"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path". Ps 119:105

 THE GOSPEL

In this study we shall bring together many of the facts which we have learnt in earlier studies.

The English word 'gospel' comes from two old English words, 'god spell' meaning 'good news', or, as it is sometimes used in the New Testament, 'glad tidings'. This is a good translation of the Greek word 'enaggelion'.

The Centre of Christ's Teaching

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all tell us that Jesus went throughout the land of Israel preaching the gospel - the good news - of his coming kingdom.

'And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom.' (Matthew 9 v 35)

'Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.' (Mark 1 v 14)

'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor.' (Luke 4 v 18)

'God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' (John 3 v 16)

'Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.' (John 18 v 37)

The Disciples Taught the Gospel

When Jesus had told the good news to the disciples, he sent them out to teach others. 'And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.' (Luke 9 v 2)

After his death and resurrection, Jesus told the disciples to go on with the same work, 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.' (Mark 16 v 15-16)

From these last words we see that we need to know, believe and obey the gospel in order to receive salvation.

The Power of the Gospel

Because of this, the apostle Paul wrote:

'I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.' (Romans 1 v 16)

We need to understand clearly the good news that Jesus and the apostles taught. Paul wrote again:

'Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.' (Galatians 1 v 8)

What Did the Disciples Understand by 'The Gospel'?

The disciples went out preaching the good news of the kingdom of God before the crucifixion of Jesus. What did this 'good news' mean to them? When two of them spoke to Jesus after his resurrection, they told him:

'Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people ... we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel.' (Luke 24 v 19 & 21)

Just before Jesus ascended to heaven,:

'they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?' (Acts 1 v 6)

They expected Jesus to set up the kingdom of God there and then. It was such good news that they wanted it immediately. Jesus told them that the time had not yet come:

'It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.' (Acts 1 v 7)

God's Promises

As the disciples watched Jesus ascending, two angels stood by them and told them:

'This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.' (Acts 1 v 11)

This promise is the repeated theme of the apostles' teaching as we read it in the Acts of the Apostles, and their letters. They looked for the return of Jesus to fulfil all of the promises which God had made concerning His kingdom.

For, although the word 'gospel' is only to be found in the New Testament, the good news of the kingdom of God is the basis of all God's promises from the beginning.

The Gospel in Eden

In the beginning, after Adam and Eve had disobeyed God's commandment, we remember His words to the serpent,

'I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.' (Genesis 3 v 15)

This was the good news, that the power of sin and death would eventually be destroyed. This was the work that Jesus came to do. Look up Hebrews 2 v 14-15.

The Gospel to Abraham

We have studied God's promises to Abraham. The apostle Paul wrote:

'The scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.' (Galatians 3 v 8)

When Jesus returns, he will raise Abraham from the dead, and all God's promises to Abraham will be fulfilled in every detail.

These promises were confirmed to Isaac and to Jacob, and they too will be raised from the dead at the return of Jesus, and will receive places of honour in God's kingdom. (Matthew 8 v 11)

The Gospel to David

The good news of God's kingdom was told to David through the prophet Nathan - Please read 2 Samuel 7 v 12-16.

"I will set up thy seed ... I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever ... thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.'

Although the Israelites later forsook God, He did not forget His promises. We find them over and over again in the Psalms of David, and in the writings of the prophets. God, through the prophet Ezekiel, spoke to Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, 'I will overturn, overturn, overturn it (the Kingdom): and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.' (Ezekiel 21 v 27)

When Jesus came, the angel renewed the promise to Mary:

'He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.' (Luke 1 v 32-33)

The Gospel to us

This is the good news of God's kingdom that comes to us in the Bible message. Jesus will soon be back on earth to set up God's kingdom. Please read Matthew 25. The three parables in this chapter teach us to watch, to work, to reflect the love of Christ if we too would have a part in God's Kingdom.

1. Parable of the ten virgins

Those who prepared themselves and kept a close watch were invited into the marriage feast but those whose oil had run out found the door closed.

2. Parable of the talents

The use of our abilities will be recognized by Jesus and he will reward those who have used their knowledge and opportunities while they could.

3. Parable of shepherd dividing the sheep

The Good Shepherd recognizes his sheep and understands their efforts. He knows those who have tried to help their fellows and accepts such assistance as being done to him.

What must We Do?

We have to repent, to change our ways,:

'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.' (Mark 1 v 15)

'Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you.' (Acts 3 v 19-20)

'And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained.' (Acts 17 v 30-31)

We need to follow Jesus - to change our hearts and minds - to be reborn through baptism, and our next lesson will teach us what that means. This, too, is necessary:

"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ ... And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.' (Galatians 3 v 27-29)

This is the gospel, the good news of the kingdom of God. We, like the disciples, long for it to be fulfilled soon. This is why we pray, as Jesus taught his followers, 'Thy Kingdom come'.

                   "Our Father which art in heaven,
                   Hallowed be thy name.
                   Thy kingdom come.
                   Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
                   Give us day by day our daily bread.
                   And forgive us our sins;  for we also
                   forgive every one that is indebted to us.
                   And lead us not into temptation;  but
                   deliver us from evil."
                                           (Luke 11 v 2-4)

Summary

• The word 'gospel' means 'good news'.

• The good news of the coming kingdom of God was the main theme of the teaching of Jesus and his disciples.

• Knowledge, belief of and obedience to the gospel are necessary to gain salvation.

• The gospel is taught throughout the Scriptures, in Old and New Testaments.

• The good news is still preached to us.

• We can gain a place in God's kingdom if we hear, understand and obey the gospel message.

• We have to make a positive response to the call of the gospel - just as Abraham and all the faithful servants of God in the past did.

To get to know God's word properly we need to read the Bible for ourselves. To help you read the Bible in a constructive way, the Bible Reading Tables are available.

Study 13 Questions

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