The Gospel of Christ

THE gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every one that

believes it. (Rom. 1:16.) Men and women are saved by the power that inheres

in the gospel. The power isnot in the preacher, but in the gospel that he preaches. When the gospel is

preached. Christians are made; when no gospel is preached, there are no

Christians made.

The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel of Christ. (Rom. 1:17.)

Jesus Christ is the author of the gospel of Christ. Paul said: "But I certify you.

brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I

neither received it of man. neither was I taught it. but by the revelation of

Jesus Christ." (Gal. 1:11. 12.) Preachers today should be sure that what they

preach is the gospel of Christ, and that they do not receive it of man. Jesus

Christ is the author, not Moses or David or some other man. "How shall we

escape, if we neglect so great salvation: which at the first began to be spoken

by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him?" (Heb. 2:3.)

We are further taught to look "unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith:

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the

shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb. 12:2.)

Jesus commanded the apostles to preach the gospel to every creature.

(Mark 16:15. 16.) The seed of the kingdom is the word of God. (Luke 8:11.)

This good seed must be planted in good soil. The good soil is honest hearts.

When the seed is planted in this good soil, a good crop is produced. The

inspired Paul says that we are begotten by the gospel. (1 Cor. 4:15.) The same

thought is expressed by Peter when he says: "Being born again, not of

corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God. which liveth and

abideth for ever." (I Pet. 1:23.) "Of his own will begat he us with the word of

truth." (James 1:18.)

There are three fundamental facts of the gospel of Christ. (1 Cor. 15:1-4.)

First. Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures: second, he was

buried: third, he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Facts

cannot be obeyed, but they can be. and must be. believed. We believe the

facts of the gospel. These basic facts were proclaimed for thefirst time on the first Pentecost after the death, burial, resurrection, and

ascension of Jesus Christ. This took place in the city of Jerusalem. "Out of

Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Isa.

2:3.) In our search for the truth this is one way of finding the true church. Any

church that had its beginning at any other place than Jerusalem, and its time

of beginning any other time than Pentecost, could not be the New Testament

church. Jesus said to his apostles just before he was taken up that "repentance

and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations,

beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:47.) Please note that word beginning. He

further said upon the same occasion: "And, behold, I send the promise of my

Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with

power from on high." Luke 24:49.) In another account of the same incident

Luke says: "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that

they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father,

which saith he, ye have heard of me." (Acts 1:4.)

Thus did the apostles tarry in the city of Jerusalem until the day of

Pentecost. Then for the first time the basic facts of the gospel of Christ were

preached. When the gospel is thus preached, it causes men to believe that

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Then they will want to know what they must

do to be saved. Thus it was on Pentecost. "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?" (Acts 2:37.) These believers in Christ

were told to "repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus

Christ for the remission of sins." (Acts 2:38.) This is in exact accord with what

Jesus said should be preached, beginning at Jerusalem. Thus we have the

three outstanding commands of the gospel of Christ. First, we must believe

that Jesus Christ is theSon of God (Acts 16:31); we must repent of our sins (Acts 17:30); and we

must be baptized for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38). Jesus Christ gave

every one of these commands. To be saved we must obey his commandments.

If we believe the facts of the gospel and obey the commands of the gospel,

we then can enjoy the promises of the gospel. Just as we have three

outstanding facts and three outstanding commands, so there are three great

promises to be enjoyed. First, we are promised the remission of our sins. How

sweet the promise! How it is enjoyed by those who have met the stipulated

conditions of pardon! Too many are wanting to enjoy the promises without

obeying the commands. We learn from Acts 8 of a man who was taught the

facts of the gospel, and then he obeyed the commands. What followed? "And

he went on his way rejoicing." (Acts 8:39.)

God gives the Holy Ghost to them that obey him. (Acts 5:32.) The Holy

Ghost dwells in the heart of every Christian. On the birthday of the church

Peter held out two promises to all who would believe and obey. They were

promised the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38.) The

gift of the Holy Ghost is not the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Even if we never

did understand exactly what the gift of the Holy Ghost is, we are promised

remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost if we obey the commands of

the gospel. God will perform faithfully his part. We should do our part.

And we are promised life eternal. "And this is the promise that he hath

promised us, even eternal life." (1 John 2:25.) We shall realize the enjoyment

of this promise at the end of a faithful Christian life. Jesus Christ is not only

the author of the gospel, but "being made perfect, he became the author of

eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Heb. 5:9.) Lord, help us all

to obey him.