Precious friend, I must be
hardheaded, eh? I haven't studied Scripture
about 'tailoring sermons' according to the crowd, but seems me that
would be the Very Reason for the Severely
Divided and
Confused churches
that abound today. 'tailoring' messages to what "the itchy ears" crowd want
to hear?
I well
remember being a
proud denominationalist, "tailoring" Scripture "to fit"
the
tradition (and
wondering why others could 'not see' the wonderful truths
"we
thought we had"), but When God Led me to "
Right Division," I no longer
needed to do that, and ran,
leaving it all behind me. Amen?
So,
now I think that
before one can be saved by the gospel (good news), one
must first be
convicted of the 'bad news' of being
guilty? ( Wait! Didn't you
just 'say/agree with that'
in the bold above?) If it's ok, just
one last review of
what the Record Says, and some pertinent questions about them:
1) In the gospel of the kingdom, preached at Pentecost:
a) first the bad news:
Act 2:23 "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and
foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands
have crucified and slain"
X2!:
Act 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly,
that God hath made that same Jesus, Whom ye have crucified,
both Lord and Christ."
b) Then the conviction:
Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their
heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men
and brethren, what shall we do?
c) Then the "good news" (gospel of the kingdom):
From Christ's (prophetic program) Orders on the earth:
[ Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized Shall Be Saved!" ]:
Act 2:38 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Wait! Is that not by "faith Plus works", Correct?:
2) In the Gospel Of The Grace, preached to the Jews first,
before "they
fell,"
and to Gentiles from Paul until
today:
a) first the bad news:
"there is not righteous, no not one"
"All have sinned and come short of the Glory Of God"
"the wages of sin is death..."
(Rom 3:10, 23, 6:23, Second Death Rev 20:14-15)
b) Then the conviction:
"What Must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:31)
c) Then The Gospel of Grace (Greatest News Ever!), from
Christ's "Revelation Of The Mystery," From Heaven:
"Christ
Died for our sin, was Buried, and Rose Again"
"Believe On The Lord Jesus Christ, and thou Shalt Be Saved"
[ Pray tell, what
happened to the "believe/repent/
and be
water baptized"
good news? ]:
"For By Grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is The Gift of God: Not of works, lest any man
should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) Wait! Apart from works?:
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to His Mercy He Saved us, By the washing of
regeneration, and renewing of The Holy Ghost"
(Titus 3:5 et al in Romans - Philemon)
Leaving this last
Important question: Am I
supposed 'to see' (as you
suggest)
only
one gospel with
Both "water baptism For the remission of sins"
and
"NO works" for justification, or:
Two
Different And
Distinct gospels:
one for God's
Prophetic program for
earth?
Rightly Divided (
2 Timothy 2:15) From “
Things That Differ!” (
online):
And, the
Other For His Mystery Program, from Heaven?
Thanks for the great discussion, and now may I
suggest this Challenge?:
Possible Next 'helpful' step? Discuss the
Very Controversial doctrine of
water baptism vs
Spiritual Baptism (for two
Different gospels?)...
Take Care!...