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| The over-simplified gospel, such a joy! |
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2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,
Do you believe it could be that simple? According to Paul, it is. Jesus did what he said he would do (rise from the dead), proving he was who he said he was (David’s heir, in fulfillment of numerous Old Testament prophesies). This was Paul’s gospel, pure and simple, that which saves all who believe it!
This gospel continues to fill me with awe and wonder. So simple and yet so powerful, so logical yet so unlikely, so unspectacular and yet so marvelous. Joy and gratitude wash over me every time I worship God! This good news absolutely refuses to grow old!! 2,000 years and people are still dancing in aisles!
The simple gospel carries a simple message, too!
Jesus…
1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation; 1:16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
LOVES…
15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
me…
7:10 I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me.
The message of the Gospel, Jesus… loves… me… Jesus loves ME!! Just like the old Sunday school song, so simple, so true! We understood this as children, why must we complicate it as adults???
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| To add a comment to "The over-simplified gospel, such a joy!" |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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Cause The Bible Tells Me So....Talking about Good News, Yes Mike, a Simple, Powerful Message
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| December 02, 2008 |
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Hey, thanks for the Teddy Bear, Terry! Around this place, w/so many believerse from diverse backgrounds arguing and debating, it's so easy to fall into thinking that the gospel is hopelessly complicated! It's NOT! Everyone who proudly calls themselves a believer is qualified to comment on any blog. If you understand that Jesus loves you, then you understand the meat, the full message God wants to convey!! (At least for right now!)
(Thanks Joe, I see you!) |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| YESS!!!!!!! |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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Thanks Mark! I think I finally get it! lol
(Actually I may have understood more 30 yrs ago than I do now...?) |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| ps... I still remember a sermon you gave back at Reservoir HS. You asked, "You wanna know what the meat of the gospel is? Jesus loves you, Jesus loves you, Jesus loves you!" (Or something very close to that. We have it on CD somewhere around here. That was a powerful message!) |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| YES, JESUS LOVES US YES HE DOES.......... |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| Isn't it a complete joy, Denise? I know you know what I'm talking about! |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| Sounds like this could be your Sunrise sermon :) he he he.... How's that for timing? |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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Remember Jesus.
.....peace..... |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| That's the hardest part for me to accept and grasp. I feel so unlovable, yet he does. |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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When my sons were small and they tried to do something that was difficult or was painful, my mother's heart sought a way out of it for them, or a way that I could take the pain for them. I still do that. My son is 31 and has small fry himself at home. He had not slept well the night before and his beautiful wife, Jen was working till after ten last night. I stopped by to see him and the grands. Before I got there, I called to see if he needed or wanted anything. I told him I would stay with the kids and let him go to bed if he wanted till Jen got off work. I knew it would be tough on me as I live a half hour from him and getting home about eleven would take a toll on me to be rested for today. He was fine after I got there and we shared a couple of hours of talking and laughing. Oh, my point.....I believe God made it simple just because He loves us and wanted to make sure we could make it. To do that meant to take over and do it for us. Don't you know how He delights in us? Freaks me as I know how vile I have been in life, but it makes me more greatful. :) |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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Mike, It is indeed a simple message. Do you think Jesus' teachings are a comprehensive ethical statement? Does the simple message of Love God, Love your neighbor and Love self covers it all? I do. |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| Can be said so many ways, but it is simple. Almost too simple. Look at I Cor 15 1-4 Paul calls it the "simple gospel". It is good news and it is beautiful. That God loves me enough to become a man and take my judgment for me. As The psalmist says such thoughts are too deep for me! |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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Still not convinced? Notice 2 Tim 2:8 ends in a comma. Here's the rest of Paul's thought.
"8Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained." (2 Tim 2:8-9)
Paul was so convinced of this simple truth, he was willing to suffer like a criminal! Would he have been so willing to suffer that way for a complex theology against which many people would certainly question and raise valid arguments and scriptural counter-points??? I don't see how! Still not convinced? Here's Paul again boiling it all down to the simple and easy to digest (for those who believe)....
"22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles" (1 Cor. 1:22-23)
The simple gospel, so easy to understand, so difficult for many to accept. |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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I have heard responses that "It can't be that easy!" ahhhhhhhhhh but it is. Thank the Lord ! |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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Sue, if the assigned scriptures line up with this message, it will be delivered. :-)
Todd, great passage of scripture! I have also been looking at 1 Cor 1:18-31.
Amen Jerry. The message is simple. The implications on the way we live? That might be a different story.
Grant, I feel exactly the same way, bro.
Thanks Doyle!! I appreciate you!
Juanita, as if he were speaking to children? :-)
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| December 02, 2008 |
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Marcella, always singing, aren't you. You have a beautiful voice, I've heard it!
Gordon, that is all there is to it, yet still.... We are such a forgetful people. Thank God for grace!
Firefly, me too! :-) |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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OH YEAH!!!!!!!
foolishness to those that are lost
Lord help us show them through our lives and love for You |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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Ah Bubbles, you remind me of this:
3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
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| December 02, 2008 |
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Someone asked, "Yes the short version is: Jesus - Loves - Me, but if truth be known - there's more to it isn't there?"
To paraphrase my response:
Yes, the truth is there is MUCH to learn about our new found relationship in Christ!!! There is more to the things of God than we will ever know! Trained theologians are invaluable in helping us understand God!!! But the Good News, the Gospel itself, the Truth by which we are saved, is really quite simple. People are urged to rush to the altar to accept this Truth that changes people for the better. It better be simple, or else evangelists have been doing it all wrong for centuries!
I understand your concern (I think), I just happen to look around and it seems there are so many complex "truths" dividing us Christians into little subgroups and cliques and what not. When scripture (1 Cor 1:10) urges, "that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought," I don't believe this unity is achieved through what is hard to understand, takes years to learn, or is imparted through a handful of gifted speakers, but instead that which we can all embrace and celebrate together...a basic understanding of the simple gospel!
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| Jesus loves me this I know,for the Bible tells me so!!! Thanks Mike... |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| In a world of if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't......it's a scam.......this one is the real thing, no scam!!!!!!!! |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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Yes he most assuredly does, Jimmie! Thanks for sounding off, bro. CindyLou, it's no scam! If it was, God would certainly not be who he says he is. In fact, if it were a scam, we wouldn't have a clue who God is! |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| Simply... amazing! |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| Mike: amen and amen! |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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"SIMPLICITY" so complex to so many. Even little children understand. Jesus said for us to come to Him as little children. Little children are so innocent and believing. They believe whatever their parents tell them. We make it hard by making it complex.
JESUS LOVES ME !!!! What's so hard about that. He said it and He proved it. His love has withstood the test of time and shall continue to do so.
I BELIEVE HIM, YES I DO..... |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| You know what? I haven't been on here in awhile and the first blog I read is this one.
Totally cool, Mike. I robbed your last line, BTW. I put it as my status on facebook. Hope you don't mind. It speaks! HUGE! |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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Val, hi there!!! Love hearing from ya! Absence has made the heart a LOT FONDER!! haha, ok, I'll stop now... You are free to borrow whatever will glorify God. :-) Mary, amen sister. Just give me childlike faith, as a mustard seed. Let God do the rest, and take the glory as well! Carebear, God is, isn't he?! |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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Simple...but so profound that no one can see it unless the Father shows them. Yours in Him,
Craig |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| Great word Mike. Thanks =0) |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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We tend to make everything much more complicated than it needs to be and have difficulty in wrapping our minds around the fact that something so wonderful is so simple.
Jesus loves us more than we love ourselves.
Donna
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| The gospel is simple, yet we try so hard to make it complcated!! |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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When nothing seems to be going right, I can be sure Jesus loves me and has met my greatest need! WHOOHOO Now thats something to rejoice over!!!!!!!! P.S. Thanks for your prayers and messages they truly meant a lot to me! |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| Yes |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| Great Post |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| Amen--Paul said something like this: 1And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| I love this blog Mike! I hang around with quite a few well versed theologians and there are times I just want to stick my fingers in my ears and start singin' that song! lol! It's so hard to deprogram those guys...the word says God uses the simple (some translations say foolish) to confound the wise...so I'm a thinkin' all theology is pretty much a bunch of wise guys blustering through their confoundedness. heehee! I like the simple version myself! |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| how true! thanks |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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Great scripture Garry, I read that one too just this morning. Very relevant to this discussion of the simple gospel!
Angela, this knowledge is very reassuring!
Donna, indeed more than we love ourselves! Compared to the Lord, I'm convinced that we don't even know how to love...
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| December 02, 2008 |
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Birdie, I absolutely love that! I'm with you, the simple truths beat the heck out of long confusing dissertations! Maybe that's why I'm a blogger and not a novelist, LOL!!
Thanks Heather, let's hear it for simple joy! |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| Mike, I was reading all the comments and yours back at them. I realized I gave you a voice! Guess? I don't know your voice of course, but you have the gift of exhortation and always come across so upbeat....like the guy on Animal Planet that does funny animal videos. Ok, that wasn't the topic here but we all are so blessed by you and your presense here and it finally occured to me who I was hearing in my head when I read you. :) |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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| Mike, this blog made me want to shout, here I am sitting in a room with 30 other people and I just want to jump up and SHOUT to God for being so great, so awesome and so amazing. Gods Word is so simple and so pure those scriptures in Colossians are among my favorites. God Bless and thank you for you thoughts. |
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| December 02, 2008 |
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The gospel is never complicated. The "flavor of the month" gospels have to be mastered. The gospel of Jesus masters those possessed by it.
Saul of Tarsus, an excellent student of the Scriptures, knew he was right. He had it all figured out, could prove he was right, and despised and hated the growing cult of christianity. One day he saw Jesus. Paul was never the same after that encounter.
Paul remembered where he came from. Paul remembered how much he was forgiven. Paul remembered the unmerited grace given to him. Nothing or no one could shake his faith for it was no longer his works but GOD's grace that made him right with GOD.
When problems came....he remembered Jesus.
When persecution came....he remembered Jesus.
When suffering, hardship, thorn in the flesh came....he remembered Jesus.
In all things he remembered the love that included even him. Because he remembered obstacles to faith became opportunities, his inability gave way to GOD's ability, and every excuse to give up became another reason to glorify GOD.
Remember Jesus...the image of the invisible GOD, all things were made by him and for him, He is before all things and in Him all things are held together.
The over-simplified gospel is a joy. Jesus loves me. Nothing will change that. And the "all things" mentioned three times in Colossians 1:15-17 means GOD is in control. Life is not an accident. Neither is it all sunny days and pats on the back. Paul believed that all the things that happened to him, all the things that he suffered, were by GOD's design.
You see Mike, in the oversimplified gospel, Jesus loves me. I trust Him. My joy is in knowing Him. He laid down His life for me. I lay down my life, for Him, for others. The discomfort of suffering pales in the comfort of knowing and being known by Jesus.
When Jesus is enough I have joy in all things. When Jesus is not enough I have joy in some things. Jesus is not Lord unless He is Lord in all things. Jesus loves me. Do I love Jesus?
And just so there is no misunderstanding, joy is not an emotion. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit-filled life. We can have joy even when are emotions are down because it comes from GOD not ourselves. But that's another blog... :)
.....peace..... |
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| December 03, 2008 |
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Juanita, you sweet lady. That is the nicest thing anyone has said to me today! Wait, let me check the rest of these comments.....just kidding. Thanks so much, I can't tell you how much of a blessing you are!
Gordon, you rascal, you encouraging eloquent rascal! Glad we're sharing this joy!
Jason, thanks for stoppin by. Shout if you feel like it!!! (Just don't get fired, ok?) God bless you! |
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| January 25, 2009 |
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| Great one Mike. |
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