Mike Peek’s Blog: The Nurse Theologian

I have heard it said often; "The question is, how much can you get wrong and still be a Christian?"  That seems like a logical question, because we all get something wrong.  I'll be the first to admit that I am wrong about a GREAT many things.  Thanks be to God my trust is not in myself, but solely in the only One who is right, Christ Jesus, the Son of the living God.
Protestants say Catholics are not saved and Catholics say Protestants are not saved.   Even within Protestantism there is much yammering. I cannot look at social media without seeing someone proclaim someone else as being hell bond. It seems that if you don't meet up to the expectations of someone else's brand of Christianity you are dammed. 
I think the better question to ask is what must you get right?  In Matthew chapter 16 there was much talk among the crowds as to Who or Whom they thought Jesus was.  Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was. 
"Simon Peter answered, “You are the Chris…

Jesus said, "The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the gospel." (Mark.1.15). I would like to take the time to define and explain to you, those three words; REPENT, BELIEVE, and GOSPEL, because they are clouded with much misunderstanding and misrepresentation by men.

First of all the Bible was not written in the English language. In fact, the English language did not even come into existence as a language until about 1000 years after the Bible was completed. The Old Testament (the first 39 books of the bible) was written primarily in an ancient language called Hebrew and some Aramaic. The New Testament (the last 27 books of the bible) was written in Greek, because Greek was the written language at the time of Jesus and His apostles.

The English word GOSPEL is translated in scripture, into English from the Greek word εὐαγγέλιον (EUAGGELION); which means good news. Now here is a summary of the good news about Jesus that I also received…

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark.1.15).

I would like to take the time now to explain to you three words; gospel, faith, and repentance. These three words are clouded with much misunderstanding and misrepresentation by men. You may be thinking or even saying "What is this babbler talking about, why is he doing this?" I am doing this for two reasons, both of which are given in this passage from Romans chapter 1. "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 to faith; as it is written, “ But the righteous man shall live by faith.” (16,17).

The first reason: I am not ashamed of the Gospel! I am preaching as an act of worship of my Lord who saved me; as a gift, by His grace. The word grace means unmerited favor, I don't deserve it, nor can I …