- Picture by Paula Nash Giltner at Free Bible Images: www.gnpi.org
The Gospel in the New Testament
As already noted the theme of the Gospel is found to run through the Old Testament, so by now we can understand that this part of the Bible has great relevance to the true Christian, even today. This is in direct contrast to the ideas of some people who say that the Old Testament is just full of myth and folklore at worst. or who at best, concede that it does not contain any information relevant to our salvation. 'The error of this line of thought will be obvious in the light of the references to scripture already made, but the reliability of the Old Testament also acts as a witness to confirm the reliability of the New Testament.
The Link with the Old Testament
The prophecies about the coming of Jesus Christ are probably best seen linked to the NOW Testament through the writings of those who penned the Gospel records. Taking the record of Mark as an example, we read:
"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, Behold. I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."
This was not a direct prophecy concerning Jesus himself but of the forerunner to Jesus, that is, John the Baptist. We note that the opening words of Mark are:
"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God ..."
The other significant words in that passage are: 'As it is written' These words immediately provide
I Mark 1.1-3
that link back to the Old Testament, to the words of the prophet of God. Isaiah:
"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people. saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her. that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord. make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall he revealed. and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it."
We can read about the ministry of John in Matthew's gospel record chapter 3. This was foretold in the Old Testament as the introductory work for the teaching of Christ and we have noted that in Mark's record this was considered to be the beginning of the Gospel or Jesus Christ. It is important to see the difference in words here, it was the Gospel Jesus Christ not the Gospel about Jesus Christ! Although Christ was the keystone of the Gospel message He was not the Gospel 'Himself' as we shall see by searching the scriptures.
Johns ministry, as recorded in Matthew was to show the need for repentance, because
"....the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Both Matthew and Mark, in their Gospel records, start their witness by stating quite plainly that the Gospel preached by Christ was the Gospel of the kingdom of God. This matter of the Gospel being "of Christ" rather than "about Christ", can be seen quite clearly by gaining a better understanding of these verses where the kingdom of God was mentioned, particularly in Matthew's record.
"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"
And again:
"And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people."
The scripture here very specifically links the working of miracles by Christ, with the preaching of the kingdom and if we consider that point carefully. it reveals the truth to us. Much debate has gone into the real reasons for the miracles of Christ. Was he just doing these things out of compassion, or was it to attract people to him and away from the established teachers of the time. No, the real reason for the miracles, was that they gave the stamp of divine authority to the work of Christ in preaching the kingdom of God. The Scribes and Pharisees could do nothing by their hypocritical teaching that could possibly match this outward display. Christ was a special person with a special message from God - the Gospel of the Kingdom.
The Gospel - the Theme of Christ's Teaching
Before the time of Christ's ministry, the promises of God had been very specific about the advent of the Messiah but had not enlarged on what was required of the individual who wished to be a part of God's kingdom. However. the emphasis on individual commitment was an essential part of Christ's teaching.
Probably the most revealing part of this aspect of Christ's teaching is to be found in the "Sermon on the Mount", which we find recorded in Matthew. chapters 5 to 7. The teachings of Christ set the standard that is acceptable to God. One of the most telling verses in this part of Christ's teaching is:
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord. Lord. shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
One verse contains the essential theme of ChrisCs teaching concerning the Gospel - the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. The theme is this - that without obedience to what God requires of us. we cannot hope to share in the future benefits which the Gospel tells us about.
It follows that to obey God we have to know what God requires of us. and to gain that knowledge, we must listen to God - to listen to his words. which are there for us to read, in the Bible. "lhs requires an open mind, one that is ready to receive instruction without prejudice. It was because of the lack of this attitude among some of the people of his day. that Christ spoke to them by way of parables. He made this point quite forcibly as Matthew tells us:
"Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not: and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias. which saith. By hearing ye shall hear. and shall not understand: and seeing ye shall see. and shall not perceive."
The concept of needing to be attentive to God's requirements was further underlined by Christ. in the parable of the wedding feast given by a certain king. The record quite clearly shows that the parable is connected to the kingdom of Heaven (the kingdom of God). The invitation sent out by the king is analogous to the one that God has given to us to come to his kingdom. The people who rejected the invitation of the king, reminds us that many reject God's invitation. But perhaps most importantly for our consideration, is the fact that a man was ejected from the wedding feast for not wearing the right garment. Christ teaches us here about the need to be prepared - to conform to the expected standard that God has set to obtain a place in the kingdom (The wedding feast - see Matthew 22.1-14).
To meet the standard God has set, requires us to overcome the natural tendencies that are within us to follow our own desires; to note and copy the perfect example that Christ has set for us; to be baptised (by full immersion in water) into the saving name of Christ. In his final message in the book of Revelation given to the Apostle John, Christ referred again and again to the prize that awaited those who overcome this natural tendency to sin. This prize is a place in the kingdom of God.
- A tomb in Jerusalem with the stone rolled away is a reminder of the miracle of Christ's resurrection
The Gospel - Preached by the Apostles
It may be thought strange that this section has been included, because it would appear that the Gospel message given by the apostles was the very same as that given by Christ. Two things come from this line of thought:
- The basic teaching of the Gospel was exactly the same as taught by Christ, the point here being that throughout the divinely inspired scriptures anything of great importance is always repeated a number of times.
- Whilst the teaching was the same Gospel message, the emphasis shifted slightly. The apostles demonstrated the need for the work of Jesus Christ, the need for his sacrificial death and resurrection and the need for repentance and baptism followed by a new way of life in those who desire to receive a place in God's eternal kingdom.
The apostle Paul wrote:
"For when we were yet without strength. in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us. in that. while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies. we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."
Paul emphasised this message many times in his writings, introducing different facets each time:
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death. by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."
Again he wrote in his letter to Titus:
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. Teaching us that. denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. we should live soberly. righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appeanng of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity. and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works"
The apostles stressed over and over again that the glad tidings of the kingdom of God were there for everyone to embrace and have as a hope for the future.
They demonstrated that the mission of Jesus, his life, death and resurrection, was a great gift from God. the Creator of heaven and earth. to mankind, but it will only benefit those that accept it as a gift from God and follow the prescribed path through believing in him. Paul used almost these very words in his letter to the Hebrews:
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is. and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
These things were spoken in the same authoritative way that Christ delivered the Gospel message. It was a way that the antagonists of the time found difficult to gainsay The reason for this of course was that it was of God and carried the power of his inspiration with it. "The apostle Peter focuses our minds on the truth and hope of the Gospel in these words:
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. through sanctification of the Spirit. unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you. and peace. be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled. and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
It would be possible to continue to quote references from the apostolic writings in the scriptures and fill a sizeable book with them. but from those referred to already it will be apparent that the Gospel proclaimed by the apostles, did have this firm emphasis - the keystone of it was the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It was his selflessness. his teaching, the miracles that he performed and his great sacrifice, that persuaded the first century Christians of the need for self abasement and self sacrifice in order to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom in the face of incredible persecution. It was the reality of the hope of life unending, based on the sure foundation that Christ had laid. that the apostles built on and that the first century Christians continued to preach.
The Hope of the First Century Christians
To conclude this section on the Gospel in the New Testament we will consider the hope of the first century Christians, the hope as it was first delivered in its untainted and unaltered form before being affected by the errors of mans inventive and misguided thinking.
The primary point of belief is that there will be an everlasting kingdom of God:
"For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
The second point is that the kingdom will be set up on earth:
"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so. I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again. and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there ye may be also."
These verses are often misquoted to demonstrate that the reward of the righteous is in heaven. But a logical look at them will expose this as an erroneous belief. Christ said that if he went away, he would come again
"where I am, there ye may be also."
in other words here on earth! This was supported by the angels comment at the time of the ascension of Christ into heaven:
"Ye men of Galilee. why stand ye gazing up into heaven? 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."
Words "... shall so come" form a definite statement about Christ's return to the earth.
The next point of belief. is the need to be related to the Divine promises confirmed by the Gospel message. The hope of life eternal in the kingdom of God was made possible through the waters of baptism belief in the Gospel.
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name Of Jesus Christ,
"... they were baptized, both men and women."
The hope of the kingdom was not considered to be theirs by right following baptism, it was conditional on maintaining the standards set and taught by Christ:
"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of. knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus"
The salvation referred to by Paul is to be saved from the finality of death. which is mankind's lot due to the effects of sin. Salvation is the gift of God, eternal life to be enjoyed in the kingdom to be set up on earth at Christ's return.It was the hope of the first century Christians! This is the true Gospel message:
Based on the "Light on The Gospel" special issue in 4 parts:
- Light on the Gospel - what is the Gospel
- Light on the Gospel in the Old Testament
- Light on the Gospel in the New Testament
- Light on the Gospel and YOU
Next article (part 4) is Light on the Gospel and YOU
Author Peter Meadows
Country Birmingham, UK
Source Light on a New World special edition: "The Gospel"
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