Well if we define it simply we need only read John 3:16. But most non-Catholics seem to have something else in mind when they say "His gospel message" and the particular definition of "His gospel message" varies widely from person-to-person.
That’s never been my experience with non-Catholic Christians. The very core of our beliefs rest in His virgin birth, His divinity/humanity, His place in the Godhead/Trinity as the Son, His sacrificial death/shedding of His blood for the forgiveness of our sins, His resurrection, ascension and that He will return.
See above as presented throughout all of the Gospels (Mat/Mk/Luke/John) and as attested to by the Apostles through their letters in the New Testament.
I do like what we find in Colossians:
Colossians 1:
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[
g] your evil behavior.
22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—
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.
24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—
26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.
27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
Colossians 2
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Sure. The fundamental truths that a person needs to know to be saved can be discerned from the Bible, if that is what you mean.
At the same time, if it is so easy as picking up the Bible and discerning the truth, one wonders why there is so-much variation in belief among Christians. Why do some protestants pick up the Bible and determine that Baptism is not-necessary, and other protestants pick up the Bible and determine that Baptism is necessary, if they are all moved by the Holy Spirit? Is the Holy Spirit prompting different Christians to believe different things, or is it that the Holy Spirit only prompts you, and does not prompt the other Christians who disagree with you?
Good question. We’re weak humans, fallible, but as Christians can be assured that if we are sincere in our desire to know Him and follow Him,
He will make sure we will be able to discern His Truth. As non-Catholic Christians, the church doesn’t ‘bind’ them to ‘it’ (
the church itself), an earthly organization with the threat of the loss of their salvation if they do not adhere to all of its teachings as the Catholic church does.
Your mention on baptism specifically, made me think of the Catholic church allowing the teaching of a hypothetical theory, for centuries,
as if it were His Truth, that dealt with the very salvation of souls, that banished unbaptised infants from the beatific vision of God for eternity (
depending on what ‘stage’ of development this ‘theory’ was in – they either suffered all the pains of Hell – suffered just a little bit – were in an kind of eternal bliss)- was it teaching HIS TRUTH – a ‘revealed truth’ or were they floundering around in an attempt to somehow explain its
already ‘defined’ doctrine of baptism? How could the Holy Spirit be leading these theologians /magisterium/popes when for centuries they couldn’t ‘interpret’ scripture to come up with a better solution.
They no longer ‘teach’ this ‘theory’…..instead, finally now, after centuries have discovered a new idea….although it’s not really affirmed absolutely….just put out there for HIS SHEEP to consider ….this new idea is to have HOPE in a merciful, loving God….maybe....but get those babies baptised (just in case)…because they don’t really know and never did.
This is also a great example of ‘adding’ to what is not there in scripture and what happens when you do so.
Well its not like I called your mother a harlot.
???
I indicated that your decision making appears to make you your own personal equivalent of the Catholic pope, and that still appears to be the case. The only religious authority higher than yourself is Sacred Scripture and God himself, correct? If so, then that makes you the rough equivalent of the pope. Do you have a bishop, a pastor, a deacon, who has religious authority over you? If so, who?
Oh no,
unlike the Catholic church and its developed teachings regarding itself or the pope, I’ve never claimed for myself to have any sole authority at interpreting scripture, or being infallible when speaking ex-cathedra as I find no need to ‘bind’ anyone to me - and yes, you are correct, the only religious authority higher than myself at this particular time, is scripture and God Himself as that’s just the way it is at this present moment in life for me, but as He knows my circumstance and because my faith and trust has always been in HIM and not a religious organisation, and as He has never failed me in the past, I feel assured and at peace when I state - I can’t think of any other writings or any other Being that I’d rather have as my ‘religious authority’ than the scriptures and God Himself.