THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF CHRIST

 

The Greek word translated "gospel" is euangelion, and it means: glad or joyful tidings, good message, good news.  Indeed, the gospel is good news (Romans 10:15).  It is the God-given duty of the Lord's church to proclaim it to a lost and dying world (Mark 16:15­-16).  And, as wonderful as the gospel is, the soul who refuses to obey it will not be saved, but eternally destroyed (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).  Now, let us consider why it is such good news, and why it is so urgent for us to obey and teach it.

"As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country" (Proverbs 25:25).  The good news of God, the gospel, was brought down from heaven to earth by the Holy Spirit (I Peter 1:12).  Inspired men have recorded this message for us in the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15-17). Man is lost and condemned without the gospel (Romans 1:16).  To downcast man, lost in sin, hungering and thirsting for salvation--the gospel has come!

If we really appreciate the gospel of Christ, then we will be willing to: (a) suffer for it, like Paul (2 Timothy 1:8-9); (b) sacrifice for its proclamation, and realize that carnal things are very small in comparison to the spiritual blessings brought forth by the preaching and teaching of the gospel (I Corinthians 9:11-18; Ephesians 1 :3-7; 3:8); (c) "be fellowhelpers to the truth" (3 John 8); (d) be "fellowlabourers" in the gospel (Philippians 4:3); (e) defend it against error (Philippians 1 :17); (f) spread the gospel message ourselves (Acts 8:4; Proverbs 11 :30); (g) help others to be trained to preach & teach it (2 Timothy 2:2).  In the Lord's church today, we urgently need to have a greater love and devotion to the "glorious gospel of the blessed God" (I Timothy 1:11), which is

the "glorious gospel of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

 

Why Is The Gospel Such Good News?

 

1. The Gospel is Good News Because It Tells Man of the Saviour Who Came To Earth To Save Him (Luke 2:10-12; 19:10). As the song says: "Why Did My Savior Come To Earth .... Because He Loves Me So." (I John 4:8-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Romans 5:6-11; Revelation 1:5). In the gospel we learn about: "the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20b).  A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord!

2. The Gospel Announces: "how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose on the third day according to the scriptures" (I Corinthians 15:3b-4).  Man, under the condemnation of sin, has a Saviour Who loves Him, and Who shed His precious blood to save him and wash away his sins (Matthew 1:21; Revelation 1:5; I Peter 1:19).  Man does not have to be lost in hell (Romans 5:8-9). Now that is truly good news!

3. The Gospel Is For All People (Romans 1:16; Acts 15:7).  Jesus commanded His disci­ples: "...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16);  Indeed, Christ "by the grace of God" tasted death "for every man" (Hebrews 2:9).

4. The Gospel Is Good News because it is the "gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24). "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us... "(cf. Titus 2:11-12).  Because of God's grace, man has the privilege of being taught the gospel of Christ.  Moreover, the gospel is the message of God's grace, and the grace of God has made the gospel possible.  By it we have access to God's grace (Titus 2:11-12; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 5:1-2; 10:17; Titus 3:4-7; I Corinthians 15:1).

5. The Gospel is Good News Because by it we are Begotten by God-We Become His Children (I Corinthians 4:15; James 1:18; I Peter 1:23).  When one obeys the gospel of Christ, he is begotten by God and born into His house, the church of Christ-the kingdom of God (I Timothy 3:15; John. 3:3-5; Colossians 1:13-14).  As physical children are begotten by their fathers, God's chil­dren have been begotten by His seed, the word of God (Luke 8:11; I Peter 1:23).  What a privilege to be a child of God! (John 1:12-13). "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not" (1 John. 3:1).

6. The Gospel Is of God. It is the "gospel of God" (Romans1:1; 15:16; 2 Corinthians 11:7; I Thessalonians 2:2, 8-9; I Peter 4:17).  It is from God--not men!  Inspired men received it from God--and did not receive it from man (Galatians 1:11-12; I Corinthians 2:6-16).  Unlike the teachings and inventions of man, it is perfect and eternal (Ephesians 1:13; John 8:32; Titus 1:14; Matthew 15:9; 15:13; 2 John 9; I Peter 1:25; Revelation 14:6). "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe" (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

7. Christ's Gospel Is Good News because it tells man of heaven and makes the hope of heaven possible (Colossians 1:5).  Yet, we must be steadfast and faithful, and be not moved away from the gospel hope, if we are to reach Heaven. "We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel. .. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister" (Colossians 1:3-5, 21-23).

8. The Gospel of Christ Brings Peace. It is the "gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:15; Romans 10:15).  By the gospel, God has made peace between Jew and Gentile, and between Him­ self and man (cf. Ephesians 2:11-22).  Because of the gospel, man is able to have his sins remitted by the blood of Christ, and therefore have access to God the Father (Ephesians 2:13-18). "And the peace of God, which passeth all under­ standing, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). By the gospel "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1), which the world can­ not provide! (John 14:27; 16:33).

9. We Are Called unto God by The Gospel, and by it we are able to obtain "the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 2:14), "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:9).  Thus, the gospel is the only means by which God calls men to Him.  Thus, we can understand why God wants all men to hear the gospel of Christ (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16).  What are we doing about it?

10. The Gospel of Christ Is Good News because it is "the power of God unto salva­tion to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16; cf. I Corinthians 15:1-2).  Our "Saviour Jesus Christ... hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Timothy 1:10) ... "the gospel of your salvation" (Ephesians 1:13). It informs man that to be saved, he must: Hear & Believe the gospel (Acts 18:8; 15:7; Romans 10:14-17); Re­pent (Acts 2:38; 17:30); Confess Jesus Christ as the Son of God (Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10); & Be Baptized in His name for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).  Having put on Christ (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3-4), one must remain faithful (Revelation 2:10; John 8:31-32; 14:15, 21-24; 1John. 1:7). The sacrifice of Christ has made gospel preaching possible (I Corinthians 1:18-25; 2:2; Ephesians 2:13; 3:8)!  How great it is!  Danny Douglas, August 31, 2008; [The Saluter, Dresden church of Christ, Dresden, TN]