One Gospel Only - To Be Preached To All the World - To Pakistan and Everywhere

Submitted by M. Tovey (United States), Jun 13, 2011 at 15:54

There is a problem in wondering "what Christianity would look like if the (G)ospels according to Matthew and John were the only 2 volumes in the New Testament?" Without considering that the fulfillment of many of the prophetic descriptions of Yeshua HaMashiach found in the other two, Mark and Luke, the picture of our LORD would be incomplete. Consider in the Revelation by John the creatures posted near the throne of the Almighty Eternal, the Ancient of Days, the ones with the four aspects, each being presented as a separate but cohesive frame of reference as to the representations of Yeshua HaMashiach: King, Servant, Humanity, Deity. Making a determination of Paul's epistles being a diversion from the central Gospel is, in and of itself, a diversion. The Almighty Eternal's requirements are indeed, quite simple; that belief in His Anointed One, the Holy One of Israel, as the hope of salvation in the future in the Old Testament and the completion of that hope in the New Testament is plainly shown. Abraham is identified as the progenitor of the faith that is looked for by the Almighty Sovereign and completion of that same faith rests upon recognizing Yeshua HaMashiach as the Anointed One, just as Yeshua said of Abraham, that he rejoiced to see His day.

So what recognition should we give to Yeshua HaMashiach? In the Gospel of John, where the Anointed One is under Pilate's scrutiny we read: Pilate therefore said to him, Art thou a King then? Jesus answered, "Thou sayest that I am a King. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." Yeshua speaks to the issue of His impending death in the cross, it is the basis and crux of His life on this earth in His humanity, that for the sake of our sins, He is put to death for our redemption, is raised from the dead for our justification; and is given all authority from the Father, for amongst other things, to fulfill all prophecy regarding Him, including that which is yet to come. Now, as to the Anointed One prophesying 'two' versions of the Gospel, this is patently as false as it can get: there is only one Gospel. As to the preaching of it, we read of Jesus' prophesy in Matthew 24:14); And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a testimony to all nations; and then shall the end come. Then in Mark 14:9) Verily I say to you, Wherever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, [this] also that she hath done shall be spoken of, for a memorial of her. Continuing, Mark 16:15) And he said to them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. And of the promise to preach the Gospel to all the world, we read in 2Peter3:9) 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. 10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11) [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness,12) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14) Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15) And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16) As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17) Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know [these things] before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. Yeah, I would be quite reluctant to go against what the Holy Spirit has revealed in His WORD; and if one cannot bear the witness of the Holy Spirit through Peter, then a process of self examination to permit the Holy Spirit His examination of any who are needing His direction is of an extreme necessity.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".