The Gospel, What Is It?

2 Timothy 1:10-14 10and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,  11for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,  12which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.  13Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  14By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

The gospel means "Good News"  and that good news defined is Christ abolished death, and brought life and immortality into the light.  Until Christ, the Hebrew writer stated that we were slaves to death, we had no hope of ever defeating death.  Death had the final say in everyone's life, it rob, stole, and destroyed without any hope of ever letting go. The grave was the reward for this life. Nice reward. For this reason, and this reason alone I can't understand why anyone would reject the gospel as defined here in 2 Timothy. What is it about this definition that would drive anyone away and say "no thanks, I will go it alone."   The Apostle Paul thought this message was so powerful that he dedicated his life to preaching it's message. His suffering was consdiered by himself as nothing, compared to the riches of the message of the gospel. The deposit of the gospel into our lives is the most important message a human being can ever hear, because it is a message that brings the everlasting element into reality with God.  You just can't get better than that? Right?

Let's face it, the reason it is gets the push back is because it's message is so powerful. Our enemy hates it, because it defeats him at the core of who he is.  He is the destroyer, the one who comes to rob, steal, and destroy. He tries everything to discredit the message, destroy the people who are presenting it, and makes every effort to side track and distort the meaning of the message of the gospel.  The gospel stands alone, it does not need any other explanation or additional insights. We become Christians because we accept the gospel, and follow the one whose "Good News" brings us out of the darkness of hopelessness and despair, into the light of hope, and promise of God's kingdom.

Don't let anyone destroy your simple faith or redefine the message of the gospel.  Keep following the simple pattern that the Apostle Paul mentions in this passage:

¹³Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  ¹⁴By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard  the good deposit entrusted to you.

Keeping it honest and truthful...K

This simple message of the gospel has been th message of Billy Graham for over 60 years and continues today through his son Franklin. Listen to how simple it really is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWd4a3tfDMc&feature=related