What then is the Gospel? (2) - GSP 18

In the last session, we examined how that the gospel means "good news" and that an evangelist is a publisher of good news.


In this session, I want us to better appreciate the simplicity and power of the gospel. There is no sophistry or complication in the news.


It is news, not some commandment. It is a notification, not instructions! For example, "the Government of Nigeria has declared a curfew in some parts of the city", that is a notification. "This is to notify all members of this organisation that due to the ongoing administrative restructuring, there shall be a 50% cut in the salary of all staff. Also there will be no more free lunch. All administrative privileges of senior staff such as official car etc., are hereby suspended". That is news; but what a sad one! "The reader of this article has been awarded a present of $90,000,000", this one is a notification, and a good news! But the gospel is better than this one!

What then is the Gospel? GSP 17

What gospel saved us? What did we believed unto salvation?
The word gospel is the greek word euaggelizō (εὐαγγελίζω) coined from two words:
Eu – which means good, well; and
Aggelos – This means messenger, pastor; from where we got the word "angel".


To preach the gospel therefore means to be a messenger of good tidings. To euaggelizō (from where we got the word "evangelize") means to convey or be an angel of the good news to some people to whom you are sent.

as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that euaggelizō of PEACE, and bring GLAD TIDINGS of good things! (Romans 10:15 KJV)

How did we get saved? GSP 16

 see previous Part 15

Jesus said anyone who believes the gospel shall be saved.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16 KJV)

We got saved when we heard the news that we have been set free. We heard the gospel and we believed, so we got saved.
This is the sequence according to Romans 10

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall (1) call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they (1) call on him in whom they have not (2) believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not (3) heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they (4) preach, except they be (5) sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:12-15 KJV)

What is this salvation? GSP 15

Salvation means a state of being saved; being salvaged; being rescued; being made free from an impending disaster.

"Save yourselves from the punishment coming on this wicked people!" (Acts 2:40 GNB)

I love to use this example. Salvation is like unto a man who can't swim but had his boat unfortunately capsized in the sea. Drowned until he could no longer cry out for help and was already staring death in the face; some men came to "rescue" him, treat him till he is okay. And at the end, he says, "thank you for saving my life". You remember a similar story in the bible? That man going from Jerusalem to Jericho… a man who was neither a Levite nor a priest (Law nor prophet), came to his rescue. We understand that wounded man to be humanity. He was half-dead; thank God! That is, his situation (death) was not irredeemable. The Samaritan showed up and paid his bill for treatment. Hmm! That story was more than teaching us who our neighbour is. It is saying, we (law and prophets and all carnal offices) cannot love our neighbour (fellow wounded men) as ourselves, but Jesus is that good neighbour who will pay our bills with His blood. Jesus is the One of "whom of Moses in the law did write" (John 1:45) when He said "love your neighbour as yourself". Do I mean men should forget about loving one another? Certainly not! But that we should lean upon Jesus so we can know to love. Recall about that disciple that leaned upon Jesus' breast (John 21:20): see how he became an apostle who taught love best. Anyway, love isn't the topic for today: but actually it is the topic for everyday.
Humanity was in crisis owing to "the fall of man" in Adam. There was an impending disaster indeed. But God did not react, because He cannot be caught unaware. He is not shocked Adam ate the fruit. But why then did He not stop Adam, you may want to ask? Wait till the next session where we explain Predestination and God's Supremacy. One thing must have been clear if you have been following this series, God could not have had a part in the fall of man. Instead, He is the brain behind The Restoration – the Redemption.

Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of hosts is His name. He will surely and thoroughly plead their case and defend their cause, that He may give rest to [the land of Israel and to the Babylonian-enslaved nations of] the earth… (Jeremiah 50:34 AMP)

Today, God's salvation Plan has been unveiled and carried out; such that Jesus sits today at the right hand of the Father, expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. He has done all required to redeem all flesh. A saved man is therefore not in anticipation of any disaster to come. He has been rescued. Alleluia!

“I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy” Explained (II) – salvation for All 14

We ended the last section [Salvation for All Part 13] with questions:
Isn't this "whom I will have mercy" again pointing to a hidden agenda and bigoted plan of God? Who are the ones whom God has chosen to have mercy on? Who are the ones God has concluded to have compassion on? We also concluded that we cannot buy God's mercy by prayer and fasting and vigils. Yes, we cannot pray that God should have mercy on us because God has concluded on whom He will have mercy on; and that "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy" is only an information to be heard; not to be reacted to, not to be questioned. No man's opinion is being sought. We heard it just to know what is to come. This is unlike many other prophecies, where you begin to "forbid bad thing" and bind the devil.
Then, with Moses, it was a prophecy. Today I can tell you it's fulfilled already! Mercy is at work already. On whom did God finally had mercy as promised? On "All Flesh"; every creature; all men. And He did this in Christ Jesus! Jesus Christ is the mercy of God on the perishing humanity

GSP Series: “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy” Explained – salvation for All 13

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (Romans 9:15 KJV)
 

On whom will God have mercy? On whom will God have compassion?

This scripture is one of the scriptural portions I see that have been so much misconstrued; distorted so much that it has begun to mean just the opposite of the intended message. Hmm!

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (Romans 9:15 KJV)

This verse is intended to call for rest, but too much work is interpreted of it today. It says God has irreversibly made up His mind “on whom I will have mercy”, yet people read it and struggle to force their way into God having mercy on them. God is saying I do not make open admission into my school of mercy: enrolment is strictly by invitation. No cry, no human exertion can make mercy! It is not open unto discussion or negotiation. Admission is closed.

GSP Series: "Jacob I loved, Esau I hated" Explained (Part II) - Salvation for all (12)

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (Romans 9:13 KJV)
I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? [Was] not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. (Malachi 1:2-3 KJV)
 

I said in the previous part (Jacob I loved, Esau I hated Part II) that God is not sentimental with people. He is not biased. I also explained how that Esau I loved, Jacob I hated, is not a contradiction but a strong point to teach how that God is no respecter of persons.  I hope you followed well. You may go back and read it and come back so you would catch up with the class.

So amazing that Jacob I loved, Esau I hated explains God’s fairness. God isn’t sentimental, this I can re-emphasize with this same scripture. “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." (Romans 9:13 KJV). Jehovah said “I love Jacob” even before he was born! You may not like the teaching of predestination, election and the likes except you understand them to be in the past tense and also know that they are to your favour and to the favour of all, forming a picture of an unbiased Referee of the universe.

GSP Series: "Jacob I loved, Esau I hated" Explained – salvation for all 11

 

So far in this Salvation for All Series, you would have learnt many things which would have made you shed off the nepotistic, tribalistic, favouritish, bigoted view of and about God. Yet there might be questions unanswered in your hearts: “but… but… but why then did the bible says…” So today’s edition would answer that.

Jacob I loved…

Here is a text which in its imperfect interpretation has successfully presented a notion that God really still do have favourites. Some will even say, “well, today God is changing; unlike before in the old testament when He would just focus on His selected few, them whom God will nurse as the apple of His eyes, and jealously slay any trespasser; whereas He cares less about others not in His caucus”. Well! My answer to that is this: we know one thing that working with caucuses, judging with partiality, we have preaches against it and in fact we would not have known it to be evil but for that same God who taught us. Now, He that teaches that a man should not be partial, would He have been partial? Furthermore, we know that God is unchangeable. If heaven and earth should perish and be changed, He remains says the scriptures. “They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the SAME, and thy years shall not fail. (Hebrews 1:11-12 KJV)”

GSP Series: Salvation is for all 10 - But who is God's Elect? II

Aim: understanding God’s plan of salvation

Yes! what is to be rightly interpreted then as “elect of God”? who are the ones God has pre-ordained unto salvation? Are there people who have been predestined to believe the gospel?

In the previous section (Who is God's Elect? I), we have seen how that Jesus says in Luke 18:7 that the man whom God will avenge if he attempts to pray is “His own elect”. Now let’s continue to understand electship.

Today we’ll see electhood in Christ Jesus. That is, Jesus is the Elect of God actually, and in next section we’ll see how we borrow from Him our electhood.

GSP Series: Salvation is For All 9 - But who is God’s Elect?

 

Aim: understanding God’s plan of salvation

Yes! what is to be rightly interpreted then as “elect of God”? who are the ones God has pre-ordained unto salvation? Are there people who have been predestined to believe the gospel?

Well, if you have been following our series on salvation is for all, you would have known the answer by now: “all flesh”. How it is, is what we want to see now.

There is a certain word often found in the Bible which I think itself is the origin and backbone of this favouritism policy. That word is “elect”.

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the ELECT's sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:22 KJV)

GSP Series: Salvation is For All 8 - God loved, thought, and planned for ALL FLESH

Meanwhile we check the scriptures and can find that God planned a way out of the human crisis as we said in the part 1 of salvation is for all. When God would pay the bail, He paid by the blood of His Jesus, and not for selected individuals, not for Israelites, not for Peter and the Apostles, not for Jesus family, not for those who could pray, but for what the bible termed “all flesh”. Thank God “all flesh” was used: because it seems to portray well the unmeritedness and baseness of the people to whom it is meant for.

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Luke 3:6

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith 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: Act 2:17 

GSP Series: Salvation Is For All 7 - God has no Favourite V

See Previous Part6

No sentimental approach to God. Stop playing M.O.G.-ism (Clergy-ism)

Because more of the ways of God have been expounded to you more, you fall into the temptation of calling God as though He is for you only. Because you have advantaged above others, don’t play the MOG (Man of God)! Don’t say “na we dey there, no other again”. Don’t speak like God is caged in your suit that anyone who wants to see God must consult you first. Don’t play clergyism and make others tremble before you.

Jesus says when ye pray “say Our Father…”. It’s not a crime to call God your Father, but always make the people know he is our Father. Jesus says “I ascend to my Father, your Father…” you were a laity when He liked you and made you a clergy, hence He likes the laity as much.

GSP Series: Salvation is For All 6 - God has no Favourite IV

God's Salvation Plan continues...
See Previous Part 5

God has no favourites IV

No sentimental approach to God, God does not “like” your face

But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. James 2:9

 

A girl may from childhood have repeatedly heard words like “you are so beautiful”, “you are cheeky”, “you have bright eyelids”, “you have attractive teeth gaps” etc. such that these words sink into her sub-conscious minds. I think there is tendency that she carries this mindset into her relationship with God, and in her heart says “God likes me. You know I’m irresistible”. Laughable indeed!

 

GSP Series: Salvation is for All 5 - God has no favourites III

God has no favourites III

See Previous PartII

No sentimental approach to God, you cannot win God’s favour!

Aim: to understand God’s plan of salvation, and to by understanding dispel all wrong mindset of God nepotistic, tribalistic, or any discriminative “election” and “predestination” conspiracy.

As we continue in this series, Let’s learn to fight every sentimental approach any church leader or people we term “men of God” like to give us about God. A leader in God’s house must be humble enough to show his followers his ordinariness and simplicity, teaching us how it is God who is working all the mighty things we see through him, and that any man who will be available can do as well. Meek Moses said “I would that all of the Lord’s people were prophets”. And that’s what we want to hear! He call Israel, the Lord’s people, bringing even the weakest of them into relationship with God. Don’t play sentiment of your walk with God! We know God speak to you frequently. We know you pray every hour. We know carry bible all about. We know you see visions often. But never intimidate other younger Christians into confessing they are not really born again! Tell them God speaks to them too, and teach them to walk in greater realms of the Spirit without fear of “what if they know God or do more miracles more than me”!

GSP Series: Salvation is for All 4 - God Has no favourite II

God has no favourites II

See Previous Lesson (Part I)

Favouritism is an act of unrighteousness: God cannot be unrighteous

 

Aim: to understand God’s plan of salvation, and to by understanding dispel all wrong mindset of God nepotistic, tribalistic, or any discriminative “election” and “predestination” conspiracy.

But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as TRANSGRESSORS. James 2:9

It’s amazing how we believe, receive and teach that God has some people that are special to Him, and some others that He cares not for, and yet others that He just hate for no reason, no matter what they do; when we all know that is being partial. Partiality, we all know is unrighteous. It is numbered amongst our greatest societal crimes today. Favouritism/partiality is what birthed other sins like sexism, racism, nepotism, chauvinism etc. it’s unfair for a leader to treat people preferentially! It’s unfair to judge with respects of persons! It’s sinful, but God cannot sin. Hence, He can’t have favourites. No favourite for salvation! No favourite for damnation! No predestined “son of perdition”!

Declaration: thank You Lord for receiving me. I Thank  You Lord for enlightening my understanding amidst the religious beclouding.  Thank You Lord that now I know, You did not prefer one above me. Glory!

Go to Topic Index (God's Salvation Plan) 

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Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support]. (Galatians 6:6 AMP) We appreciate you comments. Prove your love for this article and site by hitting the like button or share this on popular social networks and blogs. You are blessed!

GSP Series: Salvation is for All 3 - God has no favourites

God has no Favourites

See Previous Edition

Aim: to understand God’s plan of salvation, and to by understanding dispel all wrong mindset of God nepotistic, tribalistic, or any discriminative “election” and “predestination” conspiracy.
To the folks who love to take a personalized approach of God, sorry, God does not reckon with nepotism.

For the LORD your God [is] God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which REGARDETH NOT PERSONS… (Deuteronomy 10:17 KJV)
for [there is] no iniquity with the LORD our God, NOR RESPECT OF PERSONS, nor taking of gifts. (2 Chronicles 19:7 KJV)
For there is no respect of persons with God. Rom 2:11 
God accepteth no man's person Gal 2:6 
there is no respect of persons. Col 3:25
neither is there respect of persons with him. Eph 6:9 
And if ye call on the Father, WHO WITHOUT RESPECT OF PERSONS judgeth according to every man's work, 1Peter 1:17 

 

How many heads do you have? That is the number of rights you have with God. How many persons are you? That is your say with God. You think you will carry your “long leg” to God?

God does not answer your prayer “faster”. God is not a gift to one person more than the other. There are no two Holy Ghost! There is no Holy Ghost for men and another inferior type for women. There is no Holy Spirit for the clergy and another less-powerful, easier, simpler one for the laity. No one has a divine connection right more than another. All men are considered equal before God. God does not “elect” some, and cast out some. God does not bless some and reject some. God does not love one and hate the other. He doesn’t choose a man and reject his near kin. He does not adopt a Jew, and repel a Gentile. God is a good God. Peter did not know this in time until Acts 10:34 when he perceived it. Then Peter said, "Now I understand that God doesn't play favorites. He used to think God is for the Jews. Even Jesus at a time had to be facaded into what looked like God only wanted to save the Jews only, when He said “salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22), and “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24), but that was not God’s perfect will, neither His eternal purpose. Thus, when Jesus rose again, He said, “ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” because he is able also to save them to the uttermost. (Hebrews 7:25)

In conclusion, God has no favourite. The Almighty has never had, and never will. Why? He is God! Not a man, not an earthly king who can sentimentally prefer, because humans are bound to like and dislike. He is just.

Declaration: thank You Lord for receiving me. I Thank You Lord for enlightening my understanding amidst the religious beclouding. Thank You Lord that now I know, You did not prefer one above me. Glory!

Go to Topic Index (God's Salvation Plan) 

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Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support]. (Galatians 6:6 AMP) We appreciate you comments. Prove your love for this article and site by hitting the like button or share this on popular social networks and blogs. You are blessed!

GSP Series: Salvation for All 2 - God is God of All Flesh, and Lord of ALL

Salvation for All (2)

See the Previous Part

Behold, I [am] the LORD, the GOD OF ALL FLESH: is there anything too hard for me? Jer 32:27

Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of ALL FLESH… Num 27:16 

God please help us to shelve this nepotistic view and teaching in certain places. Salvation cannot be reserved for a secluded, pre-concluded, predetermined group of people since none was qualified for it and it can be enjoyed by all. It cannot be reserved for a particular sect of people. Why? God is God of all! He is the creator of us all (for the good and for the bad). That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matt 5:45) He is the Lord of all. Everyone has just one God, not gods. Everyone belong to God. If anyone must call upon their god, it has to be upon God. [Is he] the God of the Jews only? [is he] not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing [it is] ONE GOD… (Romans 3:29-30) Thus, if God must respond to His own creatures, He must respond to ALL MEN.

O You Who hear prayer, to You shall ALL FLESH come. (Psalms 65:2 AMP)

So brother/sister, you equally have a right to God if all flesh does have. God is your God. There are no various gods in existence: there is only God. If you are not serving Him, you are not serving God.

DECLARATION: Thank you Lord for being for me. I praise You for Your righteous judgments and equity. I receive your word. I receive your love. Amen!

Go to Topic Index (God's Salvation Plan) 

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Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support]. (Galatians 6:6 AMP) We appreciate you comments. Prove your love for this article and site by hitting the like button or share this on popular social networks and blogs. You are blessed!

God's Salvation Plan Series: Salvation is for Everyone 1

No man is pre-ordained unto Damnation

Aim: to understand God’s plan of salvation, and to by understanding dispel all wrong mindset of God nepotistic, tribalistic, or any discriminative “election” and “predestination” conspiracy.
We should understand the dealings of God with men clearly. God does not want us to be in the dark.