After our bible-study on Daniel 4 (see yesterday’s post), and after looking at Nebuchadnezzar’s (and Daniel’s) response to Daniel’s interpretation of his dream, I have been thinking about what we present and live by as the gospel, and whether or not it is the gospel…
Firstly, I think we need to examine our own attitudes…

“If you believe what you like in the gospel, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.”
St. Augustine

“The gospel begins and ends with what God is, not what we want or think we need.” Tom Houston

“A gospel that elevates man and dethrones God is not the gospel.”
Will Metzger

That’s very hard. I shudder to think of the reaction of my friends. I wince when someone mentions judgement/sin/hell. I shy away from its relevance outside of my Christian bubble. I would rather speak of today’s news than of the glorious riches of Christ to the gasman.

Yet for myself, and my neighbour, the gospel is what matters.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2.6-7

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Romans 1.16-17