WHAT IS AT THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL?

part three

INTRODUCTION:

Having listed the verses that mention the word GOSPEL in the last two articles we know ome to the topic: WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

The gospel that is introduced to unbelievers has eternal consequences. If it is the true gospel, it can direct men and women into the everlasting kingdom. If it is a debauched message, it can give unsaved people misleading hope while bequeathing them to eternal damnation.

While I love theology, and study the doctrines of God this issue is not for us only. This is an issue that every solitary pastor/teacher and lay individual must understand in order that the gospel may be appropriately announced.

It doesn’t matter if you are a quote "Fundamentalist", "Evangelical", "Independent", or any of the other brands of religion, you need to know how to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the unsaved.

• Mark 1:1 ¶ The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Romans 15:19 I have fully preached the gospel of Christ; 2 Corinthians for the gospel of Christ, and when a door was opened unto me in the Lord, 2 Corinthians 10:14: for we came even as far as unto you in the gospel of Christ: Philippians 1:27 ¶ Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ:
• The gospel that Jesus Christ proclaimed was a call to discipleship, a call to follow Him in submissive obedience, not just a plea to make a decision or pray a prayer.

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

part one

(This lesson was taught at the First Baptist Church, Altoona, Kansas 2006)

I believe the Gospel's Work has produced the saving work of God in the lives

of many who came to FBC 1980-1996

What is the Gospel? Just ask the typical American fundamentalist the question. Here is what you are likely to hear: "Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and you will be saved." You will hear: "I want to go to a church that the preacher will preach the Gospel?" Now these are those who have been saved for years. So why do they want to go to a church that will preach the gospel?

Well this study has led me to research the question: What is the Gospel? I looked at my "Online Bible disk" to view the verses on "gospel." (The last two articles)

• Note the book of Mark: and Jesus summarizes His preaching while on this earth:
• Mark 1:14-15 "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

"Repent and believe the gospel?" Does Jesus here say "Repent and believe in Jesus?" What Jesus was saying is that people ought to repent and believe the gospel that "the time is fulfilled" and "the kingdom of God is near." In other words , when Jesus preached the gospel, He was preaching "the gospel of the kingdom." Note

• Matthew 24:14 And this gospel <2098> of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come
  

Jesus was saying then, that the gospel is preaching the kingdom of Christ, kingdom of God (in other verses) which was breaking into this present world through the life, death, resurrection and ascension of the Messiah. The gospel, then, is the message of the Kingdom. Repenting and believing is the means by which we are included in the gospel story of God’s work throughout history.

God is redeeming for Himself a people out of a fallen world: we enter into the gospel story by grace through faith alone.

• Paul points out in Romans 1:1-6
  "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:"

Here in the text, the gospel is the work of the Son. A descendent of David, and installed as King -Son of God - by being raised from the dead. His reign as king was vindicated by the resurrection, and his kingdom is justified as the rightful Israel. As a result of this Gospel story, we are "called to belong to Jesus Christ.

Here is an interesting thought. We think of the Gospel as "the way of salvation." John Murray in his book "Redemption Accomplished and Applied, gives us this idea: He used the term "redemption accomplished’ to refer to the work of Jesus Christ in history to purchase our salvation. What I have being learning is "the history of salvation" which is called historia salutis. — what has God done objectively throughout Biblical history to accomplish the redemption of the world and of His people. The historical history of salvation is found in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Starting from Genesis 3:15 " And 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."

The term "redemption applied" Murray is referring to how the redemption purchased by Christ becomes real in the life of the believer.

The Theologians have also called this the "way of salvation" (ordo salutis) i.e. the order of how God subjectively saves us in our individuals lives. This study has been a part of my study for several years now.

Would you say, that what you have heard the most about what the Gospel is has been "The Gospel is repent and believe and be baptized." Right.
What I have been learning is that the Gospel has several aspects. The term "historia salutis" Latin for "the history of salvation." The term describes the gospel as the work of God in history to redeem God’s people for Himself. The word "gospel" literally, "good news" appears first in the OT in Isaiah 52:7

• " How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"

This text Isaiah’s prophecy looked forward to the time when the Messiah would lead His people out of exile in Babylon into a restored kingdom of Israel. The context of this gospel, good news message as described by Isaiah is "Your God reigneth!"

• Ps 93:1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, [wherewith] he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
• Ro 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Drafted by Charles E. Whisnant July 2006 Proof read by Charity November 01, 06 Posted 11-03-