Topic: Gospel
In the first four books of the New Testament (NT) of the Bible is on the life of the Jesus. The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are four different eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life. Although they each tell about the same person, in the same location, during the same time in the history, they each told their stories from their unique perspective.
Some biblical scholars think the four books of the Gospel are for four main geographical regions of the world. As Matthew published his book on Jesus, his book was for the Jewish audience, this links the OT (Old Testament) and NT (New Testament). His view on Jesus as the Messiah ("Anointed One" or "Christ") and King promised in the OT. Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ authority and power.
The Gospel of [John] Mark would probably be written for those were pragmatic Roman readers. His Gospel stressed action and gave a straightforward, blow-by-blow account of Jesus’ work on earth.
John has a different, more reflective style than the other Gospel. Its author selected seven signs that pointed to Jesus as the Son of God and wove together everything else to underscore to that point. His Gospel would probably be written those were non-Jews or Christians. Many church leaders pointed that this book is good starting point to walk with God in the daily basis for the young Christians.
Lastly in between the two books of Mark and John, Gospel of Luke. Luke was also a fine writer of the NT period. He was a doctor or some kind of research specialist. He stressed the births of John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth. In Luke 1:1-4, he said, "Many have undertaken to draw an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty things you have been taught."
The next several weeks, we will study and deal with the first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke. There are several theories of behind of this Christmas story. Some researchers might think that it is all about the symbolism of planets, religions, mythical goddess, and/or tight into the end of the world. But, here, I would like to share the story of Christmas with you in christianology, direct information from the Word of God, not from the human point view.
All the four books of the Gospel are about the Good News of Jesus Christ. They tell us that God brought His Son, Jesus, to save us from our sins in once for all. Although Dr. Luke wrote the second volume of the Gospel, Book of Acts, he emphasized the importance of the Church (Greek word for katholikos or in English word for catholic or the universal church) world after Jesus went to the Heaven.
In the books of the Gospel tells us about how Jesus came to the world as baby in a manger, but in the Book of Revelation gives the description of how Jesus Christ will come again as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 19:16). In the books of the Gospel, Jesus faced many sufferings and trials while He was on the earth, but as we read in the final chapter of the Bible, He will come back to defeat Satan and his armies. In the books of the Gospel, He went back to the Heaven and be with His Father, but in the Book of Revelation, He will come back to take us His kingdom as He promised in John 14:1-4. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17)
But, sadly, in our modern day of the Church, many of us have really focused on the things in this world and have little thought about the kingdom of God. We might usually hear the word of our preachers about Christian family, marriage, financial issues, and our cultural issues, but we might do not hear about His kingdom and/or hell as often.
Yes, many church leaders might have the fear of teaching of the true identity of the Gospel, such as in Matthew 10:34-36. If your family or mine do not gain the truth of God and still follow their tradition ways of the Christian life, and you or I have received the truth from God everyday, then we have to choose to determine to follow our people or God to live in Christian life. We cannot live in two ways of life for God while we are still living with our family members. We can try to witness them by our actions. Jesus didn't say that He came to the world for not bringing peace to the world, but a sword (Matthew 10:34). In Hebrews 4:12-13 says, "For the word of God is living and active. Shaper than any double-edge sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
As we conclude this portion of the study series, let us think in which ways that we can live for God. So many of us would think that we are living in a right way and preaching the Good News of Jesus and His kingdom in a right way, but at the bottom line is that we do in wrong ways to pass God's Word to the other. Since the tragedy of 9/11, I wanted to know what this tragedy had to do with the End Time. As I spent with one of my Christian friends and searched the Scriptures and other resources from the Internet during my last 8 months at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, God gave me more understanding of the Holy Scripture on the world event since the 9/11. Once I have the absolute truth of God, I cannot stop growing from my spiritual life. Yes, there is a time when Satan tempts me, but I cannot stop searching for the Scripture, because of God. And I cannot stop to share God's Word with you, family of Jesus Christ. His Word is the true way to live in the physical world.
Are you ready to meet the Lord Jesus Christ when He would return to rapture members of His Church? Are your family and your friends ready to meet the Savior of their lives? If you are lukewarm with your relationship with Christ and want to have that relationship back, please consider confessing all your sins to Him and He will forgive your sins at once for all and will give you the rest.
