Daily Bread_November 5, 2013

Title:  Why the Gospel Matters

Text:

Galatians 1:6-7 (NASB)
⁶ I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;
⁷ which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

Observation:

One thing that has not changed from the 1^st century to the 21^st century is that false teachers are still in the business of perverting the gospel of Christ. Paul had some strong words for those false teachers.

Galatians 1:8 (NASB)
⁸ But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!

You need to read the Bible for yourself, and don't just accept as gospel truth everything you hear.  Paul commended the Jews in Berea who took the time to look into what they heard; they studied the Scriptures to see whether what they heard was the truth.

Acts 17:11 (NASB)
¹¹ Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

Here is the gospel that Paul preached, and the gospel that I believe.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (NASB)
¹ Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,
² by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
⁴ and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel, it matter then, and it matters today. Knowing the truth is of first importance; study the Scriptures so that you will know the truth for yourself.

John 8:32 (NASB)
³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

John 8:36 (NASB)
³⁶ "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Prayer:

Father God, Sovereign Lord, my dear Father, I am so grateful that we have the whole gospel, and that we don't have to look for a new gospel. Father, help me to share it truthfully and faithfully.

Father God, I pray that those who know the story will tell the story to those who have never heard the message of salvation from God's own holy Word. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

I love to tell the story;
'Tis pleasant to repeat
What seems each time I tell it,
More wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story;
For some have never heard
The message of salvation
From God's own holy Word.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/1064#ixzz2jiwr5InY

--

Proverbs 30:5 (ESV)
⁵ Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Psalm 119:11 (ESV)
¹¹ I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/