JRM Sison Chapter - November 22, 2009

What is the ‘Gospel’?

For many years we hear the word ‘gospel’ and is taught that it means ‘good news’. But what is the ‘good news’? Right now all we hear are bad news; crimes, disasters, politics, etc. If we say ‘good news’ does it mean wealth, health, power and authority? If not then what does it mean?

The gospel or ‘good news’ has four teachings involved:
     ·     Christ has come
     ·     Christ has died
     ·     Christ has risen
     ·     Christ will come again

The gospel is the basis of Christianity. Without it, Christianity as we know it will never exist.

But the word ‘gospel’ is only found in the New Testament (101 matches in the KJV) and nothing in the Old Testament books. Does it mean that the gospel is only for the New Testament generation to now?

     ·     Galatians 3:8 states that the gospel was preached unto Abraham. This gospel is the gospel of the kingdom (mentioned four times in the NT) because the verse states that Abraham was promised “In thee shall all nations be blessed.”
     ·     When Israel was in the bondage of slavery and oppression in the land of Egypt, they longed for a savior that will lead them to their own kingdom.
     ·     When Israel was under the rule of the Roman Empire, they waited for the promised Messiah that will deliver them from Roman rule and restore the kingdom of Israel.
     ·     If we read the Old Testament books, we can see that the prophecy of the coming, death, resurrection and second coming of Christ was already written. The gospel therefore has already been taught in the OT times.
     ·     Another worth noting is that even Adam held on to the gospel of the kingdom where he waited for the coming destruction of the rule of Satan (read Genesis 3:15).

Though the gospel of the kingdom has been taught to the Jews, they had different interpretations. They thought that the kingdom will be the kingdom of Israel but it is not. The gospel of the kingdom pertains to the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God. It wasn’t an earthly kingdom but a heavenly one that is promised. But there is more to the kingdom of heaven than meets the eye.

Matthew 7:21 states, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven…” Chapter 3 of John reveals that the kingdom of God/heaven is connected with everlasting life. Titus 1:2 states that eternal life is the promise of God before the creation of the world. Thus, the gospel of the kingdom is the gospel of eternal life.

John 6:54 clearly states that whoever eats the flesh (read the Word of God) and drink the blood (accepting the moving of the Holy Spirit) of Jesus Christ has eternal life. Thus, the gospel of eternal life is also the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, the gospel is about a Christian’s living testimony about the life of Jesus Christ IN his/her life.

Problems that arose

The Greek word for gospel is evangelion. Thus, evangelism means ‘spreading the gospel’. This is where the problems arose; the evangelism side of the gospel.

     ·     Gospel is not known - Many Christians nowadays doesn’t know the true meaning of the gospel of Jesus Christ. After they have received Jesus Christ as their God and Saviour, they didn’t bother to go any deeper in knowing the Lord. Thus, the problem lies not on the receiver but on the person that shared the gospel. The new believer was left to figure out the next move; there was no follow-up (if there is, lack of teaching is commonly done). A great deal of sacrifice and love must be done by the evangelist to be given to the unbelievers.

     ·     Mishandling the gospel
          o     Not knowing the truth - The common error of some Christians who share the gospel of Christ is the insufficiency of knowing the truth. They stick on the basic doctrine of salvation and didn’t bother to teach the rest. They never researched nor tried to research on the infallibility and inerrancy of their Bibles (the gospel of Christ). Even if they knew that their Bibles are lacking in verses and even confused their readings due to the inconsistency of verses, they still wouldn’t search for the truth.
          o     Teaching incorrect doctrine - Due to the insufficient knowledge gathered by some Christians in their studies, they began to teach the wrong doctrine. Due to the errors found in their Bibles, their doctrine became weak and their foundation, corrupted. Due to the perversion that Satan did to the Word of God, perverted interpretations were made by honest and godly Christians; unaware that they are tricked by the enemy.

     ·     Taking the gospel lightly - The most obvious reason why there had been problems with the preaching of the gospel is because the gospel is taken lightly. Let me give you a scenario: if you are going to apply for a US Immigrant Visa, will you follow the set of instructions, rules and regulations that the embassy will give you? The obvious answer is yes. If you are going to get your American citizenship, will you give up your current citizenship? And once you are an American citizen, will you follow the constitution of the United States or the Philippines? This scenario also applies with Christianity. Once you receive Jesus Christ as your God and Saviour, it is time for you to change your citizenship. But there are rules to follow to be able to maintain that citizenship; we must do the will of the Father which is in heaven; we must love God above all and love others as we love ourselves. Once we become God’s children, we have to abandon our citizenship with the world. We have to follow the commands of God rather than the commands of the world.

Satan knew that it is very impossible for him to stop the spreading of the gospel of Christ; He must do something fast or he’ll lose terribly. He, then, remembered what he did with Eve. Paul warned us in 2 Cor 11:3-4, “³ But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.⁴ For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”

Galatians 1:7 clearly states, “…but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” This has been the basic tactic of Satan, to pervert the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What must be done?

2 Corinthians 4:2 and 5
     ·     renounce the hidden things of dishonesty
     ·     not walking in craftiness
     ·     not handling the word of God deceitfully
     ·     commend oneself to every man’s conscience in the sight of God by manifestation of the truth
     ·     preach Christ Jesus the Lord and not ourselves

What will be gained?

2 Corinthians 4:8, 9 and 16
     ·     troubled, not distressed
     ·     perplexed, not in despair
     ·     persecuted, not forsaken
     ·     cast down, not destroyed
     ·     outward man perish, inward man renewed day by day

Correctly handling the word of truth

¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Tim 3:16-17

Note that Paul had instructed us that ALL scripture, and that means from Genesis to Revelation, are given to us and it is through the inspiration of God (God-breath). If we receive the gospel of Christ, then we feel that something is lacking without reading the word of God.

Once we have the gospel of Christ, it became profitable for doctrine; profitable for whom? It is for God. Since we became involved with God’s business, we have to give or remit what God wanted and He wanted souls to be won for Christ Jesus. What about us? Where will that leave us? Once we remit to God what He wanted, God will give unto us what we need and wanted also; financial breakthrough, physical healing, etc. It’s a two-way street.

The true gospel of Christ can also be used for reproof. Reproof in the sense that the true gospel of Christ aims to convince the person of a fault or to make the fault manifest. The true gospel of Christ is also for correction. After proving a person wrong about his fault, proper correction follows. Then after correction, instructions that will lead in righteousness will be made.
The true gospel of Christ makes Christians as men and women of God. They are able to aim to be perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect. They will be thoroughly equipped unto all good works.