UNDERSTANDING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

There are three vital things which God grants us and these do govern the potential of a person in life. These are: Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding (Exodus 31:3, 35:31).

Where is the source of Understanding? Job asks. (Job 28:20)

Understanding comes by Revelation. And Revelation comes from God by His (God's) guidance. God guided John to the island of Patmos so that He (God) could reveal to John the things that John couldn't see literally. God then told him to write the book of Revelation (Revelation 1:10).

We terribly lack understanding, yet we are resistant to guidance. If John had resisted being guided to the island of Patmos, it is most likely that he (John) wouldn't have been the author of the book of Revelation.

Jesus does recognize this terrible part of us (Matthew 22:29). In our terrible quest to remain ignorant, we think it is defeat if we concede lack of understanding. And this keeps us in continual ignorance on many things which could easily be understood if we let guidance. Understanding therefore may never simply be grasped by engaging, but by the guidance of God through the Holy Spirit.

If we do not understand, then we can never make sense of anything. That is why scripture is emphatic on urging us to understand. It is paramount that we should always understand what we do. And that we should make those we work with or lead do so.

Nehemiah made sure that everybody understood what he was doing (Nehemiah 10:28). It could terribly be defeating and an accident ready to happen if we do something that nobody else does understand. On His mission, Jesus sought to make people understand who He is and what He came for (Luke 4:18).

God gives us revelation and the prophets so that we have knowledge of what is to happen next, so that we can understand it and be able to go about it well.In this then, God wants us to understand and scripture does indeed appreciate this as can be seen below:

Luke 24:45-"Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

Exodus 36:1 - "Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded".

Deuteronomy 1:13 - "Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you".

Deuteronomy 4:6 - "Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people".

Deuteronomy 32:28 - "For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them".

1Samuel 25:3 - "Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb".

1Kings 3:9 - "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

1Kings 3:11 - "And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

1Kings 3:12 - "Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee".

1Kings 4:29 - "And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore".

1Kings 7:14 - "He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work"

1Chronicles 12:32 - "And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment".

1Chronicles 22:12 - "Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God".

2Chronicles 2:12 - "Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom".

2Chronicles 2:13 - "And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's,

2Chronicles 26:5 - "And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper".

Ezra 8:16 - "Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding".

Ezra 8:18 - "And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;

Nehemiah 8:2 - "And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month".

Job 12:3 - "But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

Job 12:12 - "With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding".

Job 12:13 - "With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding".

Job 12:20 - "He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged".

Job 17:4  - "For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them".

Job 20:3 - "I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer".

Job 26:12 - "He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud".

Job 28:12 - "But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?

Proverbs 18:2 - A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

Proverbs 14:29 - [He that is] slow to wrath [is] of great understanding: but [he that is] hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

Proverbs 2:2-5 - So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding.

Proverbs 17:27 - He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

Proverbs 3:13-18 - Happy [is] the man [that] findeth wisdom, and the man [that] getteth understanding.

Proverbs 20:5 - Counsel in the heart of man [is like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

Knowledge can only profit if it entails "understanding". The Ethiopian Eunuch read the scriptures, and it appears pretty much he had the zeal to read, but that is all he could do, he lacked understanding (Acts 8:30). Fortunately, he was open to guidance. And when Philip factored in, he (the Ethiopian Eunuch) was readily receptive.

Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch

Jesus dressed in human flesh so that He could literally guide us in the way of God. God had given us instructions by way of commandments and we could not adhere to them. But when Jesus dressed in human flesh and appeared amongst us, He has made an indisputable lasting impact by being directly exemplary to us.

When the Helper who is the Holy Spirit comes, one of the things He is to do is to testify of Jesus (John 15:26). Thus then, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are to work together to make us come to the true knowledge of God. For the Holy Spirit convicts us on what Jesus has commanded and taught us to do. Together, you can do much.

In this light then, we ought to understand the Trinity. Jesus taught us not only about His person, but also about God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit. It is thus paramount that we understand both: Jesus and His word. Jesus is as vital as His word, and the opposite is true (Matthew 7:21-23), (Hebrews 4:2), (Matthew 7:24, Luke 6:47-49). If we pray in Jesus' name (and it works to pray in Jesus' name), then we should also take His (Jesus') word pretty seriously. And we should also treat His commandments as very vital (John 15:14-15), (Luke 6:46).

And we also ought to seek to understand the person of Jesus much as we do His word (John 6:33-35, 41-42, 48-58, 60-61, 63, 66). For Jesus is the word, and the word is Jesus.

Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.  Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves" (John 14:8-11).

Jesus gives us direction and it is upon Him that our Faith is built (Hebrews 12:2). For it is best and well understood that way. Jesus is the cornerstone of anything and everything Christian (Psalms 118:22), (Matthew 21:42).

The gospel of Jesus Christ can be understood along the following:

• God the Father

• The person of Jesus

• The person of Jesus as the foundation of the gospel

• The Holy Spirit

• Embracing Jesus Christ and His teachings

• Repentance

• Bearing the fruit of repentance

• Love

• Forgiveness

• The gospel of peace

• The gospel of healing

God the Father

When Jesus came, He taught about God the Father (Matthew 6:9). He wanted us to be assured that there is God the Father and that He (God the Father) does indeed love and care for us. Jesus came so He could cleanse us, lead us and present us to the Father. And in much of His speech, He would refer to the Father (YAHWEH) (John 5:20-24).  So Jesus was teaching us that the project to save man had been long an initiative of the Father and fulfilled by the Son.

At one time, Jesus said He could never do a thing that He is not learnt from or without the Father (John 5:19, 30). Equally so, we witness by scripture that the Father referred to Jesus as Son (Mark 1:11), (Matthew 3:16). In this, Jesus wanted us to learn that the source of all life, power, love goodness, purity, holiness and righteousness is the Father (who had also presented Himself in the Son). He wanted us to know that to be able to live a positive spiritual life, we have to ready to learn from God. 

More scripture about God the Father. 

 Luke 10:21-22 

In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

John 10:30 
I and the Father are one.”

Matthew 10:20
For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Matthew 24:36 
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

John 12:44-45
And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.

Matthew 11:27
All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Mark 13:32
“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Luke 15:20
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Matthew 28:19
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

The person of Jesus Christ

Jesus' Gospel is also about His person. Jesus Christ is the gist of the gospel. Every thing is because the Son is (John 1:1-2). And without Jesus, it is pretty and terribly impossible to understand this gospel. And if you can't understand who Jesus is, neither will you understand who God the Father or the Holy Spirit is.

Thus to ask; who is Jesus?

Jesus attempted to reveal to the disciples what His person is. But He always loves it that it comes by revelation rather than Him to seem to orchestrate it.

At one moment, Jesus asked what the disciples had understood of Him to be; Peter said; "...you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 14:16), (Mark 8:29-30). In reply, Jesus commended Peter for this lovely revelation.

Additionally, at the last supper, when Jesus shared with the disciples bread and grape vine juice, he said; "Take, eat; this is my body". And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:26-28).

Jesus is the light

Going further in scripture, God the Father (in His voice) admonishes that the person of Jesus Christ is His Son (Matthew 3:17), (Mark 1:11), (Matthew 12:18), (Matthew 17:5), (Mark 9:7).

The person of Jesus Christ as the foundation of the Gospel

Jesus Christ being who He is, and understanding Him as so, He was anointed by the Father to save the world by way of His perfect sacrifice. For Jesus is the name of the person, yet Christ is what He is.

In Jesus' person (the Christ), He revealed what His mission is; to set the world free of sin (Luke 4:18), (Isaiah 61:1). In the same vein then, the person of Jesus  makes it that we can understand what the purpose of the Gospel is.

Jesus' mission is to set the foundation for our Faith (John 8:24), (John 6:29). For only through Jesus we can approach God the Father (John 14:6), (John 10:9). Without Jesus, there is no Christian (John 15:1-8).

The first man in Adam failed to live to his abilities; the second man in Jesus lived up to His abilities. Jesus thus used His abilities to accomplish a mission. He (Jesus Christ) is the foundation of the Gospel of the New Testament (1 Corinthians 15:47, Romans 5:18). For by the righteousness of Jesus, we are counted worthy.

God the Holy Spirit

In much of His teachings, Jesus pretty much referred to God the Holy Spirit. He said that when He left earth, He would let the Holy Spirit on us who would teach us more, guide us, comfort us, give us wisdom, give us remembrance of all Jesus' teachings, give us power and convict us of; sin, truth, and righteousness (John 14:26, 16:7-15), (Romans 8:26, 15:13).

The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, righteousness and judgment

The Apostle Paul also teaches us that if we have the Holy Spirit, then we know the mind of God. For no one knows a person's thoughts except his spirit. So, the Holy Spirit knows the mind of God and if we receive Him, then we know the mind of Christ (1Corinthians 2:12-16). So it is then that if one has not Christ, then he has not the Spirit of Christ. And if one has not the Spirit of Christ, then he is not of Christ (Romans 8:9).

Are they three Gods?

No. Not at all. They are not three Gods. It is one God who presents in the three. The same God is God the Father. The same God is God the Son. And the same God is God the Holy Spirit. Each of the three is the same God as the other (John 14:9). 

Embracing Jesus Christ and His teachings

On the person of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ is built. No one else with the righteousness of God. Jesus alone who is the Son of God and God stood to save man. The person of Jesus is exceptional because in Jesus is the person of God. Jesus is never like any other person. He is God. Life is in Him and in His teachings.

Through Jesus therefore, there is hope of life after death (John 11:25), (John 5:24). Yet to deny Jesus can be self judgment to eternal condemnation (John 3:19).

It shouldn't therefore be simply wishful to choose to follow Jesus. He is tested, proven and justified by the Father. Jesus is worthy because He lived a life free of sin (John 8:46). Jesus gives us an opportunity to relive a life of honor.

For this, it is perfectly fitting and rightly commensurate to fall in love with Jesus. Only Jesus has exhibited to us the kind of love that is limitless in every way.

Unlike others, Jesus never breaks a person's heart. If you give your life to Jesus, you pretty stand assured. If you already have given your life to Jesus, the wisest thing ever in your life is to keep just with Him.

Repentance.

Repentance is the action of repenting. It is an expression of sincere regret or remorse. Having offended someone, what comes next should be repentance.

Every human person is a sinner. It is simply empty and shameless one to deny and insist he is not a sinner (1John 1:9-10). It is a weakness rather than a strength to insist not to repent. It is terribly shameful and unbecoming!!!

By way of Adam having sinned, anything human is ingrained with sin (Romans 3:23). Apart from being known as human, man's other name should be SINNER!

Salvation therefore does not come by keeping a set of moral obligations. Neither is it that being not saved is the failure to keep the same. 

Salvation is not what we do. Salvation is what Jesus makes us to be. And what Jesus makes us to be is in the heart, not what we are literally. To do or not to do certain things can't bring a person Salvation. Such may only be for public consumption (Colossians 2:20-23).

Spiritual healing therefore comes from within out, and not from out in. So, our actions should be sourced and determined in the heart rather than to simply act.

It is groundless to think that your actions can influence your heart. It never can be!!!??? For it should be rather that your heart will influence your actions. We can only impress fellow men but not the Omnipresent and Omniscient God!!!

"Celebrate the beauty of your heart and not your riches". 

Salvation is life. It is a recreation of a relationship with God. If to say; Salvation is the character of God. And the character of God is; righteousness, love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22), (Romans 14:17).

Christians are perpetually failing in spiritual progress simply because we prefer to struggle to appear as good moral people (looking for justification from others) rather than to submit to Jesus (the only one who can make us good).

Salvation does not come out of fear. It should rather be out of conviction. Salvation is a gift which is granted by God through His Son Jesus Christ.

Jesus always called for and encouraged repentance so to be counted for God (Luke 13:1-5), (Luke 18:9-14). Everyone who loves God should repent. Repentance creates a whole new beginning. It is a new lease of life. With Jesus, it is a whole new world.

There is no sinner whom can't be forgiven. All you need is; admit your sin (wrong and bad perception and wrong doing) and repent.

Jesus died for every bit of a sin. He (Jesus) is seated on the right hand of God the Father interceding for every bit of every sin (Romans 8:33-34).

A repentant sinner

Bearing the fruit of repentance

Repentance cements a person's new found life in Jesus Christ. This is to pursue to live a transformed life.

A repentant person keeps aligned to living a repentant life. Such a person is focused to living a life that is to the glory of God.

Relentlessly and unceasingly yearning to have a heart that is after the heart of God and pursuing righteousness.

There must be evidence of a Christian both inwardly and outwardly in the way you go about your life.

You ought to understand that how you live your life could be an inspiration to save another soul.

For repentance comes from self realization of having been wrong and going the wrong way.

Choosing the way that God directs you to is to be wise. By doing this, one has chosen the sure way of life (Luke 18:6-8), (John 8:11), (Matthew 3:8-10). And this makes it possible that you begin to bear the fruit of the Spirit.

When we seek Christ Jesus, we are to regain the image of God in which we were created. God wants us back in His image.

The gospel of Forgiveness

What is Forgiveness?

Forgiveness can be defined as an act of pardoning an offender. And Forgiveness comes in response to repentance.

Jesus promised that if one repents, they will be forgiven. But He admonished us that we ought to forgive those who wrong us so that we can also receive forgiveness from the Father (Mark 11:25), (Matthew 6:14-15). Jesus added on that we ought to forgive not once, not twice, but always (Matthew 18:21-22). He said this because He wanted us to learn that just as each one needs to be forgiven, always, so should each one forgive the other, always. For God forgives every repentant person, always.

In the same spirit, each one should desist from judging the other (Luke 6:37). For judgment is of God. Yet He has not judged us, but He has reached out to us through Jesus Christ so that we are not condemned and so that we all are reconciled with God (2Corinthians 5:18-19).

Jesus taught that forgiveness should be oral much as it is practical. It is not an item only to be uttered. For if you intend to forgive, then you do so in all ways; that is orally, mentally and literally. Having done all this, then reconcile. Jesus went on to exemplify this to us when He forgave those who had crucified Him (Luke 23:34).  He did so not for the public viewing. But Jesus wanted to give a chance to everyone to reconcile with God.

Jesus forgave right on the cross

The Gospel of Love.

What is love?
According to scripture, if we are to define what love is, it says God is Love and Love is God (1John 4:8).

Jesus' gospel was also the gospel of love. He taught us to love the Lord God with all our heart, our possessions, with all mind, and with all our strength (Matthew 22:37-39), (Mark 12:29-32). He taught that we should love one another (John 13:34-35). He also taught us that He came to save us because He loved us (John 15:13). Jesus, love can never be matched.

Jesus taught that we should not only love so we can receive the same back to us (Luke 14:12-13). So He said we should love as how God loves each one of us. For God loves everybody, even those who hate Him. We should then love even our enemies by not cursing and condemning them, but pray for them (Luke 6:31-35).

The gospel of peace

What is Peace?
Peace can be defined as freedom from disturbance, it is quiet and tranquility.

Jesus'  gospel was also the gospel of peace. He came so that He could help us make peace with God. Jesus also said that He came so that we could have peace within us and with other people (John 16:33), (Matthew 5:9). For the peace makers are the children of God.

Jesus demonstrated that His gospel was a gospel of peace not in word only, but also in practical terms. When one of the disciples chopped off one of the soldier's ear, Jesus did not accept it (John 18:10-11), (Matthew 26:51-53). He placed back the ear and healed the man. Jesus was demonstrating that His gospel was not about violence. It was a gospel of peace in every sense, and the sword would never be applicable.

Jesus taught us how to demonstrate peace making rather than resorting to bickering and violence. He said that if you have an issue with your adversary, seek to make peace with him before he takes you to the judge who may pass the verdict and throw you in jail until when you pay the whole penalty (Matthew 5:24-25), (Luke 12:58-59). In this, Jesus was teaching us to seek to make peace with God and with fellow people.

The gospel of healing

What is healing?
Healing can be defined as the process of making or becoming sound or healthy again. So, healing comes after there is a breakdown in one's health, either spiritually or literally.

Jesus' gospel was also about healing. When He sent the disciples, He instructed them to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils (Matthew 10:8). And Jesus did perform a lot of healing both spiritually and literally. He healed the sick and restored sight to the blind. He healed Peter's mother in law of a fever (Matthew 8:14), (Luke 4:38-40), (Mark 1:29-39).

Jesus healed Mary Magdalene both spiritually and literally. When she met Jesus, she was made anew (Luke 7:36-50), (John 12:3). Jesus also healed the man with a legion of demons (Mark 5:1-20). And Jesus performed a lot more spiritual and literal healing (Luke 4:35, 4:41, 8:29, 11:14), (Matthew 8:16), (Mark 1:34, 39).

In conclusive terms, we can learn that the gospel of Jesus Christ is a dynamic and holistic gospel. For it touches every bit of life. It (the gospel) gives an opportunity to every individual to relive a life to the honor of God. For it never matters who you are, you always have an opportunity if you commit and submit to Jesus Christ.