Reviewing the Gospel of Christ

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.  Galatians 1:6-7; 11

I would simply like to list some things that by God's grace, I've come to understand regarding God's true Gospel which is all about His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

1.            Christianity is definitely not a religion.  Christianity is a new race with the Federal Head being Christ Jesus Himself.  Romans 5

2.            Christ became sin (the old man, Adam) on the cross - all of that creation was condemned in His flesh, in His body on that tree.  Romans 6

3.            When Christ was raised by God the Father, because He Himself was innocent - only bearing OUR sin, He indeed  became the HEAD of the New Man.  This is ALL God's plan, purpose, fulfillment - nothing of man.  Ephesians 2:15, 16

4.            When I believed the Gospel, the message concerning God's Son - as the ONLY provision for eternal life (coming out of being DEAD in ADAM's transgression that brought sin and death), CHRIST HIMSELF came to live in me!  Ephesians 3

5.            God's Spirit quickened my spirit and I was brought into UNION with Jesus Christ - the Spirit of the Father and the Son.  Romans 8

6.            I do not, I did not, I will not grow by religion - outward external "motions" to gain spiritual fruit, but I grow by the ONE WHO now lives in me.  Galatians 3

7.            If I do not LOOK at the ONE WHO lives in my heart, I am walking out a "HEADLESS" Christian existence.  If in the natural I cannot be decapitated and live, why do I think I can live a spiritual life without  my HEAD?  :)  Colossians 2:19

8.            Paul makes it clear in Galatians that to begin IN THE SPIRIT is the way of the Christian walk - not by flesh returning to religious ideas, opinions, arguments and debates.  It's ALL about KNOWING the ONE who came to dwell in my heart through faith in Him and HIS LIFE in me.  Galatians 3

9.            I am simply but one member in Jesus Christ - yet CHRIST HIMSELF HOLDS ALL His members together in His body.  As one member, I can be filled up with Him and do my part in His will - but I will not do it without Him being my life, my all.  Ephesians 4:16

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ IS, sitting at the right Hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on the things of the earth.  For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God."  Colossians 3:1-3.

The things of earth on this planet are all about striving to get somewhere - either in the world or with God.  True faith in the Gospel is that Christ is the ONE in WHOM has not only made me right with God, but in WHOM I live and move and have my being.

"But speaking the TRUTH in LOVE, may grow up in ALL THINGS into HIM, who is the HEAD - CHRIST!"  Ephesians 4:15

Today, think about living and through, by the ONE WHO came to live within you and hearing ALL He has to say within your own heart.  He can never speak a lie for He Himself is the Truth.  He will never guide astray for He Himself is ALL righteousness and holiness.

We can trust Him - He is the HEAD over ALL THINGS pertaining to the church, His body,

Sue Gaither