The Gospel of Jesus Christ

 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”. (Romans 1:16)

The Apostles Paul was brave and courageous. He testified boldly of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Paul was persecuted for his power and unrelenting faith and works. He was valiant in the testimony of Jesus. Paul was not ashamed of Christ’s gospel, but instead, he was humbly grateful for it. He is everlasting thankful for Jesus appearing to him while traveling on the road to Damascus  that eventful night where he, Paul, became converted to Christ and eventually became a minister for Jesus in the full sense of the word. 

Gospel means “Good News.” Paul taught that the gospel of Christ is power, the power of God unto salvation. The gospel of God is the armor and organization that will enable a person to gain salvation in the eternities, if they only believe in Jesus Christ and follow Him, regardless of one’s ethnicity. God is no respecter of persons. “He denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God” (2 Nephi 26:33). What a marvelous doctrine it is that God loves everyone everywhere, and He invites all to come unto Him and be saved.

Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. This gospel is His gospel since He adopted it from His Father. The very first principle of the gospel is to have faith in Jesus Christ. All other religious doctrines and principles stem from faith in Christ. Choose to put Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ on your Inner Circle, thus fulfilling the royal law of The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

JESUS: THE VERY CHRIST

Paul testified that "Jesus was Christ"

And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

--Acts 18:5-6

Apostles, prophets, and church member saints testified that Jesus was the Christ, the literal Son of God. They had this knowledge and assurance from the Holy Ghost and Christ himself. People receive their testimonies of Jesus at their own time in their own way; but, regardless how the testimony is revealed to one, he/she knows for a surety that Jesus is our Savior, Messiah, and the Christ. Jesus manifests himself and His power to those who have faith. Jesus said numerous times, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” This means that He came down and healed the people from their various afflictions because of their faith. He also said numerous times, “O ye of little faith,” or “Where is your faith?” Faith precedes the miracle. Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the true church, Christ’s church. I too know that Jesus is the Christ.

JESUS CHRIST: THE LORD

“Who art thou, Lord?”

And he (Saul, Paul) said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

--Acts 9:5

Jesus appeared to Saul and introduced himself. He said that he was Jesus whom Saul was persecuting, and that it would be hard for Saul to kick against the pricks. Saul was a staunch religiously-oriented man, well trained in religion, but he was fighting against Christ and the church. Saul’s name became Paul. He was fore-ordained in the pre-mortal life to be an apostle here on the earth. He was intelligent, skilled, valiant, and vigorous. His strength and power could be for bad or for good. Originally it was totally for the bad, but after Jesus appeared to him, he was converted to the true Christ and the truth faith. He became one of the greatest missionaries for the Lord ever.

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"I AM JESUS"

Paul Testifies of Christ

Jesus said to Paul: 

"I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks (Acts 9:5)

Paul Testifies:
And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

--Acts 18:5

The Apostle Paul bears his testimony of Jesus, that Jesus was the Christ. Paul was converted to Jesus and became a great member of Christ’s church. Paul was a missionary that would not stop teaching about Christ. Tradition has it that Paul gave his life and his blood defending Christ and His gospel.

Jesus Christ reigns as Savior and Redeemer of the world, as Mediator and Atoner of all living things, including all people and the earth itself. Jesus is the Great Atoner, the Holy One of Israel. Beside Him there is no other. Jesus even bore testimony of himself when he appeared to the Nephite saints in Bountiful after His resurrection when He said, “Behold, I am Jesus Christ whom the prophets testified shall come into the world” (See 3 Nephi 11:11).

Paul: A Chosen Vessel

Jesus Christ: His Name is From Everlasting

Isaiah 63:16

O Lord, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.

A father is a man who begats life. Jesus is our father in the sense that He begat us; He gives us life, the spiritual life and eventually eternal life if we do our part to qualify. We can become His sons and daughters through faith and covenant-making; thus, making Him our father:

And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters. (Moaish 5:7, Book of Mormon)

Jesus has the power to spiritually begat us, to make us spiritually-minded beings. Paul taught,

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (Romans 8:6).

Life and peace are found in Christ and His doctrine. Jesus is our advocate with our Heavenly Father, Elohim. We gain access to the Father through the name of Christ. Christ is our mediator with the Father. Jesus said, “Come, follow me.” May we follow Jesus by living His commandments with exactness, no bearing to the right nor to the left but staying in one strait course leading to happiness now and eternal life in the hereafter. His name is from everlasting.

Jesus Christ: Our Friend

Acts 4:10-12

10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this (impotent) man stand here before you whole.

11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

JESUS is the head of the corner or the chief cornerstone of the temple and of our lives. He is the author and finisher of the temple and our lives. He is our salvation. The Apostle Paul said to the Ephesian saints following their conversion to Christ and Christ’s church:

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.

Jesus is the perfect leader and master of His church,  individual salvation, and eternal life. We always have a friend in Jesus. When we obey Him, he calls us His friends. We should seek to be His friend.

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” song on Vimeo

Text: Joseph M. Scriven, 1820-1886

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find a solace there.

Jesus can make us whole spiritually, just like He made whole physically the impotent man. He is the Rock upon which we can build and have safe foundation. He alone is our Savior and Redeemer, our Advocate and Mediator with the Father. GO to Heavenly Father in prayer in the Name of Jesus Christ, for He is our Confidant in whom we can always depend and trust.