13 Gospel Reflections

Musing on mighty things

And, at the hither end, I will bide butt-and-ben wi the Lord

Aye, and for aye. (Psalm 23, verse 6, in Scots)

As I reflect on six months of writing about the gospel and upon all that I have learned during this project, what is perhaps most remarkable is the heightened lucidity I now find in scripture. Massive swaths of God’s word have changed from vaguely inspiring to precisely definitive or from slightly obscure to crystal-clear. Of course, it is not the words, but rather my understanding of their meaning, context, and chronology that has been transformed. An example is the well-known ending to Psalm 23. It concludes “I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever”, although I prefer the Scots version above. Having experienced the scope and full majesty of the gospel story, and having heard the multitude of ways in which the Lord reaches out to humanity to offer them life, that simple statement carries renewed richness. To have scripture with which I have been familiar for decades speak to me with such elevated vigour and brilliance has been a joyful revelation. It brings to mind the sudden insight granted to the apostles by Jesus Christ:

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures (Luke 24:45)

Also, I must comment on the experience of spending so much time in the Lord’s word, being guided by his spirit. During this, I have often felt the gentle hand of the Holy Spirit directing and teaching me. This has been both a fascinating and an exciting adventure. I have felt from the outset that it is a collaborative process in which I play a minor role.

In addition, this collaboration involved the beautiful proofreader who has improved the text on countless occasions and has been my writing companion; she has my deep gratitude.

I also wish to thank all the readers of this work, particularly those who have contributed written comments, emails, messages, and words of encouragement. I hugely value and appreciate these exchanges.

The following thoughts and commentary are my initial reflections and reactions to the gospel message outlined in the previous twelve articles. I would encourage the reader to add their own thoughts and viewpoints in the comments or send a direct message with their perspectives and insights.

Scope and grandeur

In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. (Psa 138:3)

First, we have the sheer scale of the gospel message. Its magnificence is breathtaking. It operates across millennia to achieve the seemingly impossible — to save humanity from itself; from sin and error; from pain and suffering.

The conventional gospels, disseminated by mainstream churches, are a thin soup compared with the rich banquet of the biblical gospel. They are just-so stories, mystical claims without definition or substance. You say the words, you believe for an instant, and, magically, it is done. You are saved! The substance of the matter is omitted. Alternatively, in some cases, church ritual becomes the substance, and the church a substitute saviour. Seldom is more than a fraction of the gospel proclaimed; much is simply ignored by the mainstream.

Take, for example, the Kingdom of God. This was the primary subject of the gospel message preached by Jesus Christ (see Mat 4:23). It is omitted from many common descriptions of the gospel. “Thy Kingdom come” is displaced by a “kingdom now” theology. In practice, this restrains and silences discussion of the coming Kingdom of God, despite its central place in our salvation.

Or consider Christ’s return in power and glory, so that every eye shall behold. With this to come, how can any Christian feel despair at the mess our politicians, judges, academics and other leaders make of our world? Simply stated, there can be no room for despair. But despair is often apparent nevertheless, because Christ’s return is another of those aspects of the gospel that is ignored, or downplayed or relegated to the theological backwaters.

The biblical gospel, when viewed in its full greatness, is a multi-phase, multi-millennial process for the redemption of mankind. It demonstrates the love, patience, and greatness of God. It shows the role of the individual Christian now and in the future, and gives purpose and direction to life as no other message can. It makes the world understandable; the crises of the day are trivial in comparison to the miraculous and glorious events that lie ahead. Every work of fiction or philosophy seems puny and lacking in vision in comparison to the gospel story, which sweeps across all of history and stretches into the future.

The gospel is a message of hope. It gives us instruction in righteousness. It allows us to orient ourselves in a fallen, sinful world. It is a map to guide us through chaos. It drives out fear. It provides comfort in times of sorrow. It is the message that transformed the apostles and which has the power to transform every one of us.

Location, location, location

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?

When… all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:4,7)

The location of the gospel message is on earth. It is here where Christ was made flesh and was crucified, and here where he spent three days and three nights in the grave — the belly of the earth. It is here where he arose from the grave, and here where the spirit of God guides, teaches, and comforts those who serve him. And it is to here that he will return; where he will raise the faithful in the first resurrection to meet him in the air (within the atmosphere); where he will restore his nation Israel; here where he will rule for a thousand years from Jerusalem. And it is here where he will judge humanity. The earth is the focus of it all.

Heaven, the dwelling place of God, is seen as a far country, remote from our planet and from humanity. Indeed, at the very end (the “hither end” of Psalm 23), God’s dwelling place will be on earth with mankind. That is the very reverse of the message being proclaimed by the mainstream churches, which tells us that our destiny is to be with God in heaven. No, our purpose is to be with God on earth. That is where the new Jerusalem will be placed. That is where the thrones of God and of the Lamb shall be found. That is where his servants will serve him and shall see his face (Rev 22:1-5).

Hell is shown to mean the grave. It is destroyed by God, as death will be no more. The metaphor used for total and permanent destruction is the lake of fire. Hell and death are cast into the lake of fire, that is to say, they are destroyed completely.

The choice that each of us faces is between life and death. It is not between eternal life in a pleasant location and equally eternal life in a highly unpleasant place. It is life with the Lord, or death with Satan.

The famous verse John 3:16 says it all:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [emphasis added]

Let Christ be our guide

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)

We cannot determine what is in the mind of God. We have to be told, directed and guided. This is where the feasts ordained by the Lord in Old Testament times are so vital. They provide the chronology of redemption. They show precisely what comes first, what is next, what follows, and what is last. It is the seven annual festivals and seven annual sabbaths that provide that essential framework. It is the words of Christ and the symbols he chose that guide and direct our understanding.

In the mainstream, many things are missed, and even more are confused and jumbled. As a result, truths are woven into a lie by the simple tactics of confusing the timeline, omitting key steps and combining unrelated portions into an inconsistent and irrational narrative.

Following the outline provided by God’s word avoids all of this mystification. Out of the chaos emerges order and clarity, simplicity and precision. This has been the core idea that gave rise to this article series: that the annual holy days ordained by God provide an outline of God’s plan for redeeming mankind. As such, it should be taught, not ignored.

That outline has provided the structure for this article series, too. It starts with Christ’s blood, pictured by the passover. It continues with the putting away of sin, the symbol of which is the feast of unleavened bread. It continues up to and beyond the present day with the covenant relationship between Christ and those who follow him, including the witnesses who will proclaim the gospel around the world just before Christ’s return, all of which is illustrated by Pentecost. Christ’s return is heralded by the Feast of Trumpets, which involves the saints being raised to work with him in his Kingdom; the first resurrection. His people in the Houses of Israel and Judah will then be reconciled to him, repenting of their national sins; this is represented by the Day of Atonement. Rule by Christ and his servants will then spread across the world for one thousand years, during which there will be peace; this period is symbolised by the seven-day festival of Tabernacles. Finally, the Last Great Day represents the second resurrection and the judgement of the whole of mankind by Christ.

This framework sets each part of God’s plan for the redemption of mankind in its correct place. It exposes the many false gospels that presently circulate and shows the wisdom and patience of God:

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. (2 Pet 3:9)

Sadly, it is unknown to most as the churches do not keep Christ’s holy days nor talk about their meaning and message. Surely this is the most glaring omission perpetrated by a lukewarm Christianity.

Israel reinstated

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. (Deu 7:6)

Perhaps the most striking, and certainly the most original, aspect of this series has been the clarity gained regarding those nations chosen by God as his portion: Israel and Judah. Their role is seen in the round in the full biblical gospel, for the most significant part is yet in the future. Then many of the prophecies concerning these nations, which were never fulfilled in historic times, will be realised.

God created this nation, starting with a couple too old to have children, so that his actions and blessings could be apparent. He did this after the repeated rebellions of mankind had led to estrangement from God. The principle that the Lord instigated was that he would save and redeem mankind, Israel first and then the other nations. This formula will be seen in full force after Christ returns to the earth in glory to rule as King of Kings.

The first nation he will reconcile to himself will be Israel, a single nation no longer divided between the House of Israel and the House of Judah (The Jews). They will repent of their national sins. The House of Israel will repent of their idol worship and backsliding away from the true faith in our creator. The house of Judah will look upon him whom they have pierced, Christ (the Messiah), and weep as for a firstborn son. The two houses will form a single nation and will follow God, led by their king, David, resurrected in the first resurrection. Each of their twelve tribes will be led by one of Christ’s apostles, also part of the first resurrection. Thus, God’s nation will follow the Lord, and their government will be by immortal resurrected saints of the Kingdom of God. They will be an example to mankind of government not by men, but by the Lord and his Kingdom.

During this period, Israel will be a nation of priests; intermediaries between God and man. They will walk in righteousness and will be a beacon to all the nations of this world. With this understanding, the prophecies concerning Israel read as a plain, simple description of the situation that the Lord will bring about. They will no longer be in contradiction to the actual, stiffnecked, sinful record of Israel. The words of God will stand; it will be exactly as he has said:

For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (Isa 46:9-10)

One significant theme presented in this gospel series is that there is no plan B. God decides on a course of action, and it will be done. When man repeatedly acts to thwart the will of God, it might seem that God’s purpose has been resisted. It is not so. Rather, it is our lack of understanding, limited vision, and short timescales that prevent us from seeing the larger picture in which God’s will is carried out perfectly and to the letter. The gospel provides the needed perspective and reveals the things otherwise hidden to man. In the case of Israel, it shows that they will serve exactly the purposes God set out when he called Abraham.

It is the Day of Atonement that signifies the repentance of Israel and their return to the Lord. Later, at Judgement Day, it appears that Israel is the nation raised first. This is pictured by the prophet Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of the dry bones. Once again, it is Israel first, then the nations.

• Receiving the commandments of God — Israel first, then the nations.

• Entering into a covenant relationship with God — Israel first (Mount Sinai), then the nations (Pentecost).

• Becoming a nation subject to the rule by the Kingdom of God, on earth — Israel first, then the nations.

• Being raised from the dead to be judged by Christ according to the deeds of each individual — Israel first, then the nations.

The scale and scope of God’s plans for his nation become manifest and are astonishing in their perfection. And it is not because of the superior nature of the people. No, it is a glorious example of the wisdom, love and patience of our Lord.

He said:

Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? Isa 46:3-5)

Thus, Israel becomes a sign for the nations, an example to all, of what can be achieved by God. Even when the errors and failings of man seem to make success impossible, God’s word will stand.

Walk that walk

For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7)

The gospel highlights how important the walk of faith really is. The hour we first believe and the hour we die bookend this process. Both are marked by annual Sabbaths; the first and last days of unleavened bread, the festival that symbolises the complete putting away of sin. This shows how much importance God places on our conduct, progress, obedience, faith, courage and endurance. It makes what we do and how we do it important. In short, our lives matter.

Consider the criminal executed beside Christ. He stated that Jesus had done nothing wrong. He asked to be remembered when Christ rules in his Kingdom. He believed! Christ said that this man would be with him, that he would be saved. He said this because this was the last act of that man’s life. His walk was about to end, and he was truthful and courageous, honest and humble. He was full of faith. Many others who believed but lived on could fail to endure to the end. They might become wearied and offended by persecution; they might be deceived by error and lies, they might be overwhelmed by the cares of the world; in any of these ways, they might turn away from God. But this man, dying beside Christ, had no such opportunity to stumble. Thus, our Lord could state his destiny.

Or consider the parable of the workmen. In this story, workers are hired, some early in the day, some near the end. All received the same promise, and all got the same reward. It is not the duration of the walk with God that matters, but rather that once begun, it is continued until the end. Obedience to our master for whatever period is allotted to us is what is required.

Many false gospels are promulgated today (see the Great Evangelical Disaster podcast series). These often downplay or denigrate the importance of the walk of faith; the process of improving, enduring and remaining faithful until the end. They claim that this is all achieved on the cross, and there is nothing left for the Christian to do except claim the prize. This is a most wicked deception; there is plenty to do, and Christians should be busy doing it. Instead, many are led astray by a false gospel of indolence substituted for the true gospel and its call to action.

The centrality of Jesus Christ

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, (Rev 19:11)

Christ is our master, our Lord, our King. It is through him alone that we will be reconciled to God the Father. What a work he is doing to redeem us! Christ is central to every part of the gospel. He leads every step.

• It begins with his blood; sacrificed for us, so that we may be washed clean and may have life: this is the Passover.

• During the feast of unleavened bread, the sheaf of barley waved by the priest symbolised his resurrection; the firstborn of many brethren. His empty tomb is a testimony that everything he said is true.

• After his ascension, he sent his spirit to help, guide and teach us; that was on Pentecost, the day when he established both old and new covenants.

• Christ will return in glory, and every eye shall behold him.

• He will summon the dead in Christ, and the faithful still alive will be changed. They shall meet him in the air at the wedding supper of the Lamb: this is the first resurrection. His elect are reborn to eternal life; serving with him in the Kingdom of God.

• He will unite his people from the Houses of Israel and Judah, reconstituting a single nation. They shall repent and return to God, and shall be a nation of priests serving the Lord and bringing other nations to his side. This is just as God predicted when he first established this nation through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

• He will bind Satan, removing his influence from the earth for a thousand years.

• He will rule the earth for 1000 years as King of Kings, bringing peace and abundance.

• He will release Satan one last time, and many people will be fooled again and will rebel. They will move to kill and destroy God’s servants. Christ will defend his people, those who love him, and will strike down the evil-doers.

• He will raise the dead. First, Israel and then the other nations will be restored to life in the second resurrection.

• He will then judge everyone raised in the second resurrection based upon their deeds; their works. There will be justice. Christ will save as many as can be saved.

• To those saved, he will grant eternal life.

• Those condemned will perish, not suffer.

• He will end death itself.

• He will establish a new Jerusalem, in which both he and the Father will reside.

• Humanity, once again, will dwell with our creator.

  And, at the hither end, I will bide butt-and-ben wi the Lord

  Aye, and for aye.

Christ has roles for all who love him and are faithful to him, but it is his work. He leads; we follow. He instructs; we obey. He gives us great gifts; we thank him. The gospel is the story of Christ’s wondrous work to redeem mankind. Our saviour is central to each and every part of it.

Casting off deceptions

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light (Rom 13:12)

In addition to the confusion, omissions and thin limitations of much of the mainstream similitude of the gospel, we have the problem of outright deceptions. Foremost amongst these are:

• The claim that we are judged when we die.

• The assertion that men are intrinsically immortal or possess an immortal soul.

• The insistence that God will torment evil doers forever, that an eternity of agony awaits us.

Starting with eternal torment, the idea that a loving God would cause people to suffer for all eternity is plainly illogical, or such a contradiction as to render any claim of God’s goodness or merciful nature ridiculous. A God that would select perpetual torment rather than death, that is annihilation, would be vicious, cruel and sadistic. But this is what many gospel preachers actually claim. It is also the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, which maintains that although God has the raw power to destroy sinners, he chooses not to, preferring their perpetual suffering. Worse still, Roman Catholic belief has this suffering as some sort of spectator event; consider this quote from Thomas Aquinas:

In order that the happiness of the saints may be more delightful to them and that they may render more copious thanks to God for it, they are allowed to see perfectly the sufferings of the damned. So that they may be urged the more to praise God. The saints in heaven know distinctly all that happens to the damned. [Summa Theologica, Third Part, Supplement, Question XCIV, "Of the Relations of the Saints Towards the Damned," First Article, "Whether the Blessed in Heaven Will See the Sufferings of the Damned?"]

Only slightly less appalling is the idea that, whatever he might wish, an almighty God is unable to permanently destroy those humans or spirit-beings who have rebelled, and thus bring only pain, suffering and destruction. This concept is based on the view that, whilst God might not seek eternal punishment for wrongdoers, the immortal nature of humanity leaves him no choice. This seems to paint God as both bad and sad, with the term ‘Almighty’ ceasing to have any credibility.

It is, of course, notable that the core lie, that humans are intrinsically immortal, is the same lie that the serpent told to Eve: “Ye shall not surely die”. And it begs the question: why, if we are already intrinsically immortal, would we need a saviour to die for us, and to overcome death itself? Once again, the false gospels fail to offer even an internally consistent narrative.

A similar illogicality is plain to see when attempts are made to harmonise scripture and the falsehood that we are judged at death, going either to be with God in heaven or to burn in the lake of fire. This leads to numerous absurdities, such as judgement for a sinner at his death, followed by, perhaps, thousands of years in hellfire, followed in turn by resurrection, a second judgement (in public this time), followed finally by a return to the fire. This is termed the ‘particular judgement’ and the ‘general or last judgement’ and is a doctrine in Roman Catholicism, Orthodox Christianity, and many Protestant churches. Could anything be more absurd?

Fortunately, we are freed from such outrageous beliefs by the truth, the gospel of Jesus Christ, as plainly stated in the bible.

A message of love, hope and freedom

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Rom 15:13)

The gospel represents a path to everlasting life. That life is from the Lord and is his free gift. He will give this to as many as can be his; as have the spirit of God directing their paths and the laws of God written in their hearts. But not being content that any should perish, our Lord is engaged in a multitude of ways and means and times to bring as many as possible to repentance and thus to life. This is love. Wise, far-sighted, authentic, outgoing love.

This love brings hope. How many husbands or wives who believe look upon their non-believing partner with concern? Falsehoods convince them that, once their loved one dies, they will be lost without hope of redemption. They are told that cruelty has dominion and that a life of torment and pain lies ahead for the man or woman they cherish and adore. The gospel says otherwise. It proclaims that there will be a resurrection and a judgement. It heartens us and reassures us that there will be justice; that as many as can be saved will receive everlasting life. The gospel says there is hope.

Moreover, this same gospel tells us we are called for a purpose; for life and for work, not for ease and inessential langour. That too gives us hope as it shows that our God has a purpose, and that our future has meaning.

The truth, the bible tells us, shall set us free. That truth is the same today, yesterday, tomorrow and forever. Our God does not change; he neither wavers nor is variable. Rather, he is clear, consistent and states the end from the beginning, and from ancient times, things not yet come to pass. We can have confidence in God because his truth is eternal.

And what is the nature of the freedom that truth wins? It is freedom from sin and from the pain and suffering that sin brings. It is not the freedom to sin; it is not a license for licentiousness. Sin is slavery. This was shown by the exodus and journey to the promised land by God’s people, Israel. Just as they exited slavery, we must leave sin behind. God’s path, his commandments, the law that he offers to write in our hearts as the new covenant, they are freedom.

The gospel also offers freedom from fear. It shows that Christ will overcome everything — death itself shall be destroyed. With death defeated, fear is beaten too. How many live today in fear of what is coming? Societies are everywhere in decline. Collapse seems closer every day. Even for many who claim to believe, this environment can bring negativity and hopelessness. But in the gospel there is no black-pill, no despair. There is instead freedom from worry and a calm, confident, serene hopefulness.

For we know that our redeemer lives.

Closing remarks

… rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Pet 1:8)

The richness and perfection of the gospel are breathtaking. The multitude of ways by which Christ will reach those he can save is almost beyond belief. But believe it, we can, for the gospel is true. The empty tomb found nearly 2000 years ago shows us that God’s word is sure. This is real. This is happening. This is life.