the gospel

I corinthians 15:3-4 - For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

Do you know the gospel?   If you are a church goer you may assume you know the gospel.  But do you _know_ it??  Do you understand the depth, the magnitude, the consequences of the gospel?  Do you realize that the gospel is not just something that occurred, it was foretold throughout the entire scripture (i.e. through thousands of years of history)?  God wasn't surprised by the need for Christ's death.  In fact He was the one who ordained it.  When Adam and Eve sinned it wasn't like God had to come up with a plan of how to restore His people to Himself.  He knew exactly what was going to happen and laid out thousands of years of helping the world know Himself; the God of creation, the one and only God of the world.  And then when the fullness of time arrived He sent His son to live on the fallen world for 30 years so that He could begin the work of substitution for our sins.  And then as is seen in the resurrection of Christ, God clearly shows His power over death, His power over sin.  He is able to completely save you - To bring you near to Him.  -- Think today what the gospel really is and what it teaches you about God.  And then consider the implications of that understanding of who God really is and what He has done for you.