What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
“For I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead.” Matthew 28:5-7 KJV
The Apostle Paul wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17 KJV) In the simplest terms, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God that saves us, but it is also the power of God that establishes us in our salvation, according to Romans 16:25-26 KJV: “Now to him that is of power to stablish 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 now is 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.” We stand in the power of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1). Therefore, we must define fully the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and when we do, we find four critical elements of the word Gospel: 1) Definition, 2) Doctrine, 3) Declaration, and 4) Demonstration.
Point One - Definition of the Word Gospel
Jesus, the apostles, Paul, Peter, and every New Testament writer never used the word Gospel. They all used a different word from the Greek and Hebrew languages. The Greek words: EUAGGELIZO, EUVANGGELION, and EUVAGGELISTES. And the Hebrew word BASAR. The English word Gospel came into the Bible with the King James Translation. It is an old English word that meant a “a good story.” But the Gospel of Jesus Christ is much more than just a good story. In the Greco-Roman world, from the time of Alexander the Great and on into the Roman Empire, the words EUAGGELIZO, EUVANGGELION, EUVAGGELISTES, and BASAR, were used to refer to history-making, world-shaping reports of political, military, or societal victories. For example, the Battle of Marathon, a significant battle in 490 B.C. when Greece was invaded by Persia, despite all odds, Greece managed to defeat Persia. After the battle, Greece sent heralds to take the EUANGELION, proclamation of good news, out into every town and village in the country, to tell the people what had happened, and declare to them that they were free! Those heralds were “evangelists.” Similarly, the first and second time the word Gospel was used in the New Testament, in the context of what the word means and how it was used, not in chronological order of how the New Testament was written, we find a similar definition and usage:
The first instance: The Shepherds receiving the announcement of the birth of Jesus: Luke 2:10 KJV: “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you ‘good tidings’ (EUAGGELIZO) of great joy, which shall be to all people.” The magnitude of the message given by a significant messenger.
The second time: Jesus reading from the scroll of Isaiah - Luke 4:18-19 KJV: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the ‘gospel’ (EUAGGELIZO) to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” It came from Isaiah 61:1-2 KJV: “. . . preach good tidings . . .” The Hebrew word BASAR which carries the same definition and usage of the Greek.
Point Two - Doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
The story of the scriptures can be summed up . . . in the beginning was the Lamb, and the Lamb was with God, and the Lamb was God . . . and from the law to the prophets the message was the Lamb is coming, the seed of the woman, to crush the head of Satan. Prophet after prophet proclaimed the Lamb is coming, the Lamb is coming, the Lamb is coming, scripture after scripture providing glimpses, types and shadows, the hidden mystery of God. Until a day comes in which the Lamb was made flesh, God himself, Love himself, in the flesh, and dwelt among us. The Lamb was betrayed, crucified, murdered, took our sin, died, went to hell and paid the penalty for our sin, was resurrected by the power of God, appeared unto the apostles, ascended on high, gave gifts to men to reveal the mystery of redemption, sits at the right-hand of God, will open the seven seals in Revelation to unleash the end, and comes back to establish his kingdom. The Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the End.
Much can be written about the doctrine of the Gospel, but it all comes down to the birth, ministry, betrayal, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. Particularly the death, burial, and resurrection. Man offering his worst with the betrayal and crucifixion of Jesus, but God offering his best, his only son to pay the penalty for the sin of man. The three most important parts: the death (the cross), the burial, and the resurrection. Many scriptures can be highlighted to illustrate these points, but we will only reference these below:
2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Romans 5:17 KJV: “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus, Christ.
Revelation 1:18 KJV: “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
Colossians 2:15 KJV: “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”
In the simplest words, the doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the victorious and glorious news of Jesus’ defeat of all of hell and sin, through his death, burial, and resurrection, to liberate man from the clutches of Satan. To set man free. To justify, sanctify, and to fill man with His own Spirit, the Promise of the Father. What Jesus told the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus and what Jesus said about eternal life:
Acts 26:18 KJV: “To open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
John 17:3 AMPC: “And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as he] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.”
But all this Gospel, Good News, EUAGGELIZO, EUVANGGELION, and BASAR is not news at all, unless it is delivered. An unpreached Gospel is no Gospel at all. And, an imperfectly preached Gospel, is an imperfect and powerless Gospel.
Point Three - The Declaration of the Gospel (Proclamation or Preaching)
The declaration of the Gospel is the most important part. It is the preaching and proclamation of the Gospel that releases the power of God. The miracle working power of the Gospel is released and activated through preaching just like a fuse lighting a dynamite stick. The word preach in the Greek is the word KERYSSO. It is an act of declaring a significant message from a significant dignitary with the utmost urgency. Like diplomats and heralds declaring an urgent message from a king about his kingdom and his victories. Think of the Christmas Carol: Hark the Herald Angels Sing . . . going back to the Angel Herald declaring the birth of Jesus. “I bring you ‘good tidings’ ( EUAGGELIZO). The Apostle Paul in the New Testament epistles makes this very clear:
2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (KJV): Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
1 Corinthians 1:17-18 (KJV): For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:23-24 KJV: “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”
2 Corinthians 4:5 (The Voice): We do not preach about ourselves. The subject of all our sermons is Jesus, the Anointed One. He is Lord and Master of all. For Jesus’ sake we are here to serve you.
The Apostles constantly preached Christ, preached the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. With great power the Apostles gave witness of the resurrection of Jesus. (Acts 4:33) Where did they get it? They got it from Jesus: Luke 24:25-32 – Jesus preached and taught it to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus; and in Luke 24:44-47 – Jesus preached and taught it to the eleven apostles. Even in Revelation, Jesus was still preaching his death and resurrection - Revelation 1:18 KJV: “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” And when Jesus walked on this earth as the Son of God and Son of man before his death, burial, and resurrection, we find:
Luke 8:1 Wuest: “And it came to pass soon afterwards that He himself also continued to go up and down throughout city and village making a proclamation as a herald does with that formality, gravity, and authority as must be listened to and obeyed and giving out the good news of the kingdom of God, and with Him, the Twelve.”
The preaching of the Gospel demands a demonstration. Without it, we deny the Gospel of its power. We short-circuit and render the Gospel powerless. It is like cutting the fuse and not allowing the dynamite to explode.
Point Four - The Demonstration of the Gospel
Jesus commanded his disciples:
Matthew 10:7-8: KJV: And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Matthew 10:7-8 Wuest: “Moreover, as you go, make a public proclamation with such formality, gravity, and authority as must be listened to and obeyed, saying, The kingdom of heaven has come near and is imminent. Be healing those who are sick. Be raising the dead. Lepers be cleansing. Demons be ejecting. In a gratuitous manner you received, in a gratuitous manner give.”
And Jesus had a roadshow of showing and telling (the demonstration) of the good tidings of the Gospel:
Luke 8:1 KJV: “And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him.”
Acts 10:38 KJV: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”
After the ascension of Jesus, the Apostles continued the Gospel roadshow of showing and telling (the demonstration of the Gospel):
Acts 4:33 KJV: “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 KJV: “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
Summing it All Up - What Does This Mean For Us?
We must repent and return to our first love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus said to the Church at Ephesus, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:4-5 KJV. Our first love is we loved him because he first loved us as it is written in 1 John 4:19 KJV: “We love him, because he first loved us.” We heard the message of the Gospel, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and fell in love with Jesus who says in Matthew 6:33 KJV: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.” And in Matthew 5:6 KJV he tells us: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
