Believing In The Truth Of The Gospel

Speaker: Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines

January 21, 2024

in Spritual Growth

No Comments

511

WATCH

January 21, 2024

Readings: Jeremiah 3:21-4:2
1 Corinthians 7:12-23
Mark 1:14-20
3rd Sunday After Epiphany 2024 Homily

Today’s Gospel in Mark gives us a lot of information about the love of God for His people- a love that has caused Him to do great things in our behalf. In the beginning of time, all things were good and there was total peace. Adam and Eve would be in the Garden to walk and talk with God in the cool of the evenings. But when the enemy appeared, deceived them, and they fell into the enemy’s deception, sin came in and ruled for many years. The world became very evil. Mark 1:15

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” There may have been a time when the enemy was allowed to “rule.” His whole purpose was to steal, Kill and destroy. But when John the Baptist began preparing the way for Christ’s coming, the time had come. Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled. The Kingdom of God is at hand.” Thus He began His Ministry. John had been preparing the people by preaching repentance. Repent and believe in the Gospel. It was bringing the Gospel into people’s lives. Luke 17:21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst. We should believe in the Gospel because it is the Truth.

The Gospel does not only consist of the four books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It is more powerful than that. It is literally telling us to believe in the truth of the Gospel. In the world, the truths are changing. But with Christ, the Truth does not change. Galatians 2:5 “We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the Gospel would remain with you.” It doesn’t matter what the world says. What matters is what God says. “Believe in the Gospel” is a very important statement. Colossians 1:23 “if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”

The Gospel is hope. God is a covenant-keeping God and will not fail. He gives us hope; not despair, not frustration, not anxieties, not stress.

The Gospel is peace. Not the peace of the world but the kind of peace that Christ gives. Peace is that which supports life.

The Gospel is promise. Ephesians 3:6 “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.”

Through the Good News, the gentiles are co-sharers with the Jews because Christ died for all mankind. He does not demand from us. He has done everything for us.

The Gospel is immortality. Christ died on the cross but rose on the third day. He rose to prove how important life is. The Breath of God given to us does not die.

The Gospel is salvation. Ephesians 1:13 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” God has given us new life. Life is in the Gospel. By His stripes, we were healed. When we face financial problems, we must believe that God supplies all our needs. God brings us out of darkness into the beauty of His light. Our faith and hope should be in Him. We must believe in the truth of the Gospel.