Gospel
From BrethrenPedia
Gospel is the Good News of Salvation that Christ commanded to be preached by his followers and obeyed by the world.
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[edit] Substance
The Brethren hold that the Gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ, through his death and resurrection, has paid for the sin of the world and whoever believes in him will not be punished for their sin, but have eternal life.
[edit] Necessity
All humans are born into the world with a Sin Nature. That is, from the very beginning of life there is a dark taint on every person's will, intellect and affections. This taint, given to us by our forefather, Adam, is what inclines us away from good and toward evil. Because of this taint there are no good people in the world. Paul points out There is none righteous, no, not one. (Romans 3:10). This Sin Nature not only causes us to tend toward evil, it also creates an insurmountable barrier between us and God as sin is everything that is opposed to God. The sin dwelling in us invites the wrath of God. Without provision, all humans are under a sentence of eternal condemnation.
[edit] Provision
The Good News is that Jesus Christ was sent into the world. He was born without a Sin Nature and fulfilled God's moral code perfectly. He lived a sinless life and preached that only through belief in him could we overcome our innate sin and have peaceful fellowship with God. He voluntarily laid down his life, metaphysically taking the sin of the world with him into the grave and bearing that sin's punishment. He arose from the dead three days later and continues to call people to himself, promising that whoever follows him will be saved from the penalty, power and, eventually, presence of sin.
[edit] Effects
A person who obeys the Gospel dies to himself. His old nature is killed and a new nature is put within him. He is Born Again. Through the power of the Hold Spirit he begins to learn to listen to the Spirit, hate sin, and abide in Christ. He becomes a new creature. A believer in the Gospel is also Sanctified.
