All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
The Simple Gospel
I believe that we have become educators instead of communicators. An old saying states that educators take the simple and make it hard while a communicator takes that which is hard and makes it simple. Thus, are we entrusted with educating people regarding the gospel or to simply communicate the gospel?
Also, how hard is the basic gospel to understand? When we read the Bible is it designed for the well educated or the simplest of folk to understand its basic core message of salvation is Christ.
Could it be that when Jesus said do not hinder the little children from coming to me that He was speaking also of making the simple to hard to understand?
What do you think?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Amanda on
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Thank you, each one of you. It has been dificult for me to trust but God is showing me how, slowly but surely. I appreciate each one of you and wish you many blessings.
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Permalink Reply by ribbon on
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Michelle, this brings back memories. I remember I too use to think of Jesus this way. I don't remember crying bit I do remember thinking about Him constantly and thinking I loved Him soooo much. Its good reading yours and Grace to yous' post.
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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Michelle,
You said: When we get older, the stuff of life can harden a person's heart and cause them to lose the ability to have that kind of faith and that kind of trust. No matter how much life hurts, we know that Jesus is there; we know that our faith in Him is all we need.
As we mature we need a deepening faith and not a diverted faith (hope that makes sense, if not I will elaborate).
Regarding John 9:39:
Verse 41 helps us to understand. Jesus was talking about the religious leaders in Israel. Theirs was the heritage of the chosen people. God had worked many miracles down through the years on their behalf, had given them the prophets and judges, and had given them the Scriptures. The ones who should have been wide-eyed at His appearing were the very ones who rejected Him (for the most part). Israel was now as blind with the dawning of the Son and in need of the same eye-opening as everyone else. We know that their hardening was foretold and also used of God to then go to the Gentiles. We also know that by this time the religious leaders had invented and implemented over 3000 laws, laws of man, which were added to the Laws of God. In their eyes these man-made laws were now equal to those found in Scripture. They had taken God's Word (His simple Word) and made it hard. So, the basic thought is that they had lost their sight, but God could heal it and those without sight now have the opportunity to gain sight.
Lord Bless,
LT
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Michelle,
Jesus is our goal. He is the one in Whom we have faith. We trust God to be God and His Word to be true. With that said we can trust God to do what He has said He will do. We have faith in Jesus. Our desire is to grow deeper into that relationship and as we do our faith will increase where we do not shrink back or doubt, at least as much as we once may have.
A diverted faith is one that has taken its eyes of the mark, Jesus. The person begins to focus on something else. They could be replacing Jesus by trusting in church, or doing good works. They develop a faith that diverts its focus from Christ to the world.
I think Colossians 3 is a great reminder for us regarding keeping our eyes on Jesus, along with Hebrews 12:
Heb 12:1-3 NIV84 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (2) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (3) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Lord Bless,
LT
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Permalink Reply by Seek on
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I think people believe the gospel is the Bible. But Paul and others spoke of preaching the gospel (or message) of Jesus Christ and Him risen. THAT was the gospel. In a nutshell. The Bible is useful for training, teaching, rebuking, etc. But the message of Christ and his resurrection was the gospel.
The Jews already had numerous laws that told them of sacrifices, of not committing adultery, lust, etc. etc. The gospel of Christ was so simple. It told them those laws weren't necessary to be strictly kept anymore. All the sacrifices and atonement...they were all done, finished. And they were so mired up in the laws that they couldn't grasp something that was simple. We too get mired in law and religiosity that we make it hard to grasp the simple gospel. I we simply believe in Him and in the One who sent Him, HE will write the laws on our hearts. No more striving to keep every aspect of the law to perfection cause doing so means we have to keep them all or we fall short.
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I guess I could state it that way because I was really mired in those religious laws. I've warred with this WOF issue, with once saved always saved, with tithing on gross or net, with doing works of the church, with proper worship, proper prayer, etc. etc. If there is a war to be had, I've been in it. And I have the battle scars to prove it.
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