- Picture by Paula Nash Giltner at Free Bible Images: www.gnpi.org
Light on the Gospel
The Gospel is a message of hope and joy to people of all races and languages.
In contrast to this, the philosophies, ideals and ethical principles thought up and expounded by men, may seem to offer hope to people for a better life, but usually offer nothing of the sort.
The rise and fall of Socialism and Communism are examples of the hopes and expectations that are raised in people's minds, but which do not stand the test of time and are subject to the fickleness and uncertainty of human nature.
The Gospel or Good News found in God's word, doesn't rely on the efforts of mankind to bring lasting peace to the world.
It is a Divine plan. put into effect by the power of God - nurtured by Him through the nation of Israel and brought to fruition by the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The fulfilment of the hope given by the Gospel relies on the promised return of Jesus to the earth as the all-powerful Son of God.
Because the fulfilment of the Good News found in the Bible does not depend on human nature, it means we have a hope that is sure and absolutely certain of being carried out.
This knowledge can lift us from despair to joyfulness, from hopelessness to hopefulness, because it is backed up by the love of God.
It is based on sure and certain promises, which the Almighty, by His righteousness and justice, will fulfil by sending Jesus to this earth again.
The scene shown on the below cover photo is taken by the Lake of Galilee in Northern Israel where Jesus walked with his disciples and preached the Gospel of the Kingdom.
It was here that his life-giving words were spoken to people from all walks of life - from those humble fishermen who became his disciples, to the Jewish religious leaders who rejected his teaching.
Our aim in these articles is to help you understand the wonderful message from God which is contained in 'THE GOSPEL.'
Why a picture of Galilee?
- Front cover of the Light on the Gospel Special Edition
The first chapter of Mark's Gospel record tells us that:
"... Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God."
In the time of Jesus the Sea of Galilee was one of the busiest centres of life in Palestine and the Western shore was ringed with towns and villages. The ruler of the region had his palace on the hill above Tiberias. The Sea. or more correctly lake. which is shown in our cover picture was a rich source of fish for food and was often crowded with fishing boats and other vessels.
We may have imagined that Jesus preached the Gospel to simple country folk in a remote part of the Holy Land. where no whisper of the outside world ever interrupted the tranquillity of the scene. In actual fact. his ministry was conducted. not only in the most cosmopolitan region of the country but also in a territory where the busy trade routes from Lyre and Sidon on the West, the old caravan roads from Damascus on the North-east, as well as the great imperial highways, met together and branched out all over Palestine. Galilee was on one of the main highways of the ancient world. a stopover between Damascus and the Egyptian frontier and between Antioch and Jerusalem.
The meaning of the word Galilee is 'Ring' or 'Region of the Gentiles'. It is derived from the word 'Galilee' which means "circlet", or anything that is "round". The district was never entirely Jewish. even in earliest times. Ten cities of Galilee were given by Solomon to Hiram, king of Tyre as part payment for services provided for the building of the Temple. The settlement in Galilee by the surrounding Gentile population continued down through the centuries.
When Jesus went to live in Galilee, the Western shore of the lake was dotted with towns and fishing villages in which the non-Jewish element was very strong. Jesus was brought up in Nazareth about 18 miles from Tiberias, the most important town on the Western shore of the lake, which took its name from the Roman Emperor Tiberias. As Jesus walked the roads of Galilee. he would have encountered long caravans working Southwards across the fords of the river Jordan: he would have seen the sun gleaming on the spears of the columns of Roman soldiers and he would have watched Phoenician merchants travelling into Galilee.
The shadow of this cosmopolitan world falls across the pages of the New Testament. Jesus lived and carried out his mission to the Jews, in a world which was in some respects like our own. The world of Jesus' day had its Roman garrisons, tax collectors, marketplaces and a cross-section of humanity from all walks of life.
His life and ministry but more important, the message preached by him, has been preserved down to our days This is the Gospel message - the theme of this special issue of Light on a New World.
Introduction - What is The Gospel
The apostle Paul, one of the great teachers of Christianity, was commissioned by Jesus on his conversion to
"bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel."
Later on, he introduced himself in the Letter to the Romans as:
"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God."
Confiding to his readers. he said:
"... I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
GOOD NEWS
In our Bibles the word 'Gospel' is peculiar to the New Testament writings, translated from the Greek 'evaggelion', meaning good news or tidings.
From this root, other related words have entered our language. For example, as an evangelist, Paul said:
"... I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles,"
He was evangelising the Roman world as he spread tidings of the good news of the Gospel.
Paul appreciated the vital importance of this Gospel teaching as the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
To be unenlightened by it is to remain in the dark, for he wrote:
"But if our gospel be hid. it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not. lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ. who is the image of God. should shine unto them."
The Gospel's unique lifegiving property linked with the great work of Jesus is at the heart of Christianity, When Paul urged the young man Timothy to join him in suffering for the Gospel, he reminds him how God :
"... hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."
THE GOOD NEWS DEFINED
But to restrict the scope of the Gospel to the work of our Saviour when he died on the cross is a mistake. ignoring the much wider plan God has had in mind from earliest times. In fact, we are not left to speculate. because the Gospel preached by Jesus and the apostles is defined in very specific terms.
It was after his cousin John the Baptist had been put in prison by Herod:
"... that 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."
For the next three years. before his crucifixion, we learn that Jesus:
"... went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with."
Similarly, Jesus sent out his twelve disciples to preach the kingdom of God to the people. It is recorded that
"... they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel..."
We note how the terms ''gospel' and 'kingdom of God' are interchangeable, with no mention of the crucifixion.
The disciples were unlikely to preach about a matter which they did not understand beforehand. For example, Jesus taught his disciples:
"The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men. and they shall kill him: and after that he is killed. he shall rise the third day. But they understood not that saying. and were afraid to ask him."
The substance of the good news did not change afterwards. In the forty-day interval between his resurrection and ascension into heaven, Jesus was still
"... speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God."
His final instructions were heeded:
"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."
Here are two examples of the content of the preaching of the evangelists after Jesus had been received up into heaven.
When the people of the city of Samaria:
"... believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women."
The book of the Acts of the Apostles concludes with an account of how for two years at Rome Paul was:
"... Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him."
We are given a marvellous description of Paul the Evangelist at work in his house in Rome:
"And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God. persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets. from morning till evening."
THE GOSPEL PREACHED BEFORE CHRIST'S ADVENT
Many Christians are under the mistaken idea that the teaching of the Gospel commenced with, and is confined to, the New Testament, and they miss the important connection with past developments in God's plan, which come to a sharp focus in the name and work of Jesus Christ. Thus Paul recognised that this Gospel of God, to which he had been called,
"God had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures."
Paul commends the readers of this Letter to the Romans:
"... to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel. and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began. But is now made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith."
The scriptures in question were the Old Testament books and Jesus challenged his critics to
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
In his Letter to the Christians living in Galatia Paul explains that:
"... 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. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham ... And if ye be Christ's. then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise."
Some of Abraham's descendants did not show the same faith, dying in the wilderness before they could enter the land promised to their ancestors. So Paul warns all of us:
"Let us therefore fear. lest. a promise being left us of entering into his rest. any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it."
If we search the Old Testament Scriptures, we find that later Abraham's descendants were established as a nation in the land of promise, becoming God's people and the Kingdom of God of the past. King David was promised by God that sometime after his death
"I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever."
Who was this descendant who features so much in the promise? The declaration of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary about the greatness of her as yet unborn son, answers the question:
"... and thou...[Mary] shalt call his name Jesus. 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."
JESUS BORN TO BE KING
If the good news of the Gospel concerns the Kingdom of God, then the central figure of God's plan must be Jesus Christ. At his trial, Pilate asked him:
"Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, 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. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice."
At Pilate's insistence a sign. written in three languages was displayed over the cross bearing the body of the man who testified before the Roman governor of his kingship. The sign read:
"Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews."
We are still challenged to take seriously the claim of
"... Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead."
Nothing can prevent a risen Lord from returning to the earth to rule on the throne of David, which surely explains why the evangelists were, and still are today, committed to carry on preaching the good news about the Kingdom of God.
Before Jesus can establish the Kingdom of God, the present system of man's rule will have to be destroyed. Paul declared to the people of Athens, how that:
"... he [God] hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men. in that he hath raised him from the dead."
The upshot of this dramatic intervention at his second coming will be that:
"... The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever."
OUR SHARE IN THE KINGDOM
The hope offered to all who believe the good news about the kingdom is a personal share in the future world order. We think of the sad company of apostles in the upper room a few hours before the crucifixion. Jesus assured them:
"Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom. as my Father hath appointed unto me; "That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
What should be our first priority in this life? Jesus says we should not worry about material things:
"But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not. little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
Those who receive this great reward will gratefully acknowledge how much they owe to Jesus, for the victory over sin and death he achieved at the crucifixion. Their personal saviour is:
"... Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and (he prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever."
JESUS THE ONLY SAVIOUR
The teaching of the Gospel of Christ does not accommodate the acceptance of other religions. There is only one faith, and Jesus is the only saviour. Peter declares of Jesus Christ of Nazareth:
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
As Jesus claimed of himself:
"... I am the way, the truth. and the life: no man cometh unto the Father. but by me."
and
"... because I live. ye shall live also."
Christ's example was unique, providing an assurance of a future hope. All other human teachers, however well-intentioned. are only able to offer hope now in this life, because their powers are necessarily limited. and death ends all. Matthew concludes his Gospel with an account of how Jesus, after his resurrection, when bidding farewell to the eleven disciples, assured them of the promise of a future life, to be enjoyed in the kingdom, as a certainty.
"And Jesus came and spake unto them. saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son. and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
THE SCOPE OF THE GOSPEL
There is nothing nationally, or even internationally exclusive about the work of Jesus. 'The Scriptures tell us that he was:
"... the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."'
and
"... that the world through him might be saved."
One day God is going to instal His Son as king on His holy hill of Zion in Jerusalem: '
"Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession."
Then all nations will be blessed in the special descendant anticipated in the Gospel preached to Abraham.
This good news of universal significance transcends all national, cultural, language and ideological barriers, for it is stated as being:
- "... made known to all nations for the obedience of faith."
- "... this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations."
- "... for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth: to the Jew first. and also to the Greek."
- "... Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation, he that feareth him. and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."
- Romans 16:26, Matthew 24:14, Romans 1:16 and Acts 10:34-15
Over the last two thousand years the world has undergone radical social and political change. However Bible teaching concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ is fixed, needing neither revision nor addition. Paul's strong warning to those of his time who were perverting and corrupting the Gospel of Christ is equally applicable in our day:
"... If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
FINDING MESSIAH
Jesus was not the product of his age, a man just thrown into prominence by events. Jesus transcended his times because his role had been defined long before in many detailed and varied prophecies and promises. 'This is why the early disciples recognised the arrival of the person anticipated in the Old Testament writings:
- "We have found the Messiah, which is being interpreted, the Christ' Andrew said to his brother Simon."
- "We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" - Philip said to Nathanael
- "Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel" - Nathanael said to Jesus
- John 1:41, 45, 49
By our studies of these same Scriptures may we also come to find Jesus, recognising him as the long-promised Messiah. The difference for ourselves who live at the end of the long interval between his two advents is that we will have to wait for his return to the earth in power and great glory before we can see Jesus of Nazareth in person:
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many: and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
Meanwhile, the request contained in his model prayer for believers takes on real meaning:
"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth. as it is in heaven."
Writer: Duncan Cooke. Redhill, Surrey.
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 2) is Light on the Gospel in the Old Testament
Author Many people were involved in writing and checking this article
Country UK
Source Light on a New World special edition: "The Gospel"
| 
