(CP-3) Religious Significance of the Gospels

The Gospels--Matthew, Mark, Luke, John contain a certain degree of historical record but interpreted by believers who wanted to cherish the life of Jesus remembered in oral sayings and print.  As such these Gospels are testimonials to the power of Jesus, if He so willed it.  These writings are like the testimonials at AA meetings, if you will.  They contain reference to what God through Jesus, His Son, has done in the lives of those early-on Christians; and attests to the power of God in Jesus.

But some ministers of the Gospel today claim that the Gospels contain promises of what God will do in the life of the believer who simply requests that God through Christ Jesus act on his behalf.  They cite such references as Matthew 7 to claim that God will grant the believer riches galore, e.g., money, a job;  if only he ask of God to work miracles in his life. However, such references must be placed in the context of Jesus' own life.  He was not rich; He dealt with sinners and even Samarians, i.e., non-Jews, as if they too could be among the believers in His Kingdom of God.

The critical writing in Matthew that places all such promises in perspective is Matthew 26, where Jesus and God are alone together.  "Oh My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me!"  Then, knowing that He ought not be in charge of events on earth,  but His Father only,  Jesus adds, "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou will!"

It is in our critical relationship of man to God that our religious response to God's calling occurs.  We are to pursue relationship with God; so as to know Him and come to recognize our part in His plan.

If this be the basis for our relationship to God through Jesus--that is, to know God so as to know what we must do to further His kingdom--then at once the teachings of Jesus are instructive of how we can improve in our knowing God; and thereby partaking of His Power and Will in our lives.  That, translated to the whole of the Gospels means, we are to take those teachings as instructions to walk "nigh with God" in order to align ourselves with His power and His will for our lives; and thereby benefit from our relationship cultivated through our interactions with Him  The religious value of the Synoptic Gospels is to enable us to know God through Jesus; and to create a lasting relationship with Him throughout all of our experiences on earth.  HIS WILL BE DONE THROUG OUR LIVES!

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