The literal meaning of the word "gospel" is "good news". The Gospels usually refer to the four books of the New Testament, those written by the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The gospels tell us the good news that Jesus came to earth, to live and die and atone for the sins of humanity.
(A) Because of Jesus' suffering and death, humans can once again enter heaven.
Adam and Eve, our first parents had a very close relationship with God. He walked and talked to them daily in the Garden of Eden. He gave them a perfect place to live, and dominion over all of creation. To test their love and loyalty, God gave them one restriction. They were not to eat the fruit of a certain tree. When they disobeyed, they and their descendants were punished.
Our first parents and their descendants lost their home in the garden and their privileged status as close friends of the Creator. The gates of heaven were closed. However, God promised to send a Savior someday to reopen the gates of Paradise. Jesus was the promised Savior.
Because the sin of Adam and Eve was an offense against an infinite God, no human was great enough to atone for it. Jesus is God, the Second Person of Blessed Trinity. Because He is Divine, His suffering and death were sufficient to atone not only for the sin of Adam and Eve but also for all the sins humanity would ever commit . Because he was also human, Jesus could offer this sacrifice in the name of all humanity.
Through the merits of Jesus' suffering and death, the gates of heaven are open to humanity once more.
(B) God wishes to establish a close relationship with His people once more.
Being all-wise, God knew that people would find it difficult to love a Being they did not know. Jesus took on human form and came to earth to show us what God is like. Through healing the sick, Jesus showed God's love and compassion. Through seeking out and spending time with sinners, He showed God's desire to lead everyone to heaven. Through many miracles, He showed God's infinite power. Jesus provided us with a human image of God, so we could love and relate to Him more readily.
(C) Jesus established the Church to guide His followers to heaven.
Jesus stayed on earth only thirty-three years. Yet He did not set His followers adrift when He returned to His Father. He established the Church which would guide His followers until the end of the world.
"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound also in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matt. 16: 18-20
These, then, are some of the items of good news contained in the Gospels. During the first century following Jesus' death, four of His followers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, were inspired to write accounts of His life and work, so that future generations would have access to accurate information about Him. These fascinating records of the life, death and deeds of Jesus Christ, Son of God, Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, may be found in the book we know as the Bible.
No comments:
Post a Comment