For all who have read this blog and those who are still to read it, I’m convinced that most, if not all, have already made up their mind on what they think the gospel is. I understand my own heart and therefore would love nothing more than to place God and all His requirements into my way of life. But what if I am wrong? The consequences could be catastrophic. Therefore I needed to be sure that I understood what the true gospel meant. So let me take care and slowly look to the scriptures to find the truth. Let every point I make be from the Bible regardless of my own thoughts. For this to be accomplished my thoughts must be backed up by scripture and therefore scripture verses will be quoted for all to see.
Where in the Bible do we go to find these answers?
I suppose I could do a word search on the word ‘gospel’. In the ASV I find the word 90 times, and all in the New Testament. This makes sense as this is where the Lord Jesus made His entry into the world. Born of a virgin (Mary) - she was impregnated by God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1: 18). It was a supernatural occurrence. But the writers of the New Testament do not always use the word ‘gospel’. Peter address 3000 people in the Book of Acts where he preachers the good news of Christianity and never mentions the word ‘gospel’.
I then felt I needed to look beyond the word ‘gospel’. I obviously needed to look at the word in great depth and also look to all those people who had encounters with Him and got to experience Him in person and then glean from their experience in God’s word. I needed to consider God’s character and realised that it is most beautifully seen in the Lord Jesus – He never lied (Titus 1: 2); He is righteous; He judged the world by dying on a cruel Roman cross on a hill called ‘Golgotha’ (John 3: 18); He demonstrated His love by His willingness to die to save all those who would repent and believe (Matthew 20: 28); The creator (John 1: 3).
Tomorrow I will look at the beginning and the creation of man and his downfall.
Signing off...
Tyrone

So then the gospel, or rather the true gospel is available for all to find. The question that needs an answer is do we want to be like a wise man who builds his house on the rock and when the storms came his house was left standing. Or do we rather like the defence strategy the ostrich uses. It sticks its head in the sand thinking that if it cannot see whatever is hunting it, it must be safe. I have made my choice.

Now all that is left is to get to grips with the gospel...

What is the gospel and why did God give mankind the gospel? This may take some time but like a son once asked his father, how was the great city of Rome built, he simply replied “one brick at a time my son.” Therefore we will need to carefully unpack this wonderful truth.

But for now I would like to summarise and then we can break it down one section at a time. If you would like to responded or challenge what I pen. Feel free to drop me a note and we ought to discuss it. But remember that our point of reference must be the infallible word of god, the Bible.

A good place to start would be with the character of God; God has neither beginning nor end. He is constant. It is impossible for him to lie. He is perfect and because he is perfect whatever He requires from man must therefore also be perfect. We may question that but we have imperfections and therefore we must all conclude that our opinion carries very little weight as we are imperfect. He is righteous and therefore is always right. He is love and therefore manifests His love toward mankind by sending his Son (Jesus Christ) to pay the price for sin. He is a judge and will judge all things. He is the creator. Jesus Christ understands life and its hardships because He lived as a man and yet without sin. There is more, but enough said.

Then we will consider creation and the entrance of man. Then sin, its judgement and the penalty sinners will pay. Then finally the way of escape that God has afforded all those that will repent and believe.

Signing off...

Tyrone

With so many voices out there it is sometimes confusing to know which voice to pay attention to. Politicians tell us one thing while parents have their own opinion; teachers teach subjects and friends endeavour to influence us according to their understanding of life. Everywhere you turn there is something or someone that wants to have influence over our lives. Even the marketing world is designed to influence our shopping habits. The truth be told, all these voices have and are still playing a role in our lives. But, there is another voice that we often overlook and that is the voice of our creator. Why is this important?

Let us pretend that we knew the beginning form the end. Let’s say I knew a certain stock on the JSE would, after one week of trading, end up 20% higher than what I could initially bought if for. This was not a maybe, but a certainty. The reason I was able to predict this - I could see into the future. What would I do with this information? Obviously it is a no brainer and I would find as much money as I could, buy the share and make an easy profit. Yet in reality, when I look back on my life I realise how often I chose to ignore information as good as that. How foolish I have been!

Surely we should all use this wonderful wealth of information that God has left for us to find? The Bible is the inerrant truth of the beginning and the end and how we as individuals fit into the history of time. I obviously am not referring to a stock but rather something far greater and with eternal consequences. It has taken a lifetime to conclude that there is no greater purpose than to endeavour to understand God and His plan for mankind. This is where it begins, but I found another problem. Just as everyone has an opinion about life, so do preachers and different Christian denominations. So which voice do I listen to? I have often wanted to go with whatever fits into my lifestyle. So some preachers preach what is known as a seeker friendly gospel. Just believe and continue with your life in the same old way - Jesus the add-on. Others say - give your money and you will be blessed a hundred fold. In other words tithe R10 and you will get R1 000 back - Jesus the answer to all my financial turmoil. Others say - be good to others and then one day my good deeds will outweigh the bad ones and you will get to heaven. I could go on and on. What is the gospel, the real true gospel and how will I find it?

We need to go to the source, the place without error, the final authority. Not my opinion or yours but rather what does God have to say. The One, who designed, created and used His own Son to execute it.

What is the true Gospel?

The bible, the final authority...

Signing Off

Tyrone

Renew our covenant with God

My First Entry 24-04-2010

Considering life and my journey, it has had many highs as well as lows. How do we as individuals value its worth? I cannot speak for you but let me endeavour to tell my story as I have come to understand it. Life is full of choices and not only are decisions made instinctively on a daily basis but minute by minute our brains process information and take action. Often I have made terrible choices and bare the marks in my body to prove it. I once thought that life was about achievement on the sport field and as a young boy I lived for it. It was the place I could receive recognition. Later on in life the world seemed to be my oyster, I thought wine, woman and song was where it was at. Yet deep down there seemed to be an empty place I could not fill. Then the day came along when my eyes were opened to life and its purpose, what a glorious day that was. I can still remember it with clarity, how tears of joy rolled down my cheeks and I needed to tell the world. I came face to face with the Lord of all creation, the only true and living God, the great I Am, Jesus Christ Himself. This would be hard to understand if you have not had a similar experience. At last life made sense, it had real purpose. I now had substance to live for, heaven and all its glory, but not only the fruits of heaven (joy, peace, love and the like) but the prospect of seeing this perfect God in person and to live with Him for eternity. Wow what opportunity!

It is at this point in my life I choose to share my journey with you... This is where true joy and absolute misery has played it role. This is where all my decisions begin to outplay themselves some good but with many shocking choices and to my detriment, not only in this life but in the life to come. But, you see once your eyes have been opened, no matter where you look or where you turn, life and its truth will look you sternly in the eye and leave you questioning all your bad decisions. I have in times gone by tried to escape from God’s truth and pretended to be somebody else. Something like an actor playing a different role for different productions. Going with the flow of whomever I was with at the time. “Birds of a feather flock together” rings true.

You see, once you know the truth you cannot pretend not to. And so through my life I have blown hot and cold on many occasions. At times because of my understanding of God’s word I would serve Him and forsake sin and all its pleasures. Then at other time I would serve God and justify sin. Or forsake God and live a life of sin. Yet wherever I found myself I could never pretend even as an actor in whatever role to not know the truth or the call on my life.

You see, God is the same yesterday, today and will be forever. He is perfect and cannot change. When something is perfect it means there is no room for improvement. His rule for David is the same rule for me and you. He is light and in Him is no darkness. It is impossible for Him to sin. He cannot and will not justify sin. This is why He sent His Son to live on earth as a man, without sin and yet to pay the price for sin, making a way for all whom would call upon Him as Lord and Saviour. This is such a remarkable act of mercy and grace it is almost unbelievable. But, if you can believe it then this blog may have some insight for your life. No matter where you may find yourself, no matter what part you are acting out in whatever feature that now surrounds your life. The way back is just a call away. Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10: 13).

You may say I have done that and look at my life now, it is full of sin and I have tried it and I have failed miserably. All I have to say to you is what the Lord Jesus said to me. It was not a mystical voice from heaven but a man (C.H. Spurgeon) repeating His words from scripture in one of His sermons. A bruised reed shall he not break, And smoking flax shall he not quench, until he send forth judgment unto victory (Matthew 12: 20). I recall the day I stood on the abyss of hell looking into all its filth and crying out to my Saviour and when I should have been discarded and throw to the dogs for them to tear my flesh to pieces God in His tender mercy extended yet again His mercy to me and I must believe He is willing to extend it to all His children as there is no partiality with God. If you have been called, if you have been chosen there is an adversary who goes around like a roaring lion seeking to devour all who have wandered from the sheep fold. BUT Jesus Christ Gods only Son has conquered death, hell and the Grave. Call and believe on Him, there is no valley too deep for Him so wherever you find yourself, while you have breath you have hope, let no-one tell you anything different.

Signing off,

May you find grace...

Tyrone, a brother with many regrets, yet now with hope.