The Basic Understandings of the True Gospel
By R.S. Neaville
The Gospel is the good news of the great salvation brought to man kind through the sacrifice of God's dear son , Jesus. This message of salvation includes the life, death, and resurrection of The anointed Lamb of God, Jesus the Christ. But how does it work? I mean how does some Jewish carpenter dying on a cross of wood two thousand years ago save anyone? Have you ever wondered? In The following study we will examine this question and answer it with the plain truth of scripture. The scriptures tell us how sin was started, how God sent us the law, and how he paid the Law for us., Why Jesus had to die for us, and why only he could die for us.
To start off with, we must understand what sin is, and how man fell in it. So it helps to understand how man was created. God made first a physical part (the body) breathed in the spirit of life ( spiritual part) and man became a living soul. so it took the first two together to make the third .Gen.2:7
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.We can see this represented in very much the same way in the figures of man and woman. Man is a picture of the spirit, he was to have headship. Woman is a picture of the body, or the weaker vessel. She as the flesh was to be in submission. as body and spirit make a soul, so man and woman made one flesh.
Gen:2: 24-25
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.In the garden we see many figures that represent spiritual truths. Yes all this literally happened , but in it was spiritual meaning. The serpent was the devil, Adam is the spirit, and Eve is the flesh. Notice The devil didn' come to Adam, for a spirit wants nothing the serpent has to offer. His pleasures of the flesh are sensual, and so appeal to the flesh. Adam as the spirit would have laughed in his face. But Eve as the flesh was aroused by the temptation . It was she who went to Adam. Now Adam was intimate with his wife, and so found it easy to listen to her. We are told in scripture that we sin when we are dragged away by our own desires. Adam's desire was for his wife, or own flesh so to speak, rather than God.
James 1:14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Genesis 3
1. Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2. And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3. But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
7. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
9. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10. And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
11. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12. And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
13. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
Notice that the temptation of Eve held all the components of sin. She saw it was good for food.(lust of the flesh) and pleasing to the eyes (lust of the eyes) and was desired to make one wise( pride of life).
1John 2:
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.This is why Paul wrote of Eve and women in these terms in scripture. Eve was decieved , not Adam. She was a picture of the Body, Adam's flesh, and so should be in submission to her husband, the spirit.
1Timothy 2:11. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13. For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
15. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
So as the below scripture confirms, Adam's sin was that he favored what his wife wanted, trying to please her more than God. , and so sin was born in Man. He gave his strength to a woman, another way of saying he sowed to the flesh rather than God. Satan still works the same way, we are put under the curse of sin when ever we listen to our sensual desires of our flesh , and do not walk according to the spirit. Satan always come throught the flesh.Gen3: 17. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.So sin and its curse was passed down to all of those born to Adam, sinful man. Adam and Eve Knew what it was like at one time to walk wqith God, and have him as their covering. But their children never knew that Garden life. Sin be came hidden in men's hearts, bringing forth death . Men soon began to see death as natural, never understanding that the hidden corruption of sin was the cause of it. So death reigned in man from Adam to Moses. Sin was not seen for what it was, though all the while it was working in us on the inside. Our corrupt consciences could not detect it. Finally it manifested death on the outside. God had told Adam that on the day he ate of it ( the fruit ) he would surly die. First in that literal day Adam's spirit was cut off from God ...that is equivalent to spiritual death. If the spirit cannot commune with God, the body cannot be renewed daily. Then in that thousand year day his body died just 70 years short of the thousand years. ( we see a physical understanding of a day, and a spiritual one.) So we see Adam in both ways died in "that day".
Genesis 2:16. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.Genesis 5: 5. And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
2Peter 3:
8. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.Romans 5:
12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13. (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
17. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.God Gave us the Law through Moses. This was God's righteous standard of what a perfect Man would be. No longer was sin hidden. The law was an outside witness in stone that informed our inside corrupt consciences what sin was. God gave us a perfect law to reveal our imperfection .. In us it revealed how far we were from perfection. When we tried to keep God's law we found we could not. This told us we were not perfect. It wasn't left up to our own ideas or consciences any longer, now we had a righteous standard from the finger of God. This Law identified sin in us. Through the Law we see sin causes death. This was the Law's purpose. to show sin in us as the cause of death.
Romans 7:
7. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
11. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
12. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
13. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
14. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.Where there was no law before, there was no sin. but the law shined the light in our hearts and showed us we were indeed sinners ,and so worthy of death. So sin was always in us and killing us, it is just without the law to identify it we could not see it. now that we saw sin through the Law, it became exeedingly sinful. we realised we were caught in a trap we could not escape. For we could never fulfill the law's just requirements. We saw our need for a redeemer. We saw our need for God.
That is who Jesus was, our redeemer. He was God in the flesh,(John1:) born as a man under Law. He had to take on the likeness of sinful Man in order to ful fill the Law. It was the Law that judged Jesus righteous , the Lamb of God without blemish, without spot, without sin. By keeping the Law as no man ever had done, he fulfilled it. This gave him the right to lay down his life as a sinless sacrifice, innocent blood, in order to pay for our sin with his death. He was our Ransom sacrifice. He was the very righteousness of God revealed in the form of a man.Galatians 3:19. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
20. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
21. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.Galatians 4
1. Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2. But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Romans3:
19. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.So all who recieve Jesus as thier sacrifice for sin can be united with him in his life, and death, and more so, in his resurrection.
Romans 10: 4. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
6. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7. Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15. And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!He is our payment to the Law. We through his death and resurrection are both alive to live a new life, and dead to the corruption of the sinful man.and the law....all by faith!
Romans 6:1. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2. God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7. For he that is dead is freed from sin.So we are dead to the Law. We live a new life, as one redeemed from the curse of the law, which is the curse of Adam. Now we are found not in Adam, but in the new man , who is Christ.
Romans 8
1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
So again, from the picture of Man and woman we see the figures at work here in Roman's seven to help explain our salvation. A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. according to the law. The woman remember is the body. The husband is the spirit. The spirit that ruled over us before was that of corrupted sinful adam. this is the "old man". Now our bodies are free to belong to a new husband, which is Christ. Adam is dead, Christ lives. We cannot belong to Christ tho if we consider adam, (sin nature ) to still live. Christ will not commit adultery with us. Our sin nature must be put to death in Baptism with Christ , so we can come up alive in a new spirit. (Christ)
Romans 7
1. Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2. For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
4. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
5. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
6. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.This is what it means to be born again.
John 3: 5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.So our spirits are renewed in Christ. we no longer bear the image of Adam, now we have the spirit of Christ in us, that spirit where by we cry Abba father. This is what Born-again means. Born of the imperishable seed of the spirit man. Not only that, we also now share in the hope of His resurrection. The belief that God will complete in us what he began , that our Bodies will be redeemed from the corruption of sin and death as well, and that we will take on the full nature of a child of God. As it was with Christ it is so with us. As Christ died , so we die with him to the world of corruption. as he came again to life, so we too will share in life with him.
1Corinthians 15:
42. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43. It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56. The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.So the last enemy to be destroyed is death. This is the hope of our Gospel.
In Jesus. R.S. Neaville
rsneaville@propheticjournal.net
