When was the last time you articulated the gospel to somebody?

[16KJV11]

Praise the Lord, I was able to spend about 30 minutes witnessing to a 35 year old man about the Lord Jesus Christ.  He bowed his head and trusted the only name under heaven that can save.
God is so good, and I am so thankful that our country is still free enough that we can propagate the Gospel that frees a soul from the bondage of sin!

 

[16KJV11]

Had a wonderful time out visiting today.
I prayed last week that the Lord would lead me to someone that He had been speaking to and He answered that prayer.
This morning, I had the blessing of being able to witness to a lady from McKeesport, PA about the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Although there were several kids in the house and a rambunctious mixed lab in the background, she graciously gave me 25 minutes to present the Gospel.
After presenting the Gospel to her, I asked her if she would let Jesus Christ save her by faith and she said yes!
We both bowed in prayer and she trusted Christ as her only hope for heaven.
I thank God that He has allowed me to be an emissary to the Almighty, Glorious, Merciful, King of the Universe!

 

[ALAYMAN]

Praise the Lord 16KJV11.  Thanks for the edifying post(s).

 

[16KJV11]

Presented the Gospel to a 42 year old man today.  We talked at length first about bicycles, ebay, Craig's List...just stuff.  But just as I was about ready to wind that up, I inserted the Gospel and we talked for another 25 minutes about Jesus.  He bowed his head and trusted the Lord Jesus as his only hope for heaven.  Quite a blessing to tell that old old story!

 

[Castor Muscular]

I beat my wife three times Thursday night.  At rummy. 

No police showed up.  But given the direction American society is headed, it may soon become a crime to win at cards.

 

[Castor Muscular]

For what it's worth, I honestly don't know anyone who doesn't know the Gospel.  I knew the Gospel since my childhood.  It didn't make any difference to me until God pulled the trigger at the ripe age of about 33. 

If you shared the Gospel with your neighbor and his reaction was, "Really?  I didn't know that", I'd have to assume he'd been living in a foreign land under a rock, or he's pulling your leg, or he's insane. 

No offense to JrChurch -- kids don't necessarily know the Gospel.  That's different.

 

[Castor Muscular]

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:

“Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.”

Almost everyone knows the Gospel.  And you can articulate the Gospel again and again until you're blue in the face, but it won't matter until God says so.  Not that I'm against doing it.  God forbid.  Articulate the Gospel to your heart's content. 

But like I said.  I heard the Gospel and knew it from my childhood.  But hearing the words didn't bring faith.  Faith comes by the ability to really hear the Gospel, and the ability to hear the Gospel comes when God says so.  God gave the word when I was about 33, and suddenly I really heard for the first time, though I knew the facts of the Gospel all along. 

 

[ALAYMAN]

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:

“Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.”

Almost everyone knows the Gospel.  And you can articulate the Gospel again and again until you're blue in the face, but it won't matter until God says so.  Not that I'm against doing it.  God forbid.  Articulate the Gospel to your heart's content. 

But like I said.  I heard the Gospel and knew it from my childhood.  But hearing the words didn't bring faith.  Faith comes by the ability to really hear the Gospel, and the ability to hear the Gospel comes when God says so.  God gave the word when I was about 33, and suddenly I really heard for the first time, though I knew the facts of the Gospel all along.

The gospel is the means by which God has ordained the salvation of men.  And I'd say you haven't done much soulwinning to say that most people know the gospel, not by a long stretch.

At 33, when you were converted, did that come via the Scriptures (heard, or read)?

 

[rsc2a]

[quote author=ALAYMAN]The gospel is the means by which God has ordained the salvation of men...[/quote]

Jesus is the means by which God has ordained the salvation of men. The gospel tells this "good news".

 

[ALAYMAN]

[quote author=ALAYMAN]The gospel is the means by which God has ordained the salvation of men...

Jesus is the means by which God has ordained the salvation of men. The gospel tells this "good news".
[/quote]


Rom_1:16  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.

 

[rsc2a]

[quote author=ALAYMAN]The gospel is the means by which God has ordained the salvation of men...

Jesus is the means by which God has ordained the salvation of men. The gospel tells this "good news".

Rom_1:16  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.[/quote]

Yes. The gospel tells that God is in the saving business. I don't have an issue with that.

 

[ALAYMAN]

[quote author=ALAYMAN]The gospel is the means by which God has ordained the salvation of men...

Jesus is the means by which God has ordained the salvation of men. The gospel tells this "good news".

Rom_1:16  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.

Yes. The gospel tells that God is in the saving business. I don't have an issue with that.
[/quote]

Then you shouldn't have any problems with "the gospel is the means by which God has ordained the salvation of men".

 

[PappaBear]

And don't forget this one, too:

1Cor 1:21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

 

[rsc2a]

[quote author=ALAYMAN]The gospel is the means by which God has ordained the salvation of men...

Jesus is the means by which God has ordained the salvation of men. The gospel tells this "good news".

Rom_1:16  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.

Yes. The gospel tells that God is in the saving business. I don't have an issue with that.

Then you shouldn't have any problems with "the gospel is the means by which God has ordained the salvation of men".[/quote]

That's not the same thing.

Tell me: when CNN reports on Assad killing civilians, is CNN the means that Assad uses to accomplish that task or is CNN delivering the news that Assad is doing it?

 

[Castor Muscular]

That's not the same thing.

Tell me: when CNN reports on Assad killing civilians, is CNN the means that Assad uses to accomplish that task or is CNN delivering the news that Assad is doing it?

Not only that, but the Gospel is just news until God opens your ears.  Then it's good news. 

 

[ALAYMAN]

[quote author=ALAYMAN]The gospel is the means by which God has ordained the salvation of men...

Jesus is the means by which God has ordained the salvation of men. The gospel tells this "good news".

Rom_1:16  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.

Yes. The gospel tells that God is in the saving business. I don't have an issue with that.

Then you shouldn't have any problems with "the gospel is the means by which God has ordained the salvation of men".

That's not the same thing.

Tell me: when CNN reports on Assad killing civilians, is CNN the means that Assad uses to accomplish that task or is CNN delivering the news that Assad is doing it?
[/quote]

CNN isn't God. 

God has ordained that the <preaching of the> gospel is the means that he will use to bring people to himself.  That's what His word says, and evangelicals for eons have understood it.  I think you understand it too, but like being, well, obtuse.

Barnes
The power of God - This expression means that it is the way in which God exerts his power in the salvation of people. It is the efficacious or mighty plan, by which power goes forth to save, and by which all the obstacles of man’s redemption are taken away

 

[ALAYMAN]

But like I said.  I heard the Gospel and knew it from my childhood.  But hearing the words didn't bring faith.  Faith comes by the ability to really hear the Gospel, and the ability to hear the Gospel comes when God says so.  God gave the word when I was about 33, and suddenly I really heard for the first time, though I knew the facts of the Gospel all along.

At 33, when you were converted, did that come via the Scriptures (heard, or read)?

 

[Castor Muscular]

But like I said.  I heard the Gospel and knew it from my childhood.  But hearing the words didn't bring faith.  Faith comes by the ability to really hear the Gospel, and the ability to hear the Gospel comes when God says so.  God gave the word when I was about 33, and suddenly I really heard for the first time, though I knew the facts of the Gospel all along.

At 33, when you were converted, did that come via the Scriptures (heard, or read)?

If you are asking if I read the Scriptures at 33 or even thereabouts, the answer is no.  After I got saved, though, I had an insatiable appetite for the Scriptures. 

 

[ALAYMAN]

If you are asking if I read the Scriptures at 33 or even thereabouts, the answer is no.  After I got saved, though, I had an insatiable appetite for the Scriptures.

So what were the circumstances when you were born again?  Were you thinking about things you'd already heard regarding the Scriptures?

 

[rsc2a]

[quote author=rsc2a]That's not the same thing.

Tell me: when CNN reports on Assad killing civilians, is CNN the means that Assad uses to accomplish that task or is CNN delivering the news that Assad is doing it?

CNN isn't God.  [/quote]

I am aware of that. You also dodged the question. Let me ask again:

When CNN reports on Assad killing civilians, is CNN the means that Assad uses to accomplish that task or is CNN delivering the news that Assad is doing it?

[quote author=ALAYMAN]God has ordained that the <preaching of the> gospel is the means that he will use to bring people to himself.  That's what His word says, and evangelicals for eons have understood it.  I think you understand it too, but like being, well, obtuse. [/quote]

Whether I agree with you or not*, you have now added to your original statement, thereby changing the meaning.

* I would agree that it is a means, not the means.

[quote author=ALAYMAN]Barnes
The power of God - This expression means that it is the way in which God exerts his power in the salvation of people. It is the efficacious or mighty plan, by which power goes forth to save, and by which all the obstacles of man’s redemption are taken away[/quote]

Frankly, I'm not concerned that some guy with a particular bias commented in a manner than is consistent with his bias. I'm concerned about with what the text says and what the words actually mean as used in Scripture (and, more broadly, in the context in which they were written).

So when you are finished answering the question you dodged, can you give me the Greek word we derive "gospel" from and tell me what it actually means in that tongue?