Mark #3 - The Gospel, Part 2

Published: Sept. 29, 2010, 6:30 p.m.

b'The message about the redeeming work of God in the atonement of Jesus Christ is the greatest information this world has ever received. It is more than news; it is good news. What is this news? That is the ultimate question. People everywhere disagree over the definition of the news and even evangelicals have a difficult time coming to an agreement over what is the gospel and what is not the gospel. The gospel is not meeting physical needs, it is not irrelevant, it is not privatized religion, it is not simply that "God is Love," it is not the path to health and wealth, it is not therapy, it is not moralism, and it is not all about you. The thing that truly distinguishes Christianity from all other belief systems is not its moral code or practicality. The difference lies in Christianity\'s story - the story of a holy Creator, rejected by his creation, yet stooping do reconcile them through the death of his Son. Christianity is not just a worldview, a way of life, or a program for personal or cultural change. Christianity is news. It is the report of something that happened that will forever change those who truly hear it. As witnesses and messengers of this news, our job is simply to get the story right and report it to all with whom we come in contact.'