FIRST GOSPEL

By Rick Mathes

1 Corinthians 15:1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,

The primitive church was blessed with the pure gospel from the original participants. How breathtaking it would be to sit at Paul’s feet and hear his voice, feel his passion and learn the truth from the lips of the Holy Spirit to my ears. It’s heartbreaking how the world has invaded the church and captured the pulpit since then.

The “other gospel” Paul warned of makes a secret of the resurrection because the risen Lord is the hinge of our faith. All we believe depends on the witnessed fact that Jesus laid down His life down and He alone picked it back up again. Paul condemned to hell all those who changed, subtracted or added even one speck more or less than it was taught by the Apostles.

Garbage in-garbage out: this seems to be the trend of seminaries all over our country. The truth must be preached or condemnation will inevitably follow and the sheep who strayed into the wrong pasture. WE desperately must pursue regeneration, reform, revival and revolution!

One preached, God’s Word must be received. This means tht we need to always have our spiritual antennae up. I love to think that I am giving Jesus options when I apply God’s Word throughout the day. Much of His Word that I often need I memorize from repeated use. All the Word, only the Word, is what I believe and have given my life to.

Without His Word there would be no resurrection. I praise the Lord that the Holy Spirit, like wind in the sails, moved eye-witnesses to preserve testimony for us. “Blessed are those that have not seen and yet believe.”

If the original gospel was lost or perverted (redacted) we would have worse that no faith, we would have a false faith right from the playbook of the devil. We would not have forgiveness’s (imagine that) and the future would be a “crap-shoot” the Muslims call kismet (fate). The bottom line is would have no life worth living. The “Lord of the Flies) would reign once again!