Bible Matters 379 The Gospels – Preponderance of Evidence

The bible and the will of God is sound doctrine.  From the testimony of two or three witnesses, you will know the truth.  God’s word doesn’t need any special power to interpret it.  One just needs to read and investigated the verses using the preponderance of evidence standard.  Witness after witness and verse after verse in the New Testament tells you that when you believe in Jesus, then you don’t abide in sin. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power unto salvation for the Jew and Gentile (i.e. Greek).  When you obey and do the will of God, in the end you’ll experience everlasting life.   

Romans 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.

Matthew 24:13 – But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Matthew 5:8 – Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

1 John 2:17 – And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Mark 13:13 – And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

John 7:16-17 – Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. 

John 8:47,51 – He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Hebrews 5:9 – And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Ephesians 5:8 – For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Ephesians 6:6 – Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

1 Thessalonians 5:8 – But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

1 Peter 1:22 – Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

1 Peter 4:17 – For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

1 Peter 5:2,8 – Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

The salvation testimonies in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Jude, James, Peter, Paul to the Romans and Paul to the Hebrews are all the same.  Jude calls this the common salvation.

Jude 1:3 – Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

A lost man in the flesh, is living in sin.  What proceeds out of his mouth, defiles the man.  What proceeds out of the heart, defines the man.  Following the laws of religion does not define the man.

Matthew 15:8-11 – This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.  And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:  Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Jesus is of God born in the flesh to give light unto every man.  The world was made by him.  No one can make you love God by the will of man.  When the love for God pricks your heart, you are converted or born again from a lover of self to a lover of God and one another.  When you believe in him, you love him and love one another.  When you believe in him, you don’t abide in sin.  When you believe in him from the heart and become a son of God, you do so at the will of God.

John 1:1,9,13 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

1 John 2:29 -If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Matthew 18:3,6 – And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.  But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

The will of man invokes religious works onto you, as a testimony of your belief.  God hates religious works.  The doctrine of the Nicolaitans was works of circumcision, etc.  These works will never make you love God or love one another from the heart.  These works may imply salvation in Jesus.  Do not be deceived by religious works.  God wants your love from the heart.  To repent and turn from sin.  Out of love you turn to God.

Revelation 2:5-7 – Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Mark 12:30-31 – And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

As an example, the most basic of religious works was circumcision for the religious Jew.  Christianity was taking people out from under the stronghold of the Pharisees.  Certain men came to the apostles to plead their case that all men must be circumcised and keep the laws of Moses for salvation.  They tried to push their agenda onto the apostles.  Paul and Barnabas had nothing to do with them.  They went to Jerusalem and Peter told them to get lost!  Paul and Peter were in step. 

Acts 15:1-2,4-5,7-12 – And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.  When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.  And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.  But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.  And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;  And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.  Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.  

Without the use of the preponderance of evidence standard, reading individual verses in support of salvation can be deadly!

For example, you’ve read Baptism-PoE.  Baptism is but a sign of your belief in Jesus Christ.  Deceivers may read a new version of the New Testament, where verse Acts 8:37 has been deleted, and tell you that water baptism is commanded.

Acts 8:36,38 – And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ requires you to recognize Jesus as the Son of God per Acts 8:37

Acts 8:37 – And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

In another example, a deceiver may not recognize that Peter would compromise the Gospel of Jesus Christ in favor of the Jews during his ministry.  It was clear in Acts 15:1-2,4-5,7-12 that Peter stood up to those that try to impose religious works for salvation.  In Acts 10:43-48, a deceiver would read these verses and tell you Peter commanded water baptism.  Thus, it is required for salvation.  Peter commanded to Gentiles to be baptized, because the Jews had been baptized in water.

Acts 10:43-48 – To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Peter stated that Baptism is only a sign of good conscience toward God.  Salvation is only made possible through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

1 Peter 3:21 – The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Paul hated when Peter would compromise the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Peter was not a rock.  Peter feared not being liked by the Jews.  Paul tells of his experience with Peter eating as a Jew when with the Jews.  Paul tells us that Christ is not the minister of sin.

Galatians 2:11-12,14-17 – But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.  For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.  But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?  We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.  But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

These few examples are the reason you must study the New Testament using the preponderance of evidence standard. 

Jesus is the Son of God.  Some of you will taste of death, when it is to late at judgement.  When you love God, you testify of him.  Hold fast to God’s word.  Be a minister unto his word.

Matthew 16:24-28 – Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

John 5:39 – Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

1 Corinthians 5:8 – Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

1 Timothy 4:1,4,6-8 – Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

When you understand the doctrine of Jesus Christ, you’ll recognize deception.  It will be as a fable, sounding too good to be true.  If you know the doctrine is wrong, then avoid them.  Otherwise, you’ll be as guilty as they are and a partaker of their evil deeds. 

2 Timothy 4:3-4 – For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 John 1:9-11 – Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 – If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

Romans 16:17 – Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Galatians 5:1 – Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Ephesians 4:14-15 – That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

2 Thessalonians 3:14 – And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

Titus 3:10 – A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

God message is simple.  A Gospel of believing in Jesus Christ, accepting his shed blood for the forgiveness of your sins, become dead to sin, walking as children of light, following after righteousness, bringing forth fruit unto God unto eternal life.

James 1:22- But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Ephesians 4:27,29 – Neither give place to the devil. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Ephesians 5:8 – For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Romans 7:4 – Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

1 Timothy 6:11,12,19 – But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Jude 1:20-21 – But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Every witness preached the same message to the lost in their ministry.  From Matthew to Jude, they all preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Lets’ review each of these gospels from the eight witnesses.  Their testimonies are solid. 

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.