Gospel
The first four books in the New Testament are called the Gospels. Their titles are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The main message of these books is Jesus and what He did here on earth and what He said. The authors of those books knew Jesus personally and therefore they could say that what they wrote was the truth. Sometimes people will use the expression, “It is the gospel truth!”when they are telling a story. They may not realize that the expression came about because of the excitement from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John when they discovered that the Son of God had finally come to earth! Keep reading for more information on the gospel truth.
What is the gospel? The gospel is the Good News about what Jesus has done in His perfect life and death for us. It is about His goodness and power “This Good News was promised long ago by God’s prophets in the Old Testament. It is the Good News about his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who came as a human baby, born into King David’s royal family line; and by being raised from the dead he was proved to be the mighty Son of God, with the holy nature of God himself” (Romans 1:1-4, TLB).
What makes the life of Jesus so different? When you read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, you’ll find stories of how Jesus lived. Peter summarizes it this way, “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38, NKJV).
What’s so incredible about the gospel? Peter continues, “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:39-43, NIV)
Christ already has won the victory over Satan, sin, and death at the cross for us; we just need to tell the world about it!
What do I do with the Good News about the Gospel? It’s in the Bible, “We know that God has chosen you, dear brothers, much beloved of God. For when we brought you the Good News, it was not just meaningless chatter to you; no, you listened with great interest. What we told you produced a powerful effect upon you, for the Holy Spirit gave you great and full assurance that what we said was true. And you know how our very lives were further proof to you of the truth of our message” (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5, TLB). The Gospel requires a response from us. We need to choose to believe it and accept it.
What is the result of accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ? “But it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”(2 Timothy 1:10, NIV). Eternal life with Jesus is the result of accepting the gospel.
So who will tell people about the gospel? Jesus commanded us to take the gospel to everyone in the entire world. “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:18-19, NIV).
What happens when the whole world has heard the gospel? Then comes that exciting event known as the second coming of Jesus. It’s in the Bible, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14, NIV).
What happens to those who don’t accept the gospel? Knowing the Gospel is knowing God. Those who choose not to receive the benefits of Jesus’ death will face the frightening result for non-believers. It’s in the Bible, “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thessalonians 1:8, NIV).
How can I help other people know about the gospel? Prayer is the key. The Bible says, “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19, NIV).
It’s easy, like show-and-tell; just share what the good news of Jesus has done in your life! You do not have to be a preacher, or a pastor, or even have to speak in front of a church to tell others about Jesus. Just like show-and-tell, all you have to do is show your friends and family what Jesus is doing in your life, and tell them about how Jesus is such a great friend.
When Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John wrote the gospels, they were not writing sermons. They were simply writing their show-and-tell essays about Jesus’s life! John actually starts his with, "The Word that gives life was from the beginning, and this is the one our message is about. Our ears have heard, our own eyes have seen, and our hands touched this Word. The one who gives life appeared! We saw it happen, and we are witnesses to what we have seen. Now we are telling you about this eternal life that was with the Father and appeared to us. We are telling you what we have seen and heard, so that you may share in this life with us. And we share in it with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ" (John 1:-1-3, CEV).
What if someone tells me of another gospel? There will only be one gospel of Jesus Christ, His perfect life, death, resurrection on our behalf. Don’t let anyone ever tell you differently! It’s in the Bible, “Let God’s curses fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other way to be saved than the one we told you about; yes, if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed” (Galatians 1:8, TLB).
There is nothing you need to be ashamed about the gospel. The apostle Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16-17, NKJV).
Tell someone that you meet today about the good news of the gospel.
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