Jesus said that we must repent and believe the gospel. Or else, we cannot be born again.
Mar 1:14-15 KJV Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, (15) And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Joh 3:5 KJV 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. (In the kingdom of God, we need to go through the baptism of water if we repent, and the baptism of the Spirit if we believe. Water is the symbol of submission into and cleansing by the words of God; Spirit is the symbol of empowerment of God's words in our lives. There is a third witness - the blood which gives life. All the three bear witness to Jesus Christ. He did set Himself as the example for us to go through the water, blood, and Spirit too.)
1Jn 5:5-8 KJV Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (6) This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. (7) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (8) And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (These three are one: the Father, the Word, and the Spirit; or the water, blood, and Spirit)
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the gospel of the kingdom of God under the New Testament. Hence, He would never let anyone say that His preaching is obsolete under the law.
Please think, If we say that His gospel or His doctrine has become obsolete, can we still save the people with another gospel or new gospel in the name of 'radical grace' or Paul? I don't think so. Even the gospel that Paul preached was still based on the gospel that Jesus preached. Paul had to follow Jesus because Jesus is the Lord; Paul was just a disciple.
'Repent and believe' is the key to open ourselves to the power of His resurrection
Luk 19:8-10 KJV And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. (9) And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. (10) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Zacchaeus was saved because he repented and believed. The Lord confirmed his salvation with His words. But did Zacchaeus become perfect in all his thoughts and deeds thereafter? I believe that he still had to grow and he had his struggles. However, when he allowed the words of the Lord to work in Him, he would be continuously transformed by Him, and by the Holy Spirit who came after His crucifixion.
Rom 12:1-3 KJV I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (3) For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Renewing of your mind means the continuous repentance attitude or humble attitude of your mind)
Php 2:12-13 KJV Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Mar 1:14-15 KJV Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, (15) And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Joh 3:5 KJV 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. (In the kingdom of God, we need to go through the baptism of water if we repent, and the baptism of the Spirit if we believe. Water is the symbol of submission into and cleansing by the words of God; Spirit is the symbol of empowerment of God's words in our lives. There is a third witness - the blood which gives life. All the three bear witness to Jesus Christ. He did set Himself as the example for us to go through the water, blood, and Spirit too.)
1Jn 5:5-8 KJV Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (6) This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. (7) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (8) And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (These three are one: the Father, the Word, and the Spirit; or the water, blood, and Spirit)
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the gospel of the kingdom of God under the New Testament. Hence, He would never let anyone say that His preaching is obsolete under the law.
Please think, If we say that His gospel or His doctrine has become obsolete, can we still save the people with another gospel or new gospel in the name of 'radical grace' or Paul? I don't think so. Even the gospel that Paul preached was still based on the gospel that Jesus preached. Paul had to follow Jesus because Jesus is the Lord; Paul was just a disciple.
'Repent and believe' is the key to open ourselves to the power of His resurrection
Luk 19:8-10 KJV And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. (9) And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. (10) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Zacchaeus was saved because he repented and believed. The Lord confirmed his salvation with His words. But did Zacchaeus become perfect in all his thoughts and deeds thereafter? I believe that he still had to grow and he had his struggles. However, when he allowed the words of the Lord to work in Him, he would be continuously transformed by Him, and by the Holy Spirit who came after His crucifixion.
Rom 12:1-3 KJV I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (3) For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Renewing of your mind means the continuous repentance attitude or humble attitude of your mind)
Php 2:12-13 KJV Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
"You must be divorced from your sin, or you cannot be married to Christ" - C. H. Spurgeon
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