What Is "The Gospel"?

Sola_Fide

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What is "the gospel"? Paul outlines the what the gospel is in 1st Corinthians 15:1-8

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Here are the important implications of what Paul just said "the Gospel" is:
•Christ died.


Implication 1.1: Christ was (and is) a God-man who could die.

Implication 1.2: Christ did not swoon or faint or merely appear to die.

Implication 1.3: Christ laid down his life; he was not killed against his will.



• Christ died for our sins.


Implication 2.1: Christ died for a purpose, not by accident.

Implication 2.2: We are sinners deserving death.

Implication 2.3: Christ did not die for his own sins.

Implication 2.4: Christ had no sins.

Implication 2.5: Christ died in our place; he bore the punishment we deserve.

Implication 2.6: Christ was an acceptable substitute for us.

Implication 2.7: We are free from the punishment we deserve.

Implication 2.8: Christ did not die for the sins of every man, but only for our sins.



• Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.



Implication 3.1: Christ is the Messiah prophesied by the Old Testament.

Implication 3.2: Christ's death was neither an accident nor Plan B,
but part of the one eternal plan of God for the salvation of his people.

Implication 3.3 Christ fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament.



• Christ was buried and rose again the third day.



Implication 4.1: Christ's burial and resurrection are historical events.

Implication 4.2: Christ is not dead, but living.

Implication 4.3: Death has been conquered and has lost its power over
Christ and his people.

- See more at: http://www.trinityfoundation.org/journal.php?id=193#sthash.0UybKUro.dpuf
 
Another case in point. Paul doesn't defer to Jesus - he doesn't say "the gospel Jesus preached" - but he says "the gospel I preached to you" and "the word I preached to you."

"For what I received...." ---- received from who? Certainly not Jesus because PAUL WASN'T THERE!!!!!!!

C'mon you guys.... Give it up on goofball Paul. Study the teachings of Jesus for a change. You will find it inspiring, I promise.

The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth <---------- click here
 
Another case in point. Paul doesn't defer to Jesus - he doesn't say "the gospel Jesus preached" - but he says "the gospel I preached to you" and "the word I preached to you."

"For what I received...." ---- received from who? Certainly not Jesus because PAUL WASN'T THERE!!!!!!!

C'mon you guys.... Give it up on goofball Paul. Study the teachings of Jesus for a change. You will find it inspiring, I promise.

The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth <---------- click here


Where did Paul contradict Jesus?
 
Another case in point. Paul doesn't defer to Jesus - he doesn't say "the gospel Jesus preached" - but he says "the gospel I preached to you" and "the word I preached to you."

"For what I received...." ---- received from who? Certainly not Jesus because PAUL WASN'T THERE!!!!!!!

C'mon you guys.... Give it up on goofball Paul. Study the teachings of Jesus for a change. You will find it inspiring, I promise.

The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth <---------- click here
Where do you believe Paul contradicts Jesus? As you seem to be a sort of Doubting Thomas, why do the Gospels interest you? The first one to be written (Mark) wasn't written until long after Jesus' death and ministry. It was entirely oral tradition until ~70 AD. Matthew, Luke, and John were written significantly later (IDR the dates now). They were also written in different styles for different audiences.
 
Where do you believe Paul contradicts Jesus? As you seem to be a sort of Doubting Thomas, why do the Gospels interest you? The first one to be written (Mark) wasn't written until long after Jesus' death and ministry. It was entirely oral tradition until ~70 AD. Matthew, Luke, and John were written significantly later (IDR the dates now). They were also written in different styles for different audiences.
I never said there are contradictions (i don't think lol) - I'm saying Paul made up a bunch of stuff that's got nothing to do with Jesus' message to the Jews - like the trinity, like Jesus the true messiah (there were a bunch of folks claiming that) - like most of the stuff that makes up mainstream Christianity.

I'm not saying it's all crummy either. Paul had his moments - I Corinthians 13, for example - beautiful.

And it's not Paul's fault, either. Schizophrenia is a treacherous disease. Paul had no control of it - he's a victim for sure. I'm sure Paul believed everything he was saying, and his motives were probably noble as well.
 
I never said there are contradictions (i don't think lol) - I'm saying Paul made up a bunch of stuff that's got nothing to do with Jesus' message to the Jews - like the trinity, like Jesus the true messiah (there were a bunch of folks claiming that) - like most of the stuff that makes up mainstream Christianity.

I'm not saying it's all crummy either. Paul had his moments - I Corinthians 13, for example - beautiful.

And it's not Paul's fault, either. Schizophrenia is a treacherous disease. Paul had no control of it - he's a victim for sure. I'm sure Paul believed everything he was saying, and his motives were probably noble as well.

I am waiting for your response in another thread. You asked me for one verse where Paul was in harmony with Jesus. I gave it to you. What is your response?
 
I never said there are contradictions (i don't think lol) - I'm saying Paul made up a bunch of stuff that's got nothing to do with Jesus' message to the Jews - like the trinity, like Jesus the true messiah (there were a bunch of folks claiming that) - like most of the stuff that makes up mainstream Christianity.

I'm not saying it's all crummy either. Paul had his moments - I Corinthians 13, for example - beautiful.

And it's not Paul's fault, either. Schizophrenia is a treacherous disease. Paul had no control of it - he's a victim for sure. I'm sure Paul believed everything he was saying, and his motives were probably noble as well.

That comes from the Gospels. Jesus most certainly did claim to be the Messiah. (that's one reason he wasn't popular among certain Jews at His death and afterward. They believed the Messiah would be a conquerer-not one to suffer and die like a criminal) You're right that "mainstream" Christianity gets plenty of things wrong, though. Probably the biggest one is their understanding of "Israel".
 
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Implication 3.3

Is this verse about the messiah?

Because if it is, Christ didn't fulfill it.

Isaiah 9:6-7

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
 
Implication 1.2: Christ did not swoon or faint or merely appear to die.

Beyond being an article of faith, I've always wondered what the proof of this contention was. Thoughts?
 
Have you ever shared your testimony here? Would you be willing to do so?

Oooooh!

I like this idea! Tell us your story Sola_Fide!

You said on another thread-you "would love nothing more than if my friends at RPF had their eyes opened to the truth."

What BETTER way to open our eyes than by giving us the details of how the holy spirit brought you to repentance!!

TESTIMONY!!!
TESTIMONY!!!
TESTIMONY!!!
 
Beyond being an article of faith, I've always wondered what the proof of this contention was. Thoughts?

Well, we're talking about the gospel that all the apostles and early Christians witnessed and believed. One important aspect of the gospel is that Jesus really died and really rose again.
 
Beyond being an article of faith, I've always wondered what the proof of this contention was. Thoughts?

Well, we're talking about the gospel that all the apostles and early Christians witnessed and believed. One important aspect of the gospel is that Jesus really died and really rose again.
 
The only ones who reject the teachings of St. Paul are those who've never understood it in the first place. If you choose to reject these teachings rather than try to understand them, you are and will be missing out on the core and most central part of what it means to be a believer at all.

St. Paul's epistles can only be understood by those who've already been separated unto Christ through belief and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Otherwise, the blind only see a flurry of contradictions rather than a set of harmonious teaching that all reconciles with itself along with the entire Old and New Testaments.
 
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The only ones who reject the teachings of St. Paul are those who've never understood it in the first place. If you choose to reject these teachings rather than try to understand them, you are and will be missing out on the core and most central part of what it means to be a believer at all.

A believer of whom, Jesus OR Paul?

Don't let truth stand the way of a fun made up story. ;) :D


"Christianity is the religion founded by Paul, which replaces Jesus' Gospel with a Gospel about Jesus - a religion that should rather be called Paulinism." -- Dr. Wilhelm Nestle, Church Historian
 
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