Basic Definitions of the Gospel

Here are more basic definitions of the gospel I have found while surfing on the internet. What is your opinion about them? Do you have a basic definition of the gospel I could add to my list?

allsufficientgrace
The Gospel is not the news that we’re okay. It’s not the news that God is love. It’s not the news that Jesus wants to be our friend. It’s not the news that he has a wonderful plan or purpose for our life. …the gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ died on the cross as a sacrificial substitute for sinners and rose again, making a way for us to be reconciled to God. It’s the news that the Judge will become the Father, if only we repent and believe.

Dennis Griffith
Gospel means “good news.” The good news is: you are more sinful and flawed than you ever dared believe yet you can be more accepted and loved than you ever dared hope at the same time because Jesus Christ lived and died in your place. As the apostle Paul said, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Urban Ekklesia
The Gospel -- actually all of Scripture -- is a story of relationship with the major parts & players being: God, a rebellious creation, His redeeming work, and His redeemed people. It's the story of God's mission to redeem creation and restore His Reign.

FYI
You can see an updated list of all the basic definitions I have posted so far here on Google Docs.

Titles for Jesus in the Bible

I came across the list below on Ray Comfort's blog Atheist Central. Ray responds to the questions and comments of atheist on his blog. You might find it worth your time to check out.

Adam, the Last (1 Cor. 15:45)
Advocate (1 Jn. 2:1)
All & in All (Col. 3:11)
Almighty (Rev. 1:8)
Altogether Lovely One (Song of Sol. 5:16)
Amen (Rev. 3:14)
Anchor (Heb. 6:19)
Ancient of Days (Dan. 7:9-11 with Rev. 1:13-16)
Angel [of the Lord] (Gen. 16:9-14; Gen. 48:16)
Anointed, His (Ps. 2:2). See also Messiah.
Apostle (Heb. 3:1)
Arm of the Lord (Isa. 53:1)
Alpha & Omega (Rev. 1:8; 21:6)
Author (Heb. 12:2)
Balm of Gilead (Jer. 8:22)
Beginning (Col. 1:18)
Begotten (One and Only – John 3:16)
Beloved (Eph. 1:6)
Bishop of your souls (1 Pet. 2:25)
Blessed and only Potentate (1 Tim. 6:15)
Branch (Isa. 11:1; Jer. 23:5; Zech. 3:8; 6:12; Rev. 11:1)
Bread (John 6:32-33; 6:35)
Bridegroom (Mt. 9:15; Jn. 3:29; Rev. 21:9)
Bright & Morning Star, see Star.
Brightness of His (God's) glory (Heb. 1:3)
Captain of their salvation (Heb. 2:12; Josh. 5:4)
Carpenter['s son] (Mt. 13:55; Mk. 6:3)
Chief[est among ten thousand] Song of Sol. 5:10)
Child, [the young] (Isa. 9:6; Mt. 2:8-21)
Chosen of God (Lk. 23:35)
Christ (Mt. 1:17; Mk. 8:29; Jn. 1:41; Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:23)
Comforter (Isa. 61:2; Jn. 14:16)
Commander (Isa. 55:4)
Consolation of Israel (Lk. 2:25)
Corn of Wheat (Jn. 12:24)
Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20; see also Isa. 28:16)
Counselor (Isa. 9:6; Isa. 40:13)
Creator of all things (Col. 1:16)
Daysman (Job 9:33)
Dayspring from on high (Lk. 1:78)
Day Star (2 Pet. 1:19). See also Bright & Morning Star.
Deliverer (Rom. 11:26)
Desire of all nations (Hag. 2:7)
Door [of the sheepfold] (Jn. 10:7, 9)
Emmanuel (Mt. 1:23; see also Isa. 7:14; 8:8)
End, see Beginning & the End. End of the Law (Rom 10:4)
Express image of His (God's) person (Heb. 1:3)
Faithful Witness (Rev. 1:5; 3:14; 19:11)
Faithful & True (Rev. 19:11)
Father of Eternity (Isa. 9:6)
Fellow of God (Zech. 13:7)
First & the Last (Rev. 1:17)
First begotten of the dead (Rev. 1:5)
Firstborn Firstfruits [of them that slept] (1 Cor. 15:20, 23)
Foundation (Isa. 28:16; 1 Cor. 3:11)
Fountain (Jer. 2:13; Zech. 13:1)
Forerunner (Heb. 6:20)
Friend of sinners (Mt. 11:19; Lk. 7:34)
Fullness of the Godhead (Col. 2:9)
Gift of God (Jn. 4:10; 2 Cor. 9:15)
Glory of God (Isa. 60:1)
God (Jn. 1:1; Mt. 1:23; Rom. 9:5; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 1:8)
Good Master (Mt. 19:16)
Governor (Mt. 2:6)
Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14)
Guide (Ps. 48:14)
Head (even Christ) (Eph. 4:15)
Heir of all things (Heb. 1:2)
Helper (Heb. 13:6)
Hiding Place (Isa. 32:2)
High Priest (Heb. 3:1; 7:1)
Holy Child (Acts 4:30)
Holy One [& the Just] (Acts 2:27; 3:14)
Hope of Israel (Jer. 17:3)
Horn of salvation (Ps. 18:2; Lk. 1:69)
I AM (Jn. 8:24, 58)
Image of [the invisible] God (2 Cor. 4:4; Col. 1:15)
Intercessor (Heb. 7:25)
Jehovah (Isa. 26:4; 40:3)
Jesus (Mt. 1:21)
Judge (Micah 5:1; Acts 10:42)
Just One (Acts 7:52)
King (Zech. 14:16)
Kinsman (Ruth 2:14)
Lamb [of God] (Jn. 1:29, 36; 1 Pet 1:19; Rev. 5:6, 12; 7:17)
Last, see First. (Rev. 22:13)
Lawgiver (Isa. 33:22)
Life (1 Jn. 1:2)
Light (Jn. 12:35)
Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5)
Lord [& Savior] (1 Cor. 12:3; 2 Pet. 1:11), see also Master.
Man (Jn. 19:5; Acts 17:31; 1 Tim. 2:5). See also Son of Man.
Master (Mt. 8:19)
Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5)
Merciful High Priest (Heb. 2:17)
Mercy Seat (Rom. 3:24-25)
Messiah (Dan. 9:25; Jn. 1:41; 4:25)
Mighty God (Isa. 9:6; 63:1)
Minister of the Sanctuary (Heb. 8:2)
Nazarene (Mk. 1:24)
Nobleman (Lk. 19:12)
Offering (Eph. 5:2; Heb. 10:10)
Offspring of David (Rev. 22:16). See also Root.
Ointment poured forth (Song of Sol. 1:3)
Omega. See Alpha & Omega.
One and Only Son, see Son. (John 3:16)
Passover (1 Cor. 5:7)
Peace, our (Eph. 2:14)
Physician (Mt. 9:12; Lk. 4:23)
Plant of Renown (Ezek. 34:29)
Potentate, Blessed and only, see Blessed Prince [& a Savior] (Acts 3:15; 5:31)
Prophet (Acts 3:22-23)
Propitiation (1 Jn. 2:2; 4:10)
Power of God (1 Cor. 1:24)
Priest (Heb. 4:14)
Quickening (life-giving) Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45)
Rabbi (Jn. 3:2; Mt. 26:25; Jn. 20:16)
Ransom (1 Tim. 2:6)
Redeemer, Redemption (Isa. 59:20; 60:16; 1 Cor. 1:30)
Refuge (Isa. 25:4)
Resurrection & the Life (Jn. 11:25)
Righteousness (Jer. 23:6; 33:16; 1 Cor. 1:30)
Rock [of offence] (Deut. 32:15; 1 Cor. 10:4; Rom. 9:33; 1 Pet. 2:8)
Rod (Isa. 11:1)
Root (Rev. 22:16)
Rose of Sharon (Song of Sol. 2:1)
Sacrifice (Eph. 5:2)
Same, the (Heb. 1:12)
Sanctification (1 Cor. 1:30)
Savior [of the world] (Lk. 1:47; 2:11; 1 Jn. 4:14)
Second Man, see Man.
Seed of Abraham (Gal. 3:16, 19)
Seed Servant (Isa. 42:1; 49:5-7; Mt. 12:18)
Shadow of a great Rock (Isa. 32:2)
Shepherd ( 1 Peter 5:4)
Shiloh (Gen. 49:10)
Son (Isa. 9:6; 1 Jn. 4:14)
Sower (Mt. 13:37)
Star (Num. 24:17)
Stone (Psalm 118:22)
Sun of Righteousness (Mal. 4:2)
Surety (Heb. 7:22)
Teacher (Mt. 26:18; Jn. 3:2; 11:28). See also Master.
Tender Plant (Isa. 53:2)
Testator (Heb. 9:15-17)
True Bread, see Bread.
Truth (Jn. 14:6)
Vine (Jn. 15:1, 5)
Way (Jn. 14:6)
Wisdom [of God] (1 Cor. 1:24, 30)
Wonderful (Isa. 9:6)
Word (Jn. 1:1)

Gospel Quote - The Correct Focus

Sinclair Ferguson
"This first thing to remember, of course, is that we must never separate the benefits (regeneration, justification, sanctification) from the Benefactor (the Lord Jesus Christ).

The Christians who are most focused on their own spirituality may give the impression of being the most spiritual ... but from the New Testament's point of view, those who have almost forgotten about their own spirtuality because their focus is so exclusively on their union with Jesus Christ, and what He has accomplished, are those who are growing and exhibiting fruitfulness. Historically speaking, whenever the piety of a particular group is focused on OUR spirituality that piety will eventually exhaust itself on its own resources.

Only where our piety forgets about ourself and focuses on Jesus Christ will our piety nourished by the ongoing resources the Spirit brings to us from the source of all true piety, our Lord Jesus Christ,"

CC Bucuresti Group Pose

This photo was taken today after church. Unfortunately some people had already left but it gives you an idea of what are little fellowship is like. Pace (peace).

Best Gospel Posts of the Week

Below are the best blog posts and articles I could find on the web this past week, September 20-26, regarding the gospel and understanding it.

• Gospel (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) - Jesus Creed
• Sin is Like Excrement Covered in Whipped Cream - Real Christianity
• The Gospel - Soli Deo Gloria
  
• The Sinlessness of Christ by R.C. Sproul - CampOnThis
  
• What is the Good News of the Gospel? - Real Christianity
  
• What is the Gospel by Dr. Henry Ironside - Fundamental Christianity
  
• What is the Gospel?-Tying It All Together - Greg Gilbert- 9Marks
• Response to Greg Gilbert - Jesus Shaped Spirituality
  

Bible References Now Automatically Linked

Thanks to blogger Adrian Warnock I found out that Logos Bible Software has made RefTagger available to use on websites and blogs so that Bible references can be automatically linked so that when you mouse over the links a pop-up window will appear with the verse(s). The Bible versions available so far are NIV, NLT, ESV, NKJV, and KJV. You can check out my blog post Descriptors of the Gospel in the Bible from Thursday to see how it works. Pretty cool!

From the Logos' RefTagger page:

Transform your website with RefTagger!

RefTagger is a free web tool that automatically turns all of your Bible references into hyperlinks to the passages at BibleGateway.com. RefTagger can also add an icon that is hyperlinked to the passage in Libronix and a tooltip window that displays the passage when you hover over the reference. So if your website says, "My favorite verse in the Bible is Romans 8:28," RefTagger will instantly turn it into this: "My favorite verse in the Bible is Romans 8:28."

Your readers will be able to have immediate access to any of the Bible passages that you mention. All you need to do is copy the customizable code that we provide for you below and paste it into your website's template file(s), and it will instantly be applied to your whole site—all past and future content! Because RefTagger uses JavaScript, it doesn't make any changes to your site's files. If you decide to remove RefTagger from your site, it's as simple as deleting the code from your template file(s).

Best "Living the Gospel" Posts of the Week

Here are the best blog posts and articles I came across this past week, September 18-24, on the web.

• Are You Cruciform? - The Cruciform Life Blog
• Does Grace Cancel Holiness - Messianic Jewish Musings
• Gospel Diagnostics - Kaleo Church San Diego
  
• One Anothering- (Part 1) (Part 2) - The Cruciform Life Blog
• Reflecting Christ's Light - Kingdom People
• Re-Thinking Worship, Part 2 - Losing My Religion
  
• Soul Man, Spirit Man - Cerulean Sanctum
• The Depths of Community - The Assembling of the Church
  

Descriptors of the Gospel in the Bible

With the use of e-Sword, a great free bible study software program for PC's, I went through the New Testament and looked up all the instances of the words "gospel" and "good news" in the NKJV. I made a list of all the words nearby that were used to describe them. Below is what I found. I also looked through the NT for other words used instead of "gospel" and "good news" but meaning the same thing. I would expect there are more of them so if you know of any please let me know and please include the Bible verses. If you would like to know the Bible verses where I found these descriptors you can find them here.

Gospel
1. of God - Mark 1:14, Romans 1:1, Romans 15:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:2,8,9,1 Peter 4:17
2. God's - 2 Corinthians 11:7
3. of the blessed God - 1 Timothy 1:11
4. of the grace of God - Acts 20:24
5. of Jesus Christ Son of God - Mark 1:1
6. of Christ - Romans 15:19; 1 Cor 9:12; 2 Cor 2:12, 9:13, 10:14; Gal 1:7, Phil 1:27, 1 Thess 3:2
7. of our Lord Jesus - 2 Thessalonians 1:8
8. of His Son - Romans 1:9
9. of the glory of Christ - 2 Corinthians 4:4
10. of the kingdom - Matthew 4:23, 9:35, 24:14
11. of peace - Ephesians 6:15
12. of your salvation - Ephesians 1:13
13. not man's - Galatians 1:11
14. word of the gospel - Acts 15:7

Good News
1. of a great joy - Luke 2:10
2. of peace through Jesus Christ - Acts 10:36
3. kingdom of God - Luke 4:43, 8:1, 16:16; Acts 8:12
4. about Jesus - Acts 8:35

Other Descriptors Found
1. eternal - Revelation 14:6
2. glorious - 1 Timothy 1:11
3. law of liberty - James 1:25, 2:12
4. message of reconciliation - 2 Corinthians 5:19
5. message of salvation - Acts 13:26
6. mystery of Christ - Colossians 4:3
7. power of God for salvation - Romans 1:16
8. wisdom of God – 1 Corinthians 1:24
9. word of the cross – 1 Corinthians 1:18
10. word of faith - Romans 10:8
11. word of life - Philippians 2:16
12. word of truth - Ephesians 1:13
13. word of the truth - Colossians 1:5
14. word of God - Acts 6:7, 8:14,11:1,12:24,13:46,17:13; Col 1:25, 1Thes 2:13,1Peter 1:23
15. word of Christ - Romans 10:17, Colossians 3:16
16. word of the Lord - Acts8:25, 13:48-49; 15:35-36; 16:32; 19:10,20; 1Thes 1:8; 2Thes 3:1; 1Pe 1:25

These words tell us a lot about how the writers of the NT viewed and understood what the gospel was. In the future I will write out a summary of what I learned from meditating on these words and what they say about the gospel. I would encourage you to do the same. If you do I would love to hear from you.

The Meaning of "Gospel" in Jesus' Day

The Greek word in the New Testament for gospel is euangelion. At the time of Jesus it was not used in a religious context but rather in the context of war and kings. Most often it was a proclamation by a messenger to announce good news on behalf of a king. When a king would come to power he would send out messengers to proclaim the “good news” of his new reign or if he had gained victory over an enemy he would send out the “good news” or if a son had been born to him he would send out messengers with the “good news”. The word was also used of the reports of “good news” when an army would have victory in battle over an enemy.

This understanding fits well with what Mark wrote in the first chapter about what Jesus proclaimed after being baptized and spending forty days being tempted by Satan in the desert.

14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to 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, and believe in the gospel.” NKJV

Jesus was telling them that He had been sent by the Father to proclaim the “good news” that God was now going to fulfill His promise to restore His reign and rule over all of creation. So based on this “good news” He told them to turn from their rebellious and idolatrous ways back to God and put their faith, their trust in this “good news”.

Basic Definitions of the Gospel

I continue sharing basic definitions of the gospel that I have come across on the internet. What are your thoughts and comments on the three below?

Jacob Hantla
At the heart of the message of the Bible is the good news that God reconciled fallen mankind to Himself through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ His Son.

Martin Luther
At its briefest, the Gospel is a discourse (story) about Christ, that he is the Son of God and became man for us, that he died and was raised, that he has been established as a Lord over all things…This is the Gospel in a nutshell.

N. T. Wright
The gospel is the good news that the crucified and risen Jesus is the Messiah of Israel and therefore the Lord of the world.

FYI
You can see an updated list of all the basic definitions I have posted so far here on Google Docs.

First 3D Movie in Romania

Today Florin, his son David and I, along with Sorin, a friend of Florin's from Severin, who took the photo, went to see the very first 3D movie ever in Romania, Journey to the Center of the Earth. The cinema at the Plaza Mall here in Bucuresti is the only cinema in Romania with a 3D projector. We went at the cheapest possible time as the ticket prices vary according to the day of the week and time of day and if it is the first two weeks of showing. The price for a ticket for me was 23 RON which is about $9. With the price of movies nowadays I don't go often so it is a special treat when I go.

When I first came to Romania in late 1997 the cost of a ticket was less than a dollar in the coal mining town I lived in. The sound was terrible, there was no heat in the building so we had to dress warm and people smoked in the cinema. Times have changed! One nice thing in addition to the price back then was you could bring in your own drinks and snacks. Not sure what the policy is today but the cost of drinks, popcorn and snacks at the cinema is probably close to what it is in America. I was real thirsty when we got to the cinema today so I bought a half liter diet Coke for 6 RON, almost $2.50! First time I ever bought something at the cinema here and probably the last.

We really enjoyed the movie, it was a great to be able to experience the 3D technology. I don't think it ever flinched as much at a movie as I did this one. Even though you know it's not real it is hard not to react when something seems to be coming directly at you. The subtitles in Romanian really stood out as 3D which added to the sense of depth to the movie itself.

I look forward to seeing other movies in the future that take advantage of this 3D technology. I wonder what they could have done with a movie like the "Passion of the Christ" with this technology?

Gospel Quote - Redeeming Love and Retributive Justice

J.I.Packer
The gospel tells us that our Creator has become our Redeemer. It announces that the Son of God has become man 'for us men and our salvation', and has died on the cross to save us from eternal judgment. The basic description of the saving death of Christ in the Bible is as a propitiation, that is as that which quenched God's wrath against us by obliterating our sins from His sight. God's wrath is His righteousness reacting against unrighteousness; it shows itself in retributive justice. But Jesus Christ has shielded us from the nightmare prospect of retributive justice by becoming our representative substitute, in obedience to His Father's will, and receiving the wages of our sin in our place. By this means justice has been done, for the sins of all that will ever be pardoned were judged and punished in the person of God the Son, and it is on this basis that pardoned is now offered to us offenders. Redeeming love and retributive justice join hands, so to speak, at Calvary, for there God showed Himself to be 'just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus'.

From chapter 18 of Knowing God

Best Gospel Posts of the Week

These are the best blog posts and articles about the gospel that I came across this past week, September 13-19.

• Getting the Gospel Right - Classical Arminianism
• Judgment and Glory - theoBlogian
• Repentance in the Gospel - An Extraordinary Bison
  
• The Therapeutic Gospel: Part 1 - Boundless Webzine
  
• What is the Gospel? - Sze Zeng's Life
  
• What is the Gospel? Two Conversations - 9Marks
• What is the Gospel? Used Two Ways - 9Marks

Men's Fellowship Fishing Trip

Men's Fishing Trip 09-08 from William Anderson on Vimeo.

Here are some photos and video clips from our men's fellowship overnight fishing trip on September 12-13 to a private lake about 35 km outside Bucuresti. Some "fishing humor" at the end.

You can check out the photos used in the video plus a few extra here.

Best "Living the Gospel" Posts of the Week

Below are the best articles and blog posts I came across this past week, September 11-17, on how to live out the gospel as followers of Jesus.

• Ever the Cross - Gospel-Driven Church
• Grace Alone is Essential to Christianity - The Spurgeon Blog
• Jerry Bridges Preaches the Gospel to Himself - Challies
• The Biblical Gospel is the Only Cure for Idyllic Christianity -
  Miscellanies on the Gospel
  
• The Christian's War with Ambition - Jesus Shaped Spirituality
• The Journey - Losing My Religion
• The Sovereignty of God - Gospel-Centered Musings
  

Best Gospel Posts of the Week

This post is a bit late due to the fact that I was extremely busy last week, sorry about that. Below are the best articles and blog posts that I came across on the web during the week of September 6-12.

• Adoption - theoBlogian
  
• An Introduction to the New Testament - (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3)
• Creation: God Speaks Man into Existence - The Gospel Life
  
• Evangelicalism is Cross-Centered - Gospel Driven Blog
  
• Not Ashamed of the Gospel - New Creation Person
  
• Religion vs. Gospel...What's the Difference? - Study-See-Savor
• The Gospel Message - Baptist Bible Hour
  
• The Message of Galatians - Gospel Driven Blog
• To Believe in God - Rivers of Living Water
  
• What It Means When Christians Say, "Jesus is Lord!" - The Scriptorium Daily
  

Basic Definitions of the Gospel

Here are some more basic definitions of the gospel that I have come across on the internet. What would you add, subtract or change? What is your basic definition of the gospel?

K.B. Glenn
The Gospel is the news that Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, died for our sins and rose again, eternally triumphant over all his enemies, so that there is now no condemnation for those who believe, but only everlasting joy.

Mark Dever
The good news is that the one and only God, who is holy, made us in his image to know him. But we sinned and cut ourselves off from him. In his great love, God became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross, thus fulfilling the law himself and taking on himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would ever turn and trust in him. He rose again from the dead, showing that God accepted Christ's sacrifice and that God's wrath against us has been exhausted. He now calls us to repent of our sins and to trust in Christ alone for our forgiveness. If we repent of our sins and trust in Christ, we are born again into a new life, an eternal life with God.

Tracy Johnson
The good news, the gospel, is that Jesus has exchanged our sinfulness and our shame for His righteousness. Faith in Him and His power to do this for us both provides eternal life for us and gives us the pathway to life in the here and now...right here and right now. That is good news.

FYI
You can see an updated list of all the basic definitions I have posted so far here on Google Docs.

Gospel Quote - Shattered for Our Sake

Joe Coffey
A couple of months went by and I finally picked up the Keller CD and listened to it as I drove. Before long, I found myself sitting alone in my car, fighting back the tears. Keller was connecting the dots: Christ’s relationship with his Father was shattered so that mine might be made whole. I suddenly realized that I had undervalued the Gospel by treating it as merely the starting point of the Christian life, instead of as the all-encompassing source of truth and grace that empowers all of the Christian life.

Best "Living the Gospel" Posts of the Week

Here are the best blog posts and articles I found on living out the gospel this past week, September 4-10.

• Enjoy Your God - It's All by Grace
• Life in the Kingdom of God - Of First Importance
• Obedience to Scripture - The Resurgence (Mark Driscoll)
• The Centrality of the Cross - Pulpit Magazine
• The Cruciform Life - Breakpoint (see also Created to Be Cruciform)
• Wise Decision Making in a Wicked World - (part 7) and (part 8) - Between the Times
  

The NT is too Embarrassing to be False

Check out the apologetics video from CrossExamined.org

Basic Definitions of the Gospel

Below are some more basic definitions of the gospel that I have found on the internet. Tell me what you like or dislike about them. How would explain what the basic definition is of the gospel?


Albert Mohler
I would define the Gospel as the good news that God saves sinners through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ [1 Cor. 15:3-4]. This good news tells us that we are sinners, who deserve only death and cannot save ourselves. The Gospel points to the cross of Christ as the propitiation for our sins, the substitutionary sacrifice for our transgressions [Romans 3:21-26] and to the empty tomb as the promise of our resurrection unto eternal life [1 Cor. 15]. This Gospel is God's gift, as is the faith that justifies sinners. Salvation is all of grace, so that no sinner can boast of his salvation. Saving faith is made visible in those who confess with their lips that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in their hearts that God raised Him from the dead [Romans 10:9].

John Stott, The Cross of Christ
The Biblical gospel of atonement is the good news of God satisfying himself by substituting himself for us. The concept of substitution may be said then, to lie at the heart of both sin and salvation…For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God; while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be. Man claims prerogatives which belong to God alone; God accepts penalties which belong to man alone”

Leon Morris
All men are sinners (Romans 3:23) and that hell awaits them (Mark 9:43; Luke 12:5). But God wills to bring salvation and that he has brought it in the life, death, resurrection and ascension of his Son. Christ paid sin’s due penalty (Romans 3:25-26; 6:23; Galatians 3:13). He redeemed us (Ephesians 1:7), paying the price that sets us free (1 Corinthians 6:20; Galatians 5:1). He made a new covenant (Hebrews 9:15). He won the victory (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). He effected the propitiation that turns away the wrath of God (Romans 3:25), made the reconciliation that turns enemies into friends (Ephesians 2:16).

FYI
You can see an updated list of all the basic definitions I have posted so far here on Google Docs.

Gospel Quote - The Gospel is the Center of Everything

Jonathan at The Gospel Life

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is to be at the center of everything, because it is the center of everything. All truth revolves around the Gospel, all truth stems from the Gospel, and all truth points back to the Gospel. The cross of Jesus Christ is to be central in all theology, thought, emotions, philosophy, relations, conversation, understanding, all of life. The believer should, in a sense, look at life through a Gospel lens. His senses should be Gospel fueled: everything he sees, hears, tastes, touches, and smells is guided and motivated by the Gospel. His thoughts, reason, intellect, arguments, ideas, philosophy, and mind should be centered on the Gospel. His emotions, feelings, affections, desires, goals, passions, and heart should be centered on the Gospel. It is to be the core of his being, what defines him, what gives him life, breath, and joy. It is his focus and b-line directly to where he is headed at all times. It is his destination, his previous place, and his present rest. He is to be cross-eyed at all times. The Gospel is his only stability and solidity in life; he should cling to it in desperation. God is the Gospel. So the Gospel must be at the center of everything because it is the center for everything.

Niciodată Singur - Never Alone

Niciodată Singur from William Anderson on Vimeo.

The song Never Alone by Barlow Girl with Romanian subtitles.
It is about trusting in God even when He seems far away.

The HD Quicktime version of the video can be downloaded on Vimeo.
Look in the lower right hand corner of the page.

You can also download an mp4 version here (39 MB)

Best Gospel Posts of the Week

Here are what I consider to be the best blog posts and articles on the gospel that I came across this past week, August 30-September 5, on the internet.

• Created to be Cruciform - BreakPoint
• The Endless Diverse Excellencies of Christ - The Gospel-Driven Church
  
• The Gospel - C.J. Mahaney at Together for the Gospel
  
• The Gospel for the City - Michael's Musings
  
• The Gospel vs. Religious Legalism - The Reformission
• The Gospel vs. $3 Worth of God - The Reformission
  
• The Mediator - Wordworks
• Verses: 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 and Plan B - Jesus Shaped Spirituality

Ten Things You Can Know For Sure

According to the Apostle John there are 10 things we can know for sure (1 John 5:11-20)

1. That if you truly believe in Jesus you have eternal life. (Belief that results in you putting your faith in Jesus and commiting yourself to.)
2. That if believers pray according to Jesus' will He will grant their requests.
3. That, through prayer, we can get Jesus to restore our brothers and sisters when they fall into sin.
4. That those born of God do not continue to live a lifestyle of sin.
5. That Jesus protects those that are His from Satan.
6. That Satan no longer has control over those who are Jesus'.
7. That Satan does control the world and all those who do not believe in Jesus.
8. That Jesus has come and given us understanding of who God is, what He is like and what He requires of us.
9. That Jesus is God.
10. That Jesus is the source of eternal life since He is eternal life.

So the next time someone tells you that you can't know for sure that you have eternal life or the other things mentioned here take them to these verses and show them how wrong they are.

In a world of doubt and confusion it is great that we can know for sure the things that truly matter.

Best "Living the Gospel" Posts of the Week

Below are the best blog posts and articles on living out the gospel that I found on the internet during August 28-September 3.

• How Hanging Out with Jesus is Changing My Christianity - Jesus Shaped Spirituality
• The Gospel for the City - Michael's Musings
  
• The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience - Alan in Belfast
  
• Wise Decision Making in a Wicked World - Between the Times
  

Calvary Chapel Bucuresti - Adonai

From our Sunday worship on August 10, 2008

You can download it here (43 MB)

Created To Be Cruciform

I highly recommend to you to read Created To Be Cruciform on Chuck Colson's Breakpoint. It is probably one of the best articles I have come across lately that deals with explaining the gospel and how to live it out as well. I regularly scour the internet for articles and blog posts on the gospel and I can say that as I read this one it felt like a breath of fresh air to me. Below are a few excerpts from the article.

The Christian life is all about being shaped by the cross into the shape of the cross. At least that’s the way I’ve come to understand it, and I am beginning to teach others to do the same. For the last 10 years I’ve been working to develop a Christ-centered, Kingdom-oriented worldview and practice it in my everyday relationships, roles, and responsibilities. With the help of a few friends and mentors along the way, I’ve found that what I’m calling “the Cruciform Life” is a helpful way to frame the life of faith. As I get the opportunity to teach others these concepts, I am pleasantly surprised to learn that this cruciform pattern helps them, too. In the next few issues of the Worldview Church, I’ll pass this framework along to you. Perhaps the Spirit will be pleased to use it to encourage you in your walk with Christ and equip you with a discipleship tool that will help your local church “build itself up in love” (Ephesians 4:16). . .

The description of Jesus’ life in the gospels, and the prescription for the Christian life in the rest of the New Testament, have led me to believe that there are two major ways in which cross-shaped disciples progressively become like their Master, Jesus (Luke 6:40). . .

First, a cruciform disciple is shaped like Jesus, the Son, who lived in complete awareness of and dependence upon His relationship to the Father as His Beloved (Matthew 3:17, 17:5; Mark 1:11, 9:7; Ephesians 1:6; Colossians 1:13; 2 Peter 1:17). . .

Second, a cruciform disciple is shaped like Jesus, the Servant, who lived in complete awareness and practice of His role as bondservant to God, people, and all of creation (Mark 10:43-45). Jesus’ confidence and contentment in His relationship with the Father enabled Him to lay aside His rights, pick up the towel and basin, and take the form of a servant by emptying Himself for the sake of others (John 13:3-5; Philippians 2:5-11). As we fill up on the love of the Father as it is offered in the Good News about Jesus and poured out by the Spirit, we overflow with love back to God and out to others, our lives taking the form of a cross-shaped servant. . .

Then, as we pursue by faith a life of Spirit-empowered obedience to God’s Law, we will come to find all the ways we still fall short of the Law. By faith we will seek God, only to find that we don’t seek Him well or worthily, and we will return to the cross with this new insight into our remaining sin (Romans 7:22-25). By faith we will shepherd our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, only to find out how selfish we still are and again see clearly our need to embrace the Gospel. By faith we will be sowers in our Personal Mission Field, only to discover how little we love our unbelieving neighbors, and we’ll be driven back to the cross for fresh grace to love them like Jesus does. By faith we will steward the resources God has given us, only to be convicted afresh by how we use them for our sake, not His, and we will run like the wasteful, prodigal son back to our forgiving Father and ask to be clothed with Jesus again. . .

If you are blessed by this article I would encourage you to email a link of the article to your family and friends. Also, be sure to prayerfully read and reread the article again and again. Spend time meditating on what is says and thinking about how you can apply it to your life. Then take specific steps and actions to make it a reality in your own life.

Why Be A Missionary

Basic Definitions of the Gospel

Here are some more basic definitions of the gospel that I have come across on the internet. What do you think of them? What would you add, subtract or change?

C. J. Mahaney
“The gospel is the good news of God’s saving activity in the person and work of Christ. This includes his incarnation in which he took to himself full (yet sinless) human nature; his sinless life which fulfilled the perfect law of God; his substitutionary death which paid the penalty for man’s sin and satisfied the righteous wrath of God; his resurrection demonstrating God’s satisfaction with his sacrifice; and his glorification and ascension to the right hand of the Father where he now reigns and intercedes for the church.

Mark Lauterbach
The Gospel is fundamentally a message that God has undertaken to accomplish by himself alone what the combined sweat and labor of the entire race of mankind has been unable to do -- to rescue us from the evil within us and its consequences.

Scott Mackay
The great news of the Bible, the gospel, is that God's dynamic rule has broken into history through the coming of King Jesus; the King who "died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, was buried, was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures" and appeared to the apostles whom he chose to be reliable witnesses of these things.

FYI
You can see an updated list of all the basic definitions I have posted so far here on Google Docs.

Gospel Quote - The Beauty of the Gospel

Joshua Grimm
"The beauty of the Gospel is that in the midst of our continuing brokenness and sinfulness, our gracious God comes to us in Jesus Christ and offers us the loveliest gift ever: Himself. The Gospel is not about what we do, but what God has done for us. Whatever your circumstances, whatever your sins, come and see the surpassing "beauty of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." The beauty of the Gospel is that this beautiful Savior is ours: He provides us with the righteousness we don't have as He took our sins upon Himself on His Cross (II Cor. 5:21), and makes us new creatures in Him (II Cor. 5:17)".

You can view the gospel quotes I have posted so far here on Google Docs.