What is the Gospel?
When we speak about the 'the Gospel' in the Holy Bible we’re speaking of “good news” or “glad tidings.”
The Greek word for 'gospel' is euaggelion.
Euaggelion, Greek 2098 Strong’s
euaggelion yoo-ang-ghel’-ee-on
from the same as 2097; n n; TDNT-2:721,267; {See TDNT 268}
AV-gospel 46, gospel of Christ 11, gospel of God 7, gospel of the Kingdom 3, misc 10; 77
1) a reward for good tidings
2) good tidings
2a) the glad tidings of the kingdom of God soon to be set up, and subsequently also of Jesus the Messiah, the founder of this kingdom. After the death of Christ, the term comprises also the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ as having suffered death on the cross to procure eternal salvation for the men in the kingdom of God, but as restored to life and exalted to the right hand of God in heaven, thence to return in majesty to consummate the kingdom of God
2b) the glad tidings of salvation through Christ
2c) the proclamation of the grace of God revealed and pledged in Christ
2d) the gospel
2e) as the messianic rank of Jesus was proved by his words, his deeds, and his death, the narrative of the sayings, deeds, and death of Jesus Christ came to be called the gospel or glad tidings
Note in the James Strong’s Bible Concordance definition of the gospel, Strong gives his own best interpretation of what the Gospel means, but what truly is the Gospel according to the Holy Bible?
The good news at the time of the birth of Christ must be looked at in the context of the full bible narrative.
First a savior had been born, this meant the one being born was due to bring in salvation.
Was this salvation by men?
No.
The Salvation to come was of God.
Who was this God?
The God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). The same God who created the heavens and the earth and all within it.
Most of the Bible deals with the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob whom God made covenants with and the involves the narrative and history of that people God chose, and how they fell from God’s grace by ultimately leaving God’s Holy laws and rebelling against God in their great sinful nature committing grievous sins against their God.
The God of Israel ultimately punished all of Israel for their great sins and thus the chosen people of God were cast away off the land of Israel into the nations of the world for their sins against God. Among Israel were holy men of God, prophets whom God spoke through and they prophesied not only of the fall of Israel, but the redemption of Israel and the salvation to come.
So, the Gospel involved the salvation, or redemption of Israel, which is key to understanding the Gospel.
Matthew 1:18-23
¶ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
The Gospel also meant redemption not only for the children of Israel exclusively, but also to more people of non-Israelite nations or those of “the Gentiles.”
Luke 2:25-29
¶ And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
This prophesied salvation of God was for all people!
Salvation from what you might ask?
Eternal damnation and separation from God, and the wrath of God on sinners who shall spend eternity of torment in hell fire for their rebellion against the one true Holy God.
Is this message the Gospel of the Bible?
Not entirely.
Jesus is surely the main focus of the Gospel, and so we have to look at what Jesus preached.
Jesus preached a Gospel; he foretold some very good news to the people.
What was it that Jesus preached as he went around all of the land of Israel and even areas of the Gentiles?
Matthew 4:23
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jesus preached about the good news of coming kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven, or kingdom of God, was coming to mankind.
It’s within this kingdom that Israel shall be saved and the stranger (Gentiles) along with Israel shall receive an inheritance with Israel, and be saved in the kingdom of God.
What is this new kingdom of heaven, and where is it?
Luke 17:20-21 ¶ And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
It is not a kingdom of man nor any such political kingdom or state.
This is a kingdom of the Spirit of the Holy Spirit of God.
Jesus spent most of his time teaching about the kingdom of heaven and he did so mainly through use of parables.
This kingdom of God is only entered into by faith.
But faith in what?
Faith in the God of Israel YHWH’s anointed, the Messiah, Jesus the Christ.
John 3:14-21
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 8:24
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Because this salvation was to all, anyone who believed and later was baptized in Christ Jesus would receive the Holy Spirit of God, or the Holy Ghost, and thus enter into the kingdom of God or kingdom of heaven on earth.
The kingdom of heaven on earth was the culmination of Jesus’ teachings and his gospel to the people of Israel and all others.
However, the kingdom of heaven began in force and power after Jesus had been put to death on the Cross and he was arisen to life everlasting by God to be seated at the right hand of God. For God then sent forth the Holy Ghost in Jesus’ name to bring to the world the truth of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ and to guide the believers who put their faith in Christ Jesus.
John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Acts 2:38-39
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
The body of baptized believers is ‘the Church’ of Jesus the Christ.
The Holy Spirit of God dwells inside the believers, the faithful and obedient followers or servants of Jesus the Christ.
1st Corinthians 3:16-17
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
All those in the kingdom of heaven on earth, in Christ Jesus, are saved from their sins against God and God’s judgment and fiery wrath of eternal hell fire.
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
So, the Gospel in the bible Involves the redemption of Israel from her sins, the salvation of the Gentiles of their sins through the Christ of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel.
That Christ is Jesus.
John 1:1-14
¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 ¶ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Jesus’ Gospel was the coming kingdom of heaven on earth as it is and will be in heaven. A present kingdom of the Spirit, entered into only by faith in Jesus, the Christ of YHWH.
Romans 1:17
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
It is a righteous kingdom of truth and righteousness in the Spirit of Almighty God. A holy kingdom of priests. It is of “the Israel of God” where God dwells among his chosen people of Israelites and the Gentiles as the children of God.
1st Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
There is still more to the Gospel. The good news to the faithful believers in Christ.
Jesus is seated at the right hand of Almighty God and he will one day soon return to this world to gather his righteous people and his holy saints of the present kingdom of God on earth who were chosen to be saved out of this evil world and enter in the new heavens and the new earth God will establish in the end.
Then shall all the dead be raised to life and judged before God and those who know not Jesus as their Lord and Savior will be cast into the lake of fire, face the wrath of God for eternal damnation and torment, because they loved not the truth but rebelled against God.
That is why the apostle Paul who preached the Gospel of faith and the kingdom message wrote:
Romans 1:16
For 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.
This is the universal and global good news; the Gospel message of the Holy Bible.
Now that you have been a very brief synopsis of ‘the Gospel’ I ask you,
Do you know Jesus?
Do you know the Christ?
Do you know why Jesus came to earth?
Do you have faith in Jesus the Christ?
Have you repented of your sins to God?
Have you been baptized in the name of Jesus?
Do you know about the kingdom of heaven?