So....What is the Gospel?

Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Jeff Lampl  

A few years ago I was asked . .  .

the question, “what is the Gospel?”  We know that the New Testament word (the New Testament was written in “street” Greek) for Gospel is euangelion, from which we get the words “evangelism” and “evangelical”.    Evangelism typically refers to believers telling other people Good News they don’t yet know about God and Jesus Christ.

So, how would you answer the question? What is this Good News? 

Is it that you can go to heaven when you die?   Is it that God is with you in difficult times?   Is it that Jesus is ruling over the universe?   Is it that God loves you and has a purpose for your life?   Is it that God is in the process of completing and will complete the task of setting all things in the universe to rights?   Does it mean that I am rescued from hell?  Does it mean that my sins are forgiven?  Does it mean that I am raised from living a meaningless life to one that is truly life?  Does it mean that I am saved?  But then what does “saved” mean?

The following passages give us the answer.

“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.  He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.  He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve.  After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.  Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.”         1 Corinthians 15:3-7

“So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”                        Acts 2:36

“Behold, I am making all things new”.                            Revelation 21:5

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”.                Romans 10:9

The most fundamental Good News that was preached and which overtook the Roman Empire with lightening speed, historically speaking, was the message that Jesus is Lord of the planet, not Caesar, not the Roman military, not disease, not demonic powers, not poverty, not despair, not hopelessness, not sin, not condemnation, not satan, not any other power on earth, above the earth or under the earth.   No, Jesus, crucified for our sin and pain, was raised from the dead and sits “at the right hand of God”, reigning over the earth, judging all sin and evil in himself and setting all who are willing to accept it, free to live fully loved, fully purposeful, joyful lives, lives which do not end with death. 

So, if Jesus really is Lord, how does that change how you live your life?

If you wish to learn more I will be teaching a 3 week mini course on the New Testament beginning tomorrow, March 2 at 7:00 and continuing on March 9 and 16^th.

Lord, help me to take this message in.  Help me to think through the implications of the Gospel.   The Message that Jesus is “on his throne”,  right now working all things together to accomplish his purposes,  is an incredibly important fact to learn, for if this is indeed true it changes everything . . .absolutely everything.   Lord show me clearly what the means for my choices, attitudes, and actions today, tomorrow and every day.     Amen