Friday 11 February 2011

What is the Gospel?

I read a blog post on this question from Lesley Fellows and it’s been nagging me all morning so here’s my response. I’ve answered Lesley’s questions briefly because I imagined what I would say if chatting to someone on a short journey. So here goes:

1. What is the Gospel?

The Gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ. The person of Jesus, his life, death and resurrection and his mission, sharing God’s invitation to be loved by him.

2. How can I know it is true?

‘Taste and see that God is good’. The only way to find out if the Gospel is true is to start living as if it is true.

3. Why should I believe it?

Because without it we are less than fully human and we cannot be what we are meant to be; loved by God and responding with love to God and each other.

Anyone else want to have a go?
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5 comments:

  1. Revsimmy11 February 2011 at 13:27

    Two small things I might add (though you may disagree):
    1) to add the ascension to your list in No. 1, as that has some very practical implications for us now; and
    2) "God's invitation to love him and be loved by him."

    Otherwise, I don't think I can improve on that as a concise summary. Good one!

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  2. Philip Ritchie11 February 2011 at 13:41

    Thanks Simon. I wondered about how detailed to be re the person of Jesus. I began with 'loved by God' because 'he first loved us' and included love for God in response to q 3 because it is a response to God's love:)

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  3. Anonymous11 February 2011 at 13:46

    Lesley prompted wife and I to spent lunch discussing this in a coffee shop.

    I don't want to have a go, I like what you have said ;)

    My parting shot was "it's not a formula, it's waaay too important for that"

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  4. Pluralist (Adrian Worsfold)11 February 2011 at 17:26

    Our humanity is not deficient, and is not in need of a prop. Behaviour might be, outlook might be, so these may be in need of re-orientation and thinking again. This dependence on another human being - the 'cult of an individual' I find worrying.

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  5. Philip Ritchie11 February 2011 at 17:56

    Changingworship. wholeheartedly agree it's not a formula, for me it's a relationship.

    Pluralist, I believe we are made for relationship with God and without that relationship our humanity is diminished. As for the 'dependence on another human being' and the 'cult of an individual', if by that you mean my dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ, then I plead guilty. Of course I don't believe he is just another human being.

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