THE CORE OF THE GOSPEL
By Erwin Bourne
I just sent in a study on DEEP THEOLOGICAL WATERS. I
loved the days when my colleagues and I had
round-table discussions about Bible theology. But
today we want to get to the core of the Gospel. You
want to know what counts. Perhaps you’ve studied
theology, the languages, the exegesis. But something
doesn’t click. What really matters. What counts.
Let’s skip the periphery and get to the essence. Its
not religion you want.
In your Bible of over 1000 pages, what matters? Among
all the do’s and don’ts, and should and shouldn’t what
is essential? The Old Testament? The New? Grace?
Baptism? Is this all there is? Sunday church
attendance? Pretty songs? Faithful tithing?
Three-piece suits? Big choirs? Leather Bibles?
Christianity becomes a warped record full of highs and
lows and off-key notes.
Let’s notice these words from Saint Paul found in I
Corinthians chapter 15: “For I delivered to you, as
of first importance what I also received, that Christ
died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures.”
This is it! Let’s read on: “That He was buried, that
He was raised on the third day in accordance with the
Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to
the twelve.”
The cross. It rests on the time line of history. Its
tragedy summons all sufferers. Its absurdity attracts
all cynics. Its hope lures all searchers. My, what a
piece of wood! History has idolized it and despised
it, gold=plated it and burned it, worn and trashed it.
History has done everything to it but ignore it.
That’s the one option the cross does not offer. No
wonder Paul called it “the core of the gospel.”
by Erwin Bourne
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