It is a fast paced world we live in. We grow up, we go out, and before you know it, friends and acquaintances begin to die. We get older and time passes by faster. Things change, and we change. Fortunately, the Word of God never changes. Just as four rivers flowed out of the garden of Eden may we always find a cool drink of refreshment in the four Gospels of the Bible. It is in prayer and the Word we find Jesus.
I seek refuge in the person of Christ through the Gospels, and I appeal to the true ministry of the Church through the apostles. – St. Ignatius of Antioch
The Gospels are four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). The Gospels are four written accounts of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The Gospels have forever changed the course of human history.
It can easily be shown from examples both in the Old Testament and the New that the Spirit changes those in whom he comes to dwell; he so transforms them that they begin to live a completely new kind of life. – St. Cyril of Alexandria
The Gospels can completely change the course of our lives if we accept them.
Friendship with God brings the gift of immortality to those who accept it. – St. Irenaeus
The word “Gospel” is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word god-spell which means “good” tidings or “good news.” What is a concise definition of the word Gospel?
gospel (“good news”): the joyful tidings that God has come to save us through his Son Jesus Christ, fulfilling all the promises he made to his people Israel. Gospel (capitalized) later came to mean one of the four canonical narratives of the life of Jesus, written to lead people to faith in him.
When the angel flies in the sky, watch, listen and wonder…
Then I saw another angel flying high overhead, with everlasting good news to announce to those who dwell on earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. Revelation 14:6
The “everlasting good news” is the “eternal gospel,” an invitation given to us by God through the ministry of his angel to fear and worship the one true God, the Father, the Almighty, the Creator of all. This angelic announcement basically means that we who are on earth should have a love for Christ more than anything else the world offers us: wealth, pleasure, power, fame, honor, or anything that is contrary to the Gospel.
The love of Christ must come before all else. – St. Benedict
God should come first in our lives. Can we live up to that? Can we lift our spirit up towards the heavens where the angels fly? We should give God the “first fruits” of our hearts, our day, and our increase. God has given us so much. He created us, and his only begotten son Jesus died for us so that we might be with them eternally in heaven.
The light of Christ is eternally glowing with luminous radiance and can never be extinguished by the darkness of sin. – St. Maximus of Turin
There are only four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke John). Accept no fake imitations.
I am amazed that you are so quickly forsaking the one who called you by [the] grace [of Christ] for a different gospel. Galatians 1:6
Let it be no surprise there were other gospels in St. Paul’s day. Fake news has been around as long as the Church it seems. Here is a listing of many of the fake gospels:
The Gospel of Basilides
The Gospel According to the Egytptians
The Gospel of Eve
The Gospel According to the Hebrews
The Gospel of Judas
The Gospel of Marcion
The Gospel of Matthai
The Gospel of Nicodemus (Acts of Pilate)
The Gospel of Peter
The Gospel of Philip
The Gospel of Teleioseos
The Gospel of Thomas
The Gospel of the Twelve Apostles
The Gospel of Valentinus
The Protoevangelium of James
Genna Marias
What the fake gospels won’t tell you is that they were rejected by the early Church! They were rejected by the Church Fathers and early Christians, many of whom died in witness of the Christian faith.
Throughout the world women no less than men, tender girls as well as boys, have given their life’s blood in the struggle for this faith. It is a faith that has driven out devils, healed the sick and raised the dead. – St. Leo the Great
So let us ignore the aforementioned noncanonical “fake” gospels. We should build our lives on the authentic four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John just as the early Christians did, and just as the saints have done and continue to do since the dawn of the early Church in the splendor of Christ, a sun that never sets.
God does not rise or set but remains forever. – St. Augustine
It is always a paramount concern that I try to convey this information in way that is in agreement with the Gospels. I think the key word here is salvation. Salvation is found in Jesus Christ. Should we abandon the Gospels for one of the aforementioned fake gospels or choose to follow our own foolish gospel, it’s not a good idea.
Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are safe. Proverbs 28:26
Like at the end of a heroic action movie when things start blowing up and the hero scrambles out to safety, may we shun the gospel of today’s mainstream culture. May we run away from the world’s abyss and always seek refuge in Christ.
There will be no true life for you except in Christ, for he is the one source of true life. Apart from him you will find only death and destruction. – St. John Eudes
Anyone who disputes St. John Eudes’ gentle warning might want to reconsider. We all will die one day, but with faith in Jesus we await a life that is ever lasting with Him.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Jesus not only gives us hope of eternal life in him, but he also shows us in the Gospels how to live a life of love and peace. We find that everlasting peace by living our lives through Him, with Him and in Him, in the unity of the holy Spirit, our wise counselor and life-long friend. May God’s peace and blessing be with us.
The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. John 14:26-27