a better understanding of the gospel

[Sower]

1 minute ago, farouk said:

No; I was agreeing strongly with your post about the primacy of the Good News............

Got it. Just getting old I reckon. Thanks farouk.
Just trying to say the good news is simple, for a child like understanding to believe.

 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
                     Mark 10:15

Thanks brother..

[LoveJoyHope-lady]

1 hour ago, farouk said:

I do believe as dispensationalists tend to say that it's the Gospel - rather than the law - that is the rule of the New Testament believer's life.

...Though I've heard it, I had to go look up:

https://www.gotquestions.org/dispensationalism.html

[farouk]

Just now, LoveJoyHope-lady said:

...Though I've heard it, I had to go look up:

https://www.gotquestions.org/dispensationalism.html

Historically, baptists do tend to distinguish between the church and Israel, and the coming of the Lord for the church and His coming in power and glory; i.e., dispensationalism.

[AnOrangeCat]

6 hours ago, Ghostdog said:

would you say that today we have a better understanding of the gospel than paul did?

This is a somewhat multifaceted thing IMO, and I feel like it might be better phrased as "people in Paul's day" or something to that effect. Paul was exemplary and had a special calling.

Persecution aside I think the time of Paul might very well have been a relative golden age. There were eye witnesses to the life and resurrection of Jesus, people like the apostles who learned from Him personally. There was Paul and his dramatic conversion and Pentecost. All that likely gave Christianity a powerful jump start. Additionally certain parables and phrasings were more relevant to people at the time, a case in point being "It's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter Heaven".

That said I do think the points where modern understanding isn't quite on par are relatively rare and kind of tangential. The basic narrative of the Gospels is easy to grasp. I agree wholeheartedly with other one that people have complicated it over time and in some cases diluted the message.

[Ray12614]

9 hours ago, Mr. M said:

And here I thought Yoda-isms were banned from the forum.

Banned . . . they are not . . . makes us laugh . . . they do.

[Ray12614]

10 hours ago, Ghostdog said:

would you say that today we have a better understanding of the gospel than Paul did?

Since an more complete understanding of the scriptures is rooted in Jewish history and culture, I would say no because we as western Christians don't have the background that helps us more fully understand scripture.

Concerning the gospel, well . . . the good news is simple to understand which is itself good news to Ray because he is somewhat simple in walking out his practical day 2 day faith . . . . 

[Mr. M]

58 minutes ago, Ray12614 said:

Banned . . . they are not . . . makes us laugh . . . they do.

Then laugh, we must.

[Neighbor]

12 hours ago, Ghostdog said:

would you say that today we have a better understanding of the gospel than paul did?

Whose gospel? If it is the gospel message of Jesus, no.

Why no? Because Paul not only walked by faith  but as the "Apostle out of time" he had the direct experience of  facing God the son, after  Jesus' ascension, while He Saul was still in the flesh.

Hard to have an advantage over Saul the scholar and Pharisee, that was turned about by direct challenge with physical confrontation  from the ascended son Jesus  who is God Lord and savior.

 

[Neighbor]

6 hours ago, AnOrangeCat said:

There were eye witnesses to the life and resurrection of Jesus, people like the apostles who learned from Him personally. There was Paul and his dramatic conversion and Pentecost.

I think there was need of not just the resurrection from the dead, but the ascension to above the living.

That was the act ( action)  that changed a declaration to an exclamation! Acts 1

[Mr. M]

18 hours ago, Ghostdog said:

would you say that today we have a better understanding of the gospel than paul did?

A sound understanding of the Gospel

brings unity among the Saints.

When we partake of "One Bread",

we share in the understanding

that Paul attained by accepting and

abiding in his stewardship to the end.

1 Corinthians 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: 

for we are all partakers of that One Bread.

 

Is today's Church of One Mind?

Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind

toward one another. 

Do not set your mind on high things,

but associate with the humble.

Do not be wise in your own opinion.

The success or failure in

the Church's understanding

can largely be defined here.

The Church today seems to be

a marketplace of divergent opinions,

not sound comprehension.

 

Edited August 14, 2024 by Mr. M