Chris – The synoptic gospels definitely have a focus on his teachings, but they also encompass his death and resurrection as the culmination of his ministry.

I believe that it is in the resurrection that we can see that there is more to what he was teaching than just being good. We need to be reconciled to God (Yahweh), and this is now available to us via his death.

That being said, anyone who calls themself a Christian but does nothing to better the lives of those s/he comes in contact with is either deluded or a liar. (So I agree – in a roundabout way )

Thanks again for your contributions, they are appreciated.

Paul, the author of Ephesians, seems to have followed John in formulating his position… I’m going to have to commit to reading the whole of the Gospel of John again soon – I have many questions about it that only prayerful study will resolve. There is so much of a cosmic nature in John that is not in the three synoptic Gospels.

The three synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) show Jesus’ ministry as very much focussed on his teachings and parables, his comfort of the poor and the casting out of evil. This is a ministry that is focussed on the world; whatever cosmic perspective we take away from John, and however we intepret the Gospels collectively, I hope we can agree that God wants us to make the world a better place in our brief time here.

Best wishes,

Chris.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says “⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Being good (“doing works”) isn’t the gospel – it is a response to it. The gospel is Jesus – his death and resurrection.

I can’t see that anyone said that. What is under discussion is the definition of the gospel.

At heart, the gospel is an announcement that God has intervened in the world to bring us into relationship with Him via Jesus Christ.

Our behaviour toward other people, and the world, flows out of that. But “make the world a better place” is not the gospel.

And I don’t really see how the Reformation settled any questions of the meaning of the Gospels – rather, it opened the door for more variety of interpretations!

I know that my own Christianity is far from where other people practice their Christianity, but I know that God is with me as surely as I know anything – that where I am and where I am going is a strange place I reconcile with the knowledge that I am only human, and it will not fall to me to have God’s perfect vision.

None of us do. None of us can. Surely…

The Gospel is Jesus? The Gospels are Jesus’ story – the most important story, to a Christian. But what that *means* to us, that is between each of us as an individual and God alone.

With unlimited love,

Chris.

Heard it while skimming through my music files on the train this morning.

The last verse is what gets me, I love hearing stuff sung with passion (not lovey-dovey), and this one is my prime example.

It also is pretty convicting.