; (Showing people that Jesus FULFILLED the prophecies concerning his first coming brings FAITH to them to believe that he is returning to pour out his wrath upon those who REJECT the gospel of Jesus Christ)

17.  And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 

18.  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: (The LAST days actually BEGAN on the day of Pentecost with the EARLY rain of the Holy Spirit. There is also prophesied a LATER rain or pouring out of the Holy Spirit at the END of the last days)

19.  And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: 

20.  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: (The great and notable day of the Lord is speaking of the RETURN of Jesus with Almighty God. You can read the studies I have on the end time prophecies to gain a sound Biblical understanding of what is coming upon the world. This is a part of the gospel to the world that is ignorant of what is happening in the world even in our present day, the fall of 2017)

21.  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (This is a two-fold or dual prophecy which some have taken out of context to preach a misleading “partial” gospel of Jesus Christ. I say misleading because some hear the gospel of grace alone and wrongly understand that once they accept Jesus as their personal savior then they are eternally saved and thus they sincerely believe that no matter what they do or not do they can never lose their salvation. Please read the study “IS ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED BIBLICAL?” What this verse truly means is that whosoever calls upon Jesus to be saved in that they will not be rejected. They will be saved, but there is more to be saved than just the first initial STEP of having all our PAST sins forgiven us to be reconciled to God. The truth of the whole matter is that we MUST endure unto the END in order to receive the END of our salvation which is eternal life in the world to come.)

22.  You men of Israel, hear these words; (Here we see that FAITH comes by HEARING the gospel of Jesus Christ. Faith can also come by hearing a FALSE gospel but faith in a FALSE gospel will not save a person. But hearing THESE words spoken by Peter in the FIRST gospel message of Jesus Christ will save those who BELIEVE these words. So let us HEAR these words of the first gospel message.) Jesus of Nazareth, a MAN approved of God (Not God approved of himself but rather a MAN who was ANOINTED of God whom God bore witness) among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by (Or through) him in the midst of you, as you yourselves also know: 

23.  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, (Meaning what happened to the Son of man Jesus was PROPHESIED to happen) you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (So part of the TRUE gospel to be saved or reconciled to God is to believe that Jesus as the fully HUMAN ANOINTED Son of MAN was crucified and SLAIN on the cross shedding his blood for the remission of the sins of the world)

24.  Whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be held of it. (Another part of the gospel of reconciliation is to believe that God resurrected Jesus from the dead and gave the Son of man eternal life to be having in himself even as the eternal Father has always possessed immortality in himself. And that this PROMISE of our partaking of the divine nature of immortality is given to us as a PROMISED based on the CONDITION of if we ENDURE unto the end to be saved. In other words, another PART of the TRUE gospel is to teach the TRUTH that there is a receiving the END of our salvation which is our reward of eternal life in the world to come and to rule and reign with Jesus over the mortals on the surface of the earth during the 1000 year reign of Jesus. And thus, any Christ can lose their eternal life by denying Jesus to take the mark of the beast or back returning to live in a lifestyle of sin)

25.  For David speaks concerning him, (Here we see the importance of showing the written word of PROPHECY concerning the first coming of Jesus that have already been fulfilled. This is a mighty part of the gospel to bring faith to the ignorant of the world that claims Jesus was just a mere prophet of God but he is not the Messiah. What Peter is doing here is showing the Jews that it was PROPHESIED that Jesus would come first to suffer and died for the SINS of the people. He is showing them that they crucified their own Messiah and that God raised him from the dead as the absolute proof that Jesus is the one prophesied to come) I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 

26.  Therefore, did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover, also my flesh shall rest in hope: 

27.  Because you will not leave my soul in hell, neither will you suffer your Holy One to see corruption. 

28  You have made known to me the ways of life; you shalt make me full of joy with your countenance. (The words spoken by King David were speaking OF Jesus and TO Jesus. In other words, as Jesus read the Scriptures he learned through the Holy Spirit bearing witness to him that the Scripture spoke of HIM as being the one prophesied to come. The words of prophecy also speak to US who have received and believed the Scriptures that Jesus is the WAY to eternal life and that Jesus has the words and teachings that lead the WAY to eternal life in the world to come)

29.  Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. 

30.  Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ (An ANOINTED man who he would glorify) to sit on his throne; 

31.  He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ (The resurrection of the ANOINTED Son of MAN, Jesus), that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 

32.  This Jesus has God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (Now, if someone challenges you that you yourself were not an EYEWITNESS and they require more evidence by saying that you need to have some extra-Biblical evidence to teach to them to bring them faith then I have a study for them. For you see, some people need physical evidence other than the Bible that they can see before they will believe. Please read the study “HISTORICAL EVIDENCE FOR JESUS!”)

33.  Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he has shed forth this, which you now see and hear. (Speaking in tongues, among many other things, are also a SIGN to the unbelievers. So after Peter got the attention of the Jews, he basically explains the Scriptures to them revealing their TRUE meaning. You see, the Jews are expecting the patriarch David to come and be their king to deliver them from their enemy. They completely read right over the prophecies of the SUFFERING Messiah. So some sects of the Jews did not even believe in a resurrection. Thus, depending on who you are witnessing to, will dictate WHAT you need to share with them to get their ATTENTION first. And for the Jews and the Muslims, this gospel message is an attention-getter. But the CORE of Christianity is also in this gospel message that Jesus is the one PROPHESIED in the Scriptures to suffer and die on the cross for the sins of the world and that God raised him from the dead and he is ascended into heaven awaiting his return to set up His kingdom on the earth)

34.  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he says himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit you on my right hand, 

35.  Until I make your foes your footstool. 

36.  Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly, (This teaches us that we need to keep showing evidence from the Scriptures to the people we are preaching the gospel until the ones we are preaching the gospel KNOW ASSUREDLY the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ) that God has made that same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 

37.  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men, and brethren, what shall we do? (Now when the gospel of Jesus Christ is received and believed there is MORE that follows which we must TEACH those desiring to know more about how to be saved and forgiven of their sins)

38.  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (So the FIRST STEP to being saved is to be reconciled to God by understanding that you need to be saved and you want to be saved. After this point, they must REPENT, be remorseful of all their past sins and confess that they believe that Jesus is the Christ, the anointed of God, the Son of the living God. That Jesus suffered and died on the cross and God raised him from the dead. After they received Jesus as their personal savior then they need to be taught the Scriptures concerning being baptized in water. Now some receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit the very moment they believe in their heart that Jesus died for their sins and they repent. But in truth, the receiving of the gift of the Holy Spirit is received by ALL the moment they BELIEVE they are forgiven of all their past sins. However, there is an overflowing fullness of the overflowing submersion of the Holy Spirit coming upon a believer where the believer speaks with other tongues. And this baptism of the Holy Spirit is not always received by all believers at the moment they are saved or reconciled to God. Please read the studies I have on the Holy Spirit and speaking in other tongues)

39.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 

40.  And with many OTHER words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. (From other Scriptures we know that the disciples of Jesus WARNED the unsaved of the coming WRATH of God. But using FEAR is only one approach to the preaching of the gospel of salvation. Now, Calvinism wrongly believes that there is nothing anyone can do to save themselves. But the Bible itself teaches us that salvation is CONDITIONAL and requires ACTION on our part to respond to our hearing of the TRUE gospel which teaches that water baptism and true REPENTANCE is a part of BELIEVING the TRUE Gospel)

41.  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (Perhaps all 3000 were baptized that same day. But I know that I myself was saved for many months before I ever read in the Bible to be baptized in water. And then it took me about another month to get baptized in water. And then it was another month or two that I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. My point is that I know that I know that I was saved from the very moment that I received Jesus as my personal savior and asked him to forgive me of all my sins. So the many OTHER words that were taught and exhorted may have taken months before they were all baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. So another PART of the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ is to teach new Christians that they must OBEY the teachings of Jesus under the New Covenant written in the New Testament as they learn and understand what is required for us to obey)

42.  And they CONTINUED steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

So as you can see there is MUCH MORE to the FULL gospel of Jesus Christ than the INITIAL message that brings a person to a saving FAITH. Before we go back to the words of Jesus on, we MUST be BORN-AGAIN, let us take a look at the difference of being RECONCILED TO God and the receiving the END of our salvation.

Please read 2 Corinthians 5:14-21.

“ For the love of Christ constrains us (Or holds us together); because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: (Here we see that God has concluded ALL the human race under sin and guilty or worthy of death. See also Romans 11:23 and Galatians 3:22. So part of the gospel of reconciliation is to show the unsaved that they are dead in their sins and the only way to be made alive from their spiritual death and separation from God is to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ by first believing that they NEED to be saved before they can serve God in righteousness.)

15.  And that he died for all, that they which live (Or they who believe unto reconciliation to God) should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (So another part of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to live a godly life after one is reconciled to God) 

16.  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: (Therefore we no longer serve our old man of the flesh) yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, (Even though we may have given into our old nature of the flesh after we have known Jesus) yet now henceforth know we him no more. (Let us keep striving to not please our flesh. In other words, we need to teach Christians that they are NO LONGER sinners. There are some churches that wrongly teach their followers that they are filthy sinners saved by grace and that they are destined to keep on sinning and there is nothing they can do about it because it is human nature to sin.)

17.  Therefore if any man is IN Christ, he is a NEW creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new. (So another part of the gospel is that the moment we accept Jesus as our savior we become a NEW creation in Jesus Christ. In other words, the very moment we first believe we are made PERFECT in the eyes of God. Our faith in the shed blood of Jesus washes us clean so that the Holy Spirit can come and dwell IN us to endue us with power to do the same works Jesus did through the eternal Spirit dwelling in him including living our lives without sin. Please read the study “HOW TO LIVE YOUR FREE FROM SINS!”)

18.  And all things are of God, who has RECONCILED us to himself BY Jesus Christ, (So the true gospel of reconciliation to God is by FAITH and NOT by our own good works of righteousness) and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (Or every believer has the ministry of preaching the gospel of RECONCILIATION or the gospel of Jesus Christ on HOW to be saved, as in, being placed in a RIGHT relationship with Almighty God and his Son Jesus. Not all believers are given the gift of teaching, being a pastor and so forth, but every believer should be sharing their own personal testimony to lead others to Jesus. You may only bring one to saving faith directly but your testimony will have an effect on everyone who hears it. Some plant and some water but it is God who gives the increase.)

19.  To wit, that God was IN Christ, (Here we see that the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ is to witness or testify to others that God DWELT IN Jesus) RECONCILING the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; (This means that when one first believes in Jesus ALL their past sins are cast away into the sea of forgetfulness never to be remembered against those who believe ever again. They are JUSTIFIED just as if they had never sinned. They are RECONCILED to God or placed in a RIGHT relationship with God and his Son Jesus) and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (Or God has committed the preaching of the gospel of reconciliation to all believers)

20.  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be you reconciled to God. (Or in the name of Jesus we have the authority to assure you that you are reconciled to God and all your past sins are forgiven you. And we are teaching you to continue to be RECONCILED to God by CONFESSING any sin you may commit in your walk with God in the way of salvation.)

21.  For He (Speaking of Almighty God) has made him (The Son of man Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

So then, when a person believes the gospel of Jesus Christ to repent of their sins they are saved, as in, they are RECONCILED to God, placed in a right relationship with God, all their past sins have been forgiven and they have been cleansed to be made the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God by being IN Jesus Christ. Being IN Jesus Christ means that we are RESTING IN HIS sacrifice for our sins BELIEVING that God has, indeed, forgiven us of all our sins and has made us PERFECT in his eyes. In other words, a person can hear just a small PART OF the true gospel to be INITIALLY saved. But that small part does not mean that a Christian is believing the FULL Gospel. So again the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ is the FULL Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So when Jesus said to be you PERFECT even AS your Father in heaven is PERFECT this is what Jesus means. We are to REMAIN in this perfect state of HIS righteousness by confessing our sins quickly rather than trying to explain them away. And each time we confess a sin that we may commit after we were first reconciled to God, Jesus is making intercession for us before God so that we are again RECONCILED back to God being made PERFECT in God.

Please read Hebrews 2:14-18.

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Here we see that the shedding of the blood of Jesus was necessary to deliver mankind from the power of Satan who had the power of death and who still holds some in bondage through fear and unbelief.)

15.  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 

16.  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 

17.  Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. (So Jesus is now in heaven ever living to make intercession for us when we become tempted to sin) 

18.  For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to succor (Or help and strengthen) them that are tempted.”

In 1 John 2 we read that we are NOT to sin but if we do sin then we have an advocate or a lawyer or a mediator between us and God to make intercession for us so that when we CONFESS our future sin we can be assured that he is FAITHFUL and JUST to forgive us and CLEANSE us of our sins.

1 John 2:1-6.

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin NOT. And IF any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 

2.  And he is the propitiation (The atonement, the ONLY sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (The true gospel of Jesus Christ is for the WHOLE world. God loves the whole world. Even while we were yet SINNERS Jesus died for us. And another part of the gospel is to teach people to NOT sin and IF they do then confess their sin immediately and be RECONCILED to God.)

3.  And hereby we do know that we know him IF we keep his commandments. (So one of the inner witnesses to KNOW that you are truly saved is that your new heart, the inner man, wants to please God. This does not mean that you will stop sinning immediately after you accept Jesus as your savior, but rather that God places in you a DESIRE to stop sinning)

4.  He that SAYS, I know him, and keeps NOT his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (Sadly there are some Christians in name only who THINK they are saved but they do not OBEY the teaching of Jesus in the New Testament under the New Covenant to pursue a godly and righteous life.)

5.  But whoso keeps his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 

6.  He that said he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 

Did Jesus walk in sin? NO, he did not! So how did Jesus walk? He walked without sin as our EXAMPLE to FOLLOW his steps which is Jesus did NOT sin. Sadly, some churches do not preach this part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But rather, they wrongly teach that once you accept Jesus as your Savior then you can never lose your salvation no matter what you do or do not do. However, the Bible ITSELF clearly teaches us that we must OBEY the commandments of Jesus in order to receive eternal life in the world to come. Please read the studies under the heading >>>CAN WE LOSE ETERNAL LIFE?<<<

Now let us go back to the words of Jesus by first reading WHO will be saved. 

Please read Matthew 24:11-13.

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 

12.  And because iniquity shall abound, (And because sin will be around you all the time TEMPTING you) the love of many shall wax cold. (Or the love and zeal of many who once hated sin will grow cold and return back to obeying their flesh)

13.  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

Here we see the WARNING that because sin will be all around us that some will grow cold and that ONLY those of us who REMAIN FAITHFUL unto the END to not grow cold will be saved, as in, RECEIVE the END of our salvation which is eternal life. Again please read the study “IS ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED BIBLICAL?”

But for now, please read Romans 2:1-8.

“Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, (This shows us that all of mankind is condemned UNTIL they believe in his Son Jesus as their personal Savior AND Lord. There is no exception and no EXCUSE) whosoever you are that judge: (People compare themselves with others thinking that they are good people or at least better than others) for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you, that judge do the same things. 

2.  But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 

3.  And think you this, O man, that judge them which do such things, and doest the same, that you shall escape the judgment of God? 

4.  Or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Some Christians like the Mormons or LDS church and the Jehovah’s Witnesses are deceived into THINKING that they must clean themselves up first before they can be worthy enough to be forgiven and accepted of God to receive His grace and mercy. And other people in the world are being deceived that they are good enough and do not need a Savior)

5.  But after your hardness and impenitent heart treasures up unto yourself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 

6.  Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 

7.  To them who by patient continuance in well-doing SEEK for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: 

8.  But unto them that are contentious, and do NOT obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation, and wrath,”

So then a part of the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ that has been neglected and some church denominations even reject to be taught, is that in order to receive eternal life in the world to come we must KEEP ourselves in the LOVE of God by walking in OBEDIENCE to the commandments of Jesus under the New Covenant written in the New Testament. For those of you who are not yet seeing this truth, I implore you to read the study “IS ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED BIBLICAL?”. Also, BEWARE of Christians who ADD the OLD Testament Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, which the Apostle Paul calls ANOTHER gospel. Ephesians 2:15 and many other verses of Scripture make it BLATANTLY clear that we are NOT to keep the Law of Moses contained in ordinances. Please read all the studies under the heading >>>WHAT IS THE TRUE SABBATH?<<<

Now, back to the words of Jesus teaching that we must be BORN AGAIN in order to SEE the kingdom of God and ENTER the kingdom of God.

John 3:1-18.

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 

2.  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him. 

3.  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, (Or truly, truly) I say unto you, Except a man be BORN AGAIN, he cannot SEE the kingdom of God.  (Or understand the kingdom of God, or understand spiritual things)

4.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 

5.  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot ENTER into the kingdom of God. 

6.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

7.  Marvel not that I said unto you, You MUST be BORN AGAIN. 

8.  The wind blows where it lists, and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it comes, and whither it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (Here we see that being born AGAIN is being BORN OF the SPIRIT, There is a natural birth being born of the flesh from our mother womb and there is being born AGAIN of the Spirit of Almighty God)

9.  Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 

10.  Jesus answered and said unto him, Are you a master of Israel, and know not these things? 

11.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen, and you receive not our witness. 

12.  If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 

13.  And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 

14.  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so, must the Son of man be lifted up: 

15.  That WHOSOEVER BELIEVES in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (Here we see HOW we become born-again to receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit so we can SEE or understand the spiritual things in the kingdom of God. In other words, a person must first BELIEVE that Jesus is the Son of God who suffered and died for their sins so that they can be made free from the penalty of sin. That is the first STEP of BEING saved. Yes, we are saved INSTANTLY, as in, we are made PERFECT but now we must REMAIN PERFECT. And the only way to do that is to never sin again OR repent and CONFESS our sins quickly if we sin again after we are first saved.)

16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

17.  For God sent NOT His Son into the world to condemn the world; (The true gospel is the LOVE of God not taking any pleasure in the death of the wicked and how God desires that ALL men should be saved) but that the world through him might be saved. (But God is tired of the boasting of men, the pride of men and the excuses of men. Therefore, God has concluded ALL of mankind under sin so that HE can be the one who saves us THROUGH the sacrifice of his Son Jesus as the ONLY WAY to be saved. In other words, we are the WORKMANSHIP of Almighty God the Father working together with His HUMAN Son who He ANOINTED to His Holy Spirit and POWER to accomplish that task of OBEYING all of the WILL of his God and Father even to die on the cross for the sins of the world. And)

18.  He that believes on him is NOT condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, BECAUSE he has NOT believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

So then, all that God is asking mankind is to BELIEVE on his Son Jesus as the ATONEMENT of their sin so that there will be no more boasting and pride and excuses for not being able to live a godly life.

Thus, the FIRST STEP of salvation is to become BORN-AGAIN, a NEW creature created IN Jesus Christ so that we become GOD’S workmanship and not our OWN workmanship. And HOW we are born-again of the Spirit is BY our faith IN the word of God. So people get the wrong idea that that must FEEL saved before they can KNOW that they are saved. But that is NOT what the Bible itself teaches us. We KNOW we are saved by BELIEVING the WORD of Almighty God. So then since God saves we ARE saved when we believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God then that means we ARE SAVED. So REST in JESUS as your Savior and you will have that PEACE that Jesus promised to give all who come to him. Please read the study “HOW YOU CAN HAVE PERFECT PEACE!” and “HOW CAN I KNOW IF I AM TRULY SAVED?”

Please read 1 Peter 1:18-23.

“Forasmuch as you know that you were NOT redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 

19.  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 

20.  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 

21.  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 

22.  Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently: 

23.  Being BORN AGAIN, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, BY the word of God, which lives and abides forever.” 

We are born again BY the word of God obeying the true gospel of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit opening our eyes to see and understand the TRUTH of God’s LOVE toward us while we were yet sinners deserving the penalty of death. And we are KEPT by the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ which is the POWER of God.

Please read 1 Peter 1:3-7 and Romans 1:15-17.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again (Or being born again of the Spirit) unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

4.  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, 

5.  Who are KEPT by the power of God through FAITH unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

6.  Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 

7.  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it is tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

Romans 1:15-17.

“So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 

16.  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for IT (The GOSPEL of Jesus Christ) is the POWER of God unto salvation to everyone that BELIEVES; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 

17.  For therein (Or for faith IN the TRUE gospel) is the righteousness OF God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

So we see that through our faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ living from faith to faith we are being KEPT by the POWER of God, his word which we BELIEVE unto the end of our faith which is the salvation of our souls and the redemption of our bodies.

In other words, the true gospel of Jesus Christ is that we must FIRST be BORN-AGAIN to be RECONCILED to God by FAITH in the shed blood of Jesus that atoned for our sins. That is the INITIAL first step of our faith whereby we are saved by faith alone and not of works lest there be BOASTING.

Next comes the WALK of our FAITH. We walk from FAITH to FAITH unto the END of our salvation of actually RECEIVING our reward of eternal life in the world to come. One meaning of walking from faith to faith is that when we overcome in one trial of temptation we need to keep walking in that VICTORY to strengthen our FAITH when another trail of temptation comes along. In order to receive eternal life we must OBEY the TWO commandments of Jesus THROUGH the power of the Holy Spirit. Our faith in the TRUE gospel of reconciliation is that any future sin we commit after we are initially saved MUST be repented of and CONFESSED to God and then BELIEVED that it is forgiven.

Then there is the power of the gospel where we BELIEVE that we can and will live free from sin. Please read the study “HOW TO LIVE YOUR LIFE FREE FROM SIN!” and the study “WITHOUT HOLINESS NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD!”.

Here is the brief outline without the Scriptures of how to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

#1. Pray.

Ask God to show you the words to say.

Ask God to open YOUR eyes of understanding of what THEY need to hear.

Ask God to open their eyes of understanding.

Ask God to open doors of opportunity. 

Ask God to give you boldness to obey the leading of his Holy Spirit to share the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ to others.

#2. Do your best to discern the direction the Holy Spirit is leading you as the means of getting the attention of the one you are sharing the gospel.

For example, you may find that the one you are going to witness to is interested in what is happening in the world today. Or God may open a door of opportunity and he or she may ask you a question that will lead to a conversation about God.

#3. If no door opens and or you do not know of any interests they have, then simply be a friend to them and ask them a question.

The question can be about anything but have some kind of plan to turn the conversation toward God. It can be about what is going on in the world, the severe weather, the corrupt governments, the violence, and killing.

Eventually, ask them about their faith. What do they believe? Do they believe in God? Do they believe is a higher power? Are they an atheist? Do they have another religion? Are they a Mormon or a Jehovah’s Witness? Are they fearful of what is happening in the world? Ask them if they were to die suddenly without any notice would they go to heaven?

#4. By the answers they give to you will open the door or the DIRECTION that you are to continue your conversation with them.

In other words, you will have an opening to share the gospel and a direction to go. If you find they want to know what is going on in the world today then take the KINGDOM gospel approach. Share your joy that this present world will be ending very soon. You do not have to be an expert on the end-time prophecies. All you need is a few verses that you can share by your memory of the coming of Jesus to save his people and Jesus executing the wrath of God upon all who have rejected his Gospel of salvation.

If they ask what do you mean, then your door is opened to share the truth that only those who BELIEVE in Jesus as their savior will escape the coming wrath of God. After you have their attention they will want to know more. So be ready to share how you came to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ to be saved and now that you are saved, you are looking forward to your Lord’s return.

If they share their faith that they are a Mormon or a Jehovah’s Witness and they say that they are Christian do not argue that they are not Christian. Rather, ask them if they KNOW that they ARE saved and that they will, without fail, go to heaven and receive eternal life in the world to come. Chances are they will say no and they are not sure but they HOPE they will go to heaven. THEN you can share the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.

#5. If you know that the person you are sharing the gospel with is not SURE if they will be saved but they HOPE that they will then share the Scriptures that teach us that we can be assured that we ARE saved. Talk them through the ROMAN ROAD gospel of FAITH and CONFESSION of our faith unto salvation. Follow the Roman road gospel of grace which is to read the following verses of Scripture to the one to whom you are witnessing. Let them read the verses as well. Take your time. Witnessing is not a race to get them saved in sixty seconds or less. Make sure they understand each verse of Scripture BEFORE moving on to the next verse.

Romans 1:20,21 “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” 

Get them to see that NO excuse for not accepting God’s so great a salvation will be accepted by God on the Day of Judgment.

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.” 

Get them to understand that we all have sinned at one time or another and that because of pride and boasting God has concluded all of mankind under sin no matter how righteous a person may be.

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

Get them to understand that Jesus died for the whole world making it possible for WHOSOEVER BELIEVES in God’s love to give us a so great salvation. You may want to show them John 3:16-18 that those who do NOT believe are condemned ALREADY BECAUSE of their OWN rejection of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

Show them that God gives us only two choices. We have the freedom to choose life or death but God is pleading with us to choose life. Feel free to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to show them other verses in the Bible IF you know where they are and you can find them quickly. But always come back to the Roman Road Method and continue on.

Romans 10:9,10. “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.” 

Show them that being saved is easy as believing in your heart that Jesus suffered and died for their sins and that God raised Him from the dead and when they confess with their mouth what they believe in the heart they will be saved or reconciled to God being justified just as if they had never sinned! 

Romans 10:13. “For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” 

Show them that the name of Jesus is the ONLY named given among mankind whereby we MUST be saved. Jesus is the ONLY way to receive eternal life in the world to come.

#6. After you see that they are ready to pray the “sinner’s prayer” help them form a simple prayer asking God to forgive them of all their sins. And then ask God to help them live the rest of their life pleasing to him.

#7. Make plans to meet again and talk some more about God’s word.

A.    Given them a Bible or help them pick one out.

B.    Encourage them to read and talk to God every day as they would talk to their best friend.

C.    Meet with them regularly. You can invite them to your church. If they decline help then find a good church that they can feel welcome. If they are not ready for the church scene then make sure you keep in touch.

#8. Continue to pray and believe God that they will continue in the faith to endure until the end.

A.    At the times you meet with them give them MORE of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

B.    Share about baptism in water.

C.    Share about being filled or being baptized with the Holy Spirit.

D.    Share all the benefits that come with being a child of God.

E.     Help them to become rooted and grounded in the truth by helping them to learn how to study God’s word for themselves.

Please feel free to use any study that I have here at AMatterOfTruth.com to help them grow in their faith. At the top of the homepage, you will find Bible subjects between three arrows >>>BIBLE SUBJECT<<<. Just click on the subject or topic you desire and you will find all the studies that I have on that particular subject. So by sending that one LINK to someone you desire to share the true gospel of Jesus with, then they will have LINKS to all my other studies on THAT PARTICULAR subject. For example, let us say that a person you witnessed the gospel received Jesus as their Savior and you may never see them again. Give them something to FEED their faith. Give them my website address AMatterOfTruth.com or a subject heading such as >>>WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?<<< which has many studies on spiritual GROWTH after a person is initially saved. Now, if you converted a Christian from some FALSE teaching then you would, obviously, choose a different subject heading for them to read and study.

Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you are faithful to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. May God give you boldness and open doors of opportunity wherever you go.

Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,

Brother Mark.

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