December 6, 2022

What is the “gospel of Christ?” Mostly, it is the core of everything. It is the simple truth that God [Yahweh] “so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” jn 3:16 nkjv

We also hear that the “gospel” is the “good news…” I think it is good news to all who believe that Yeshua [Jesus] is the Son of God, and that He really did establish, for us, the marvelous gift of eternal life. Tragically, there are those who either don’t care or don’t want to hear about anything that the Bible has to say. When Yeshua prayed for Yahweh to, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” jn 17:17 nkjv He clearly defined the believer's destiny and their reality of existence, then and now. Let us take a closer look at the discussion He had with Yahweh…

”I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.” jn 17:14-19 nkjv

We are told in John chapter 3, there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, who came to Yeshua by night to inquire of Him. Yeshua spoke to him about the need to be born again… and went on to tell him other things, among which was the following:

“He who believes in Him [Yeshua] is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” jn 3:18-21 nkjv

The Bible tells us a lot about the wicked. Psalms 58:3 tells us:

“The wicked are estranged from the womb; They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.”

Unbelievers, truth deniers, and truth haters are defined as “wicked.” They love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil… they practice evil; they censor truth, suppress it, and flat out deny it… it is their nature and their flesh is animated by the anti-Christ spirit. In Romans 1:18-19, Paul says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.”

I hope you will revisit chapter 1 in Romans and read it. It describes the world in which we live today. The Word of Yahweh (which sanctifies us… sets us apart from wickedness) is the core of the “gospel of Christ,” mentioned at the beginning of this devotional. It is our anchor in the turbulent world around us, as we are bombarded by fake news, false teachings, outright lies, wicked entertainment and perversions of every kind. The Psalmist David wrote:

“Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the Lord.” ps 4:4-5 nkjv

You may ask, “what is the sacrifice of righteousness?” I think part of it could be, walk in the truth that sanctifies you [Yahweh’s Word], put your trust in Yeshua, walk with Him, the way He walked. Yahweh poured out His Holy Spirit to empower us to be “doers of the Word,” as James wrote in James 1:22. He also says, otherwise you deceive yourself, if you only hear it and not do it. It is the parable Yeshua spoke in mat 7:24-27 nkjv.

As I look around me, I see so much disdain for truth and holiness. Our society is determined to cast Yahweh out of the public arena for good, as they have been progressively doing piecemeal for decades. The time is short, we are declining rapidly into darkness and it is urgent that we wake up, and straighten up, or the suppression of the anti-Christ spirit will destroy us.

Shalom… John