The Gospel

1. The gospel – 20th
May 2016
“Jesuswent through all the towns andvillages,teachingin their synagogues,proclaimingthegood
news of the kingdomandhealingevery diseaseand sickness”( Matthew9:35).
The word gospelliterallymeans“goodnews”and occurs a multitude of timesinthe Bible,exclusivelyin
the NewTestament.InGreek,isitthe word euaggelion,fromwhichwe getourEnglishwords
evangelist,evangel,andevangelical.The gospel is,broadlyspeaking,the whole of Scripture;more
narrowly,the gospel isthe goodnewsconcerningChristandthe wayof salvation.
The keyto understandingthe gospel istoknow whyit’sgoodnews.Todo that,we must start withthe
bad news.Throughthe bible we canlearnthatthe OldTestamentLaw was giventoIsrael duringthe
time of Moses:“Hear, Israel, the decrees andlaws I declare in your hearingtoday.Learn them andbe
sure to followthem” (Deuteronomy 5:1). Asan analogythe Law can be thoughtof as a measuringstick,
and sinisanythingthat fallsshortof “perfect”accordingto that standard.The righteousrequirementof
the Mosaic Law is sostringentthat evenif one can claimthat he or she alwaysabidesbyit,we can know
that infact no humanbeingcouldpossiblyfollowitperfectly,inletterorinspirit.Despite our
“goodness”or“badness”relative toeachother,we are all in the same spiritual boat,because we have
sinned:“…forall havesinnedandfall short of the glory ofGod”(Romans3:23). We alsolearnfrom the
bible thatthe punishmentforsinisdeath…ineffectthe separationfromGod,the source of life.As
Chrostianswe mustknowthat inorderfor us to go to heaven - God’sdwellingplace andthe realmof life
and light- sinmust be somehowremovedorpaidfor.
We can learnfromthe gospel thatJesus’deathonthe cross as the sinofferingtofulfill the Law’s
righteousrequirement.We canlearnthisby reading Romans8:3–4, “Forwhat the law waspowerless
to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[a]
Goddid by sendinghisown Sonin the likeness ofsinful
fleshto be a sinoffering.[b]
And sohe condemnedsinin the flesh, 4
inorder that the righteous
requirement of the law mightbe fullymet in us, whodo not live accordingto the fleshbut according
to the Spirit”. Asrequiredinthe Mosaic Law,animal sacrificeswere offeredyearafteryearasa
reminderof sinanda symbol of the comingsacrifice of Christ , We can learnthis fromRomans 8:3-4, “
For what the law was powerlessto do because it was weakened by the flesh,Goddid by sendinghis
own Sonin the likeness ofsinful fleshto be a sinoffering.Andso he condemned sinin the flesh, 4
in
order that the righteousrequirement ofthe lawmight be fullymet in us,who do not liveaccordingto
the flesh but accordingto the Spirit”.
WhenChristofferedHimself asthe atoningsacrifice atCalvary,thatsymbol became arealityforall who
wouldbelieve whichwe canlearnthrough Hebrews10:11–18. The workof atonementisfinishednow,
and that’sgoodnews for all of mankind.The gospel also providesuswith Jesus’resurrectiononthe
thirdday. “He wasdelivered over to deathfor our sins andwas raisedto lifefor our justification”
(Romans4:25). The fact thatJesusconqueredsinanddeath - whichis sin’spenalty- isgoodnews,
indeed.The factthatHe offerstoshare thatvictorywithus isthe greatestnewsof all aswe can learn
fromJohn 14:19, “Before long,the worldwill not see me anymore,but you will see me. Because I live,
you alsowill live”.

2. The elementsof the gospel are statedin 1 Corinthians15:3–6, a keypassage concerningthe goodnews
of God:“For what I received I passed on to youas of first importance:that Christdied for our sins
accordingto the Scriptures, that he was buried,that he was raised on the third dayaccordingto the
Scriptures,and that he appeared to Cephas,andthen to the Twelve. After that,he appearedto more
than fivehundred ofthe brothers andsisters at the same time, most of whomare still living.” There
are some keyteachingsthatwe can receive fromthispassage.Firstly we cannote thatPaul “received”
the gospel andthen“passediton”; Thisis a divine message,notaman-made invention.Second,the
gospel is“of firstimportance.”Itwas importanttocommunicate toas many as possible of the Good
newsof salvationthatwasavailedthroughJesusChrist. Everywhere the apostleswent,theypreached
the crucifixionandresurrectionof Christ andthe possibilityof salvation.Third, we canalsolearnthat
the message of the gospel isaccompaniedbyproofs:Christdiedforoursins(provedbyHisburial),and
He rose againthe thirdsay(provedbythe eyewitnesses).Fourth,all this we learn “accordingtothe
Scriptures”.
The gospel isthe good newsthatGod lovesthe worldenoughtogive HisonlySonto die forour sin:“For
Godso lovedthe worldthat he gavehis one andonly Son,that whoever believes in himshall not
perish buthave eternal life” (John3:16). The gospel isgoodnewsbecause oursalvationandeternal life
and home inheavenare guaranteedthroughChrist ,We can learnfrom John14:1–4, “Donot let your
hearts be troubled. Youbelieve inGod[a]
; believealso inme. 2
My Father’s househas many rooms;if
that were not so,wouldI have toldyou that I am goingthere to prepare a place foryou? 3
Andif I go
and prepare a place foryou, I will come back and take you to be with me that you alsomay be where I
am. 4
Youknow the way to the placewhere I am going.”.
Throughthe gospel we learnthatJesusChrist hasavailedusthe possibilityof a new birthintoa living
hope throughthe resurrectionof JesusChristfromthe dead,andintoan inheritance thatcannever
perish,spoil orfade.Thisinheritance iskeptinheavenforyou aswe learnfrom 1 Peter 1:3–4,“ Praise
be to the GodandFather of our Lord Jesus Christ!In hisgreat mercy he has given usnew birthinto a
livinghopethrough the resurrection of JesusChrist fromthe dead, 4
andinto an inheritancethat can
never perish,spoil or fade.This inheritanceis kept in heaven for you”.
If one rejectthe gospel itisto embrace the badnews evenwhile beingfreelypresentedwiththe best
possible “Goodnewsof one’ssalvation”. Withoutthe teachingsfoundinthe Gospel,we cannotclearly
understandourneedforfaithinthe Son of God, whois God’sonlyprovisionforsalvation. AsChristians
we can understandandevenmake othersunderstandthe keyelementsfoundinthe gospel:“ForGod
didnot send his Soninto the worldto condemnthe world, butto save the world through him.
Whoever believesin himis not condemned,but whoever does not believestands condemnedalready
because they have not believedin the name of God’sone andonlySon” (John3:17–18). ThroughJesus
Christ, God sentHisson to this doomedworld,soasto enable themreceivethe goodnews of salvation
for all mankind.