[Biblemat] S) NEED FOR A MODERN GOSPEL?

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethern and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my
files.  Use to the glory of God.

NEED FOR A MODERN GOSPEL?

     Few people in the church of the Lord today realize how 
deeply indebted we are to those sturdy and faithful pioneers
of two hundred years or so ago who had the courage to fight
for a return to "the old paths" (Jer. 6:16).  Because of their
devotion to the Lord and their diligence in the study and teaching of His 
Word, true New Testament Christianity has 
been preserved for us in all of its purity.

     The apostle Paul wrote, "But I fear, lest by any means, as
the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should
be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward
Christ" (2 Cor. 11:3).  The denominational world has mostly
tried to convince folk that the gospel is so complex that it
takes "a professional" with many years of "Siminary training"
to learn and explain it.  But the leaders of the restoration movement 
rejected that premise, and returned us to the idea
that "the simplicity and the purity" that is in Christ is available
to each one of us.  We are able to study the Bible for oursel-
ves, and reach our own understanding of God's will for our
lives.

     But there are still those in the world (and some in the 
churches of Christ) who contend that we need a modern gos-
pel.  Their reasoning is that what was written 2000 years ago
is not always "relevant" to us who are living in the 21st cent-
ury.  They argue that the Bible was produced in a certain cul-
ture, and our culture is different and that culture of 2000 years ago (they 
argue) should not determine how we live and
worship today.  They are determined to "update" the gospel
to make it relevant.  And, like fellows in race cars, they are
willing to run over anyone who gets in their way and they con-
tinually upgrade their cars with new technology.  But do we
really need to upgrade the Bible to a modern version?

THE LAW OF MOSES WAS UPDATED: -- The gospel of Christ
is the perfect law of God for these "last days" (Heb. 1:1,2; Jas. 1:25).  But 
there are still those who contend that the per-
fection of the New Testament law does not make it binding 
forever.  The suggest that the Law of Moses was perfect, but
that its systems of worship have been abolished.  And it is
true that the Old Testament has been abolished (Col. 2:14),
but its purpose was never that of perfection.  The Bible plain-
ly says: "For there is a disannulling of a foregoing command-
ment because of its weakness and unprofitableness (for the
law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a
better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God" (Heb. 7:
18,19).  The old law was "a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ
(Gal. 3:24).  It was perfect for that purpose.  But when that
purpose was fulfilled, it was take away.

     The Bible says of the Law of Moses, "It was added because of 
transgressions, till the Seed should come to Whom the promise hath been made" (Gal. 
3:19), and that 
"Seed" is Christ (vs. 16).  The death of Christ, and His resur-
rection, made possible the abolishment of the Old Law and the establishment 
of "the perfect law of liberty" (Jas. 1:25),
the New Testament.

THE GOSPEL IS COMPLETE: -- Anyone with a nodding acqua-
intance with the Scriptures recognizes that the written gospel
testifies to its own perfection.  But there are still those who
argue that we need a new gospel for this new age, or at least
that gospel needs some "minor" changes.  They reason thus:
"The gospel was fine for the generation of the apostles, but
it has served its purpose.  The church has been established
and has withstood all efforts to destroy it, and here we are
in the 21st century -- the age of science, inventions and pro-
gress.  We must revise that gospel to meet 21st century con-
ditions."  But, as the inspired apostle wrote, "And for this cau-
se we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received
from us the Word of the message, even the Word of God, ye
accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the 
Word of God, which also worketh in you that believe" (1 Thes. 2:13).  We're 
not dealing with something that is man-
made here!  God is the Author of the Bible.

     The apostle Paul wrote, "I marvel that ye are so quickly
removing from Him that called you in the grace of Christ unto
a different gospel; which is not another gospel only there are
some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospelof Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto
you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you,
let him be anathema" (Gal. 1:6-8).  To change the gospel, in
even the smallest part, makes of it "a different gospel."  After
all, what is the purpose of the gospel?  "For I am not asham-
ed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to
every one that believeth...for all have sinned, and fall short
of the glory of God...For the wages of sin is death; but the 
free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom.
1:16; 3;23; 6:23).  There is the essential purpose of the gos-
pel.  How can that be changed?

     The gospel is disigned, by the Lord, to save the souls of
those who are lost (Lk. 19:10).  To change that gospel, in any
detail, makes of it a different gospel (Gal. 1:7) and perverts
the Lord's purpose for it.  Peter wrote of it, "His divine power
hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and god-
liness, through the knowledge of Him that called us by His own glory and 
virtue" (2 Pet. 1:3).  The gospel is God's instru-
ment through which men are saved from sin.  It is simple: sin
is the disease, the gospel is the remedy.

THE GOSPEL IS GOD'S POWER TO SAVE: -- So, what of to-
day?  Has the world really changed so much since the days
of the apostles?  Maybe outwardly it has, but fundamentally,
the world hasn't really changed at all.  There is not a sin found in the New 
Testament that is not in existence today.
Thus, man's needs have not changed at all.  He is still a sinn-
er, and sin is still sin.  God clearly says, "If we say that we
have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us"
(1 Jno. 1:8).  Does anyone dare suggest that our need for for-
giveness, and assurance of our salvation, is old fogey, out-
moded?

     Some scoff at the idea of sin, and some even contend that
we have "outgrown tht concept."  But if you sin, then the gos-
pel is still relevant and necessary for you!  "If we walk in the
light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another
and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all
sin" (1 Jno. 1:7).  Only the blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse
us from sin (Heb. 9:22; 10:4,19; Jas. 1:18,19; etc.).  And we
gain access to that cleansing blood by our obedience to that
ancient gospel (Heb. 5:8,9).  Now, among all of the wonderful
inventions and discoveries of man, do you know of any that
will obtain for us the forgiveness of sins?!

THE GOSPEL IS SUFFICIENT: -- The gospel is sufficient to 
supply all of our spiritual needs, including salvation.  But
there are some who do not believe that.  They want a new
gospel.  But this is not new.  Even when the gospel was first
given, some sought to improve on it (Gal. 1:6-8).  Yes, there
were even some trouble-makers in the early church.  There
was some digression in the times of the apostles.  The point
in Gal. 1:7 is interesting: "Some trouble you and would per-
vert the gospel of Christ."  That word "pervert," is an ugly
word, which means to turn something from its right purpose
or function.  It takes a bad word to describe a person who 
willfully tampers with the Word of God.  These people were
spiritual perverts, who maliciously and with premeditation 
sought to pervert the gospel of Christ and make the truth of
God a lie.  Such perverts are worthy of contempt of everyone
who loves the Lord and His gospel.

THE GOSPEL IS UNCHANGEABLE: -- Why was Paul so "sold"
on the gospel which he preached, and why was he so bent on
opposing all other teachings?  He answers: "For am I now
seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I 
were still pleasing men, I should not be a ser-
vant of Christ.  For I make known to you, brethren, as touch-
ing the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not after
man.  For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught
it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ" (Gal.
1:10-12).  Paul received the gospel by direct revelation of Jesus Christ.  It 
could not have been anything other than per-
fect, "the perfect law" given by the perfect Savior.

     The gospel of Christ is adaptable to the needs of man in
every generation, but not because it has the flexibility that 
some boast for it.  Christ told the apostles tht the Holy Spirit
would "teach you all things that I said unto you...He shall guide you into 
all the truth" (Jno. 14:26; 16:13).  The gospel
gives us "all things that pertain to life and to godliness" (2 
Pet. 1:3), and will completely equip the man of God for every
good work (2 Tim. 3:14-17).  Who could ask for anything more?  What more 
could God give us than a gospel, a law,
that is absolutely perfect and complete?

THE GOSPEL IS PERMANENT: -- The Lord Himself, said it:
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not
pass away" (Matt. 24:35).  The Bible says, "Now the God of
peace, Who brought again from the dead the great Shepherd
of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, even our
Lord Jesus, make you perfect in every good thing to do His
Will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in His sight,
through Jesus Christ; to Whom be the glory for ever and ever
Amen" (Heb. 13:20,21).  Notice that the gospel of Christ is "an
eternal covenant."  Unlike the old covenant, given at Mt. Sinai
to Israel, which was limited in its duration, the gospel of Christ -- this 
"eternal covenant" -- will endure forever.  As
Peter wrote, "But the Word of the Lord abideth for ever.  And
this is the Word of the gospel which was preached unto you"
(1 Pet. 1:25).

     Jesus spoke of this quality of His gospel when He said, 
"He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My sayings, hath One that judgeth 
him: the Word that I spake, the same shall
judge him in the last day" (Jno. 12:48).  You can argue with
what I say, but it is futile to argue with what Jesus says!  When you stand 
before Him to be judged, His Words will judge you.  If you neglect His Words, 
or try to change them in
some way, what do you think will be His reaction?  Friend, the
gospel is unchanging, so don't expect a "modern gospel" to
allow you to do anything you want.  Study His gospel, learn
it and submit to it, and you will hear the Lord say at the
judgment, "Enter ye into the joys of the Lord."  -----------------
Clem Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 56, No. 36, Sept. 7,
2007.   </HTML>
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