Posted on 03/26/2024 5:37:37 PM PDT by grumpa
Gospel is a term used over 75 times in the New Testament. While it has various nuances of meaning, it's most fundamental meaning from the Greek is "good news." But good news of what? According to the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, "The gospel is the joyous proclamation of God's redemptive activity in Christ Jesus on behalf of man enslaved by sin."
The importance of the gospel cannot be overstated. Indeed, it is the culminating concept of the entire Bible. As it says in the most famous of all Bible passages:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Jesus used the phrase "the gospel of the kingdom," indicating the good news that He as the Messiah was now among them to usher in the new covenant world.
Paul specifically defines the gospel in his first letter to the Corinthians:
“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me” (1 Corinthians 15:1-8).
This passage offers the clearest definition of the gospel. It includes both the gospel itself and also an apologetic, which means reasons why we should believe it. Those who always preach the gospel without an accompanying apologetic are not preaching the gospel biblically!
Evidence for the historicity of the resurrection is part of the gospel message. Paul insists that the resurrection was not a figment of someone's imagination. There were over 500 witnesses, including Paul himself! He proclaims that if his readers do not believe it, they can verify these things with the actual living witnesses. Scholars, incidentally, believe that the statement Paul makes in the first few verses of 1 Corinthians 15 is a formal creed used by the earliest Christians that dates back to within 5 years of Christ's death.
In subsequent verses (1 Corinthians 15:9-58), Paul goes on to explain the significance of the resurrection event. Because of Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection, believers have hope of eternal life. He stakes everything on the resurrection being an actual historical event. He insists that unless Christ's resurrection really and truly happened, our faith is in vain.
Let's look at one more passage:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). Together with the 1 Corinthians passage above, Paul makes it clear in these passages that the gospel is not something that man does. Rather, it is something that God has done for us. It is God's power through Christ and the Holy Spirit that is the gospel. Thus, a clear distinction should be made between the gospel (that which we believe for our salvation) and law (which explains what we are to do in response to our saving faith.)
Make no mistake, man must respond to God's offer of salvation. We must receive Christ (John 1:12). We must repent while believing in the gospel (Mark 1:15). We must trust in Christ (Romans 4:5). But obedience is a result of the gospel, rather than the gospel itself.
Let's take a further moment and comment on what the gospel is not.
• It is not, "Have your best life now"—as a popular TV preacher proclaims.
• It is not placing one's trust in the church.
• It is not the so-called social gospel. (The social gospel is a response by certain liberal Christians who doubt the Bible and its miracles, including the bodily resurrection of Christ. Left with no gospel at all, these professing Christians turn to social action in society as their focus and redemption.)
• It is not about Jesus’ “Second Coming.”
The gospel is the good news that Christ lived a perfect life and died on the cross to satisfy God's wrathful punishment for our sins. He then rose from the dead on Easter to prove his divinity. Because of Jesus' payment in full for our debt, it is now possible for anyone to receive salvation and entrance into heaven through a living faith in Jesus Christ.
(Author: Charles Meek, founder and editor of FaithFacts.org website: FaithFacts, one of the oldest apologetics websites on the internet.)
This author quoted Paul. He could have left it at that:
“Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day” which is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes”
That's right!
Yet, so many negative waves. It's like what happened to that poor fellow at the end of the parable of the talents.
"You had *one* job."
The gospel is the good news that Christ lived a perfect life and died on the cross to satisfy God’s wrathful punishment for our sins. He then rose from the dead on Easter to prove his divinity. Because of Jesus’ payment in full for our debt, it is now possible for anyone to receive salvation and entrance into heaven through a living faith in Jesus Christ …That is only a fraction of the Gospel.
And after that John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, / And saying: The time is accomplished, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel.Errors of omission will always trip people up.
— Mark 1:14-15
The gospel of the kingdom is in the post.
Thanks. More details are in the Bible.
Moriarty died May 29, 2021
Oddball and Kelly, still going.
Burning Bridges - Mike Curb Congregation - 1 Hour Version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEXbvm_pM0s
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