More than that the gospel Jesus preached was not about riveting an audience with great ideas, the point was to get people to actually live those teachings.
The beauty of the gospel is only truly evident when it is lived and Christ-like love is shared one to another, when one experiences forgiving others seventy times seven(or infinity) or received forgiveness and been set free. Or have forgiven themselves and been set free.
As far as this idea of being set free goes Jesus says this:
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:34-36
Jesus set us free so who else but ourselves can condemn us?
This is one lesson out of many but living them out is another matter and I think it is the entire point of the gospel. It's not that this is news to all but it should be to many because it is often spoken of as the hardest job in the world.
But if all the teachings Jesus are lived there is an incredible joy in living life like that. If one feels burdened by it often the emphasis is off. The gospel is about lightening our burdens not adding to them.
There are simple joys like paying kindness forward not just paying it back.
My wife and I were broke and completely out of food so our close friends cleaned out their refrigerator and we had food for two months. We were moved so much by this but we couldn't pay them back at the time.
A few months back my wife and I talked to some mutual friends and they were in the same situation with no money and no food so we bought them about a months worth of good with Easter candy as well.
There were humbled speechless and I told our friend and her husband not to worry about paying us back just to pay it forward when they get the chance.
It feels better to give like than than it does to recieve I would say.
I write about religion and it's good to discuss so there are better ideas from which to implement in living our lives.
Murder victims families sometimes forgive the murderer. Consentration camp survivors have forgiven their captors. Viktor Frankl was one who wrote a great book called "Mans Search For Meaning."
Sometimes living the gospel creates a social miracle that provides joy for all.
Theology and scholarly works are fine but living the teachings creates beauty and joy and can make the hellish world we sometimes find ourselves in more like heaven and thereby prepare us for our eternal estate.
The real gift of the gospel is in living it, for the one who lives it and those the meet.
