1 Timothy 1:11 (KJV)
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
This verse is in a letter written by Paul to Timothy. The gospel is the greatest asset of the church. It has been entrusted to us to guard, to preserve, and to share.
Our Glorious Gospel
The first letter from the apostle Paul to Timothy emphasizes faithfulness to the doctrine and gospel of Jesus Christ. So, what is the definition of gospel? The word gospel translates from the Greek word euaggelion, which means “good news.” Paul defined gospel in his first epistle to the Christians at Corinth. He clearly stated that the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The fact that Jesus is resurrected is the good news of Christianity. In addition, He was seen by many eyewitnesses on several occasions, providing a historical record of His resurrection. We serve a truly risen Lord! We are not groping in the dark or grasping at straws or following fables or unproven stories. The birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus are facts both doctrinally and historically.
Our God-given faith joins with the fact of the resurrection and compels us to boldly proclaim this saving message to all mankind. Paul wrote to the Romans about the power of the gospel of Jesus.
Romans 1:16 (KJV)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The gospel is only powerful because Jesus is powerful. The volume, animation, or choice of words in preaching does not make the gospel powerful. Even the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus is not the basis of the power of the gospel. The power of the gospel rests solely on the identity of Jesus Christ and that in Him exists all power both in heaven and on earth. There is no salvation without Jesus. There is no glorious gospel without Jesus.
Matthew 28:18 (KJV)
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Only an intimate, spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ will allow a person to experience the true power of the gospel.
1 Timothy 1:3 (KJV)
3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
The apostle Paul was a devoted defender of the faith and gospel of Jesus Christ. Some have tried to dismiss the importance of doctrine in the church, but doctrine is vital. Doctrine is “teaching” and it defines the beliefs of any person or movement and identifies what they stand for. Paul urged Timothy to influence the Ephesian church to hold true to the pure doctrine of Jesus Christ.
When a person adds a “little lie” to truth the entire statement is contaminated by the lie. In the same sense, when a person embraces error, no matter how small it may seem, it contaminates that person’s doctrine. There is no substitute for the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul warned the Galatians concerning this in his epistle to the churches of Galatia.
Galatians 1:6-8 (KJV)
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Satan offers a substitute for every good thing God has given. He attempts to offer substitutes for the saving gospel, but there is no real substitute. A comparison can be to a counterfeiter. A counterfeiter doesn’t counterfeit seven dollar bills. Why? Seven dollar bills are no good. A counterfeit is a fraudulent imitation of something genuine. Our glorious gospel is genuine and Satan tries to counterfeit it.
Christians have certainty in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can be assured of the gospel we preach because of the results it produces in the lives of its recipients. The end result of the gospel in a person’s life is love out of a pure heart, a clear conscience, and true faith.
1 Timothy 1:5 (KJV)
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
A Pure Heart. The saving gospel both saves and purifies the believer. The gospel does not leave us in the same condition in which it finds us; it purifies our heart and produces a good conscience.
A Good Conscience. Once God has purified our heart, our thoughts also will change for the better. As God purifies our thoughts our faith begins to grow and mature-becoming true, sincere, and genuine.
An Unfeigned Faith. Unfeigned faith is sincere faith. Sincere faith is genuine, strong, and powerful to effect change all around us. Jesus’ love, purity, goodness, and faith build a “garrison” of protection around us.
Argentina’s waters have some chemical properties which prevents the cleaning of wool. Huge quantities of dirty wool must be shipped abroad to be returned as yarns. Import and export taxes must be paid both ways. The cost to manufacture wool is outrageous. Chemists say that there is only one river in Argentina whose waters could be used to wash wool clean enough for manufacturing into cloth.
The ways, philosophies, and ideas of man are insufficient to wash away the dirt of sin in a person’s life. The only thing with enough power to clean us from the sin in our life is the blood of Jesus Christ. There is no other alternative. The forgiveness of sin and the washing away of sin came at a tremendous cost… Calvary.
This is Our Glorious Gospel
-Pastor Kelley