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David's Deliberations . . .

What Is the Gospel of Christ?

25 February 2007

The word "gospel" means "good news" (see Romans 10:11-15) It is the good news about salvation in Christ. Christ was the heart of the preaching of the apostles. Philip preached Christ (Acts 8:5, 12, 35), and Paul preached "Christ crucified" (1 Corinthians 1:20-25; 2:1-2). The apostles by God's inspiration wrote the same message they preached (2 Peter 1:15; 3:1, 2). We therefore expect to see in the writings of the New Testament the same truth the apostles preached.

Their preaching of the gospel included a declaration of Christ's vicarious death for man's sins (see Galatians 1:4, etc.) The Messiah's death was foretold by Isaiah (53:3-6), God making Him a sin offering (2 Corinthians 5:21), as He gave Himself for our sins ( 1 Corinthians 15:1-3).

The gospel not only declares our salvation from sin, but it describes the process by which we become children of God (Galatians 4:4, 5; 1 John 3:1-3; Romans 8:16, 17; 1 Peter 1:3-5) as it declares man's salvation from the corruption and condemnation of the world (2 Peter 1:3, 4; 2:20; Ephesians 3:1-3).

The gospel includes facts to be believed: namely, that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-3). The resurrection of Christ is connected to His Lordship (authority, Philippians 2:9-11; Acts 2:31, 32, 37).

We participate in these facts--His death, burial, and resurrection--in baptism (Romans 6:3-6). This is how we "obey the gospel" (see 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). One believes the facts, and then obeys the commands: the commands of the gospel are binding because the facts are true. The person who wants to know the basic and beginning commands of the gospel may ascertain them by studying the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47).

Beyond these basic commands, the gospel demands continual (life-long) faithfulness. This faithfulness requires rejection of the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), right relationships with brethren in Christ (Galatians 5:15), restoring the erring (Galatians 6:1), responding to the needs of others (Galatians 6:6, 10), in short, producing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

As a result of God's grace (declared in the gospel), and our proper response to that grace (described in the gospel), the gospel of Christ proclaims promises to be enjoyed. In Christ we have the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Ephesians 1:7-9), freedom from the bondage and defilement of sin (Galatians 5:13; 5:1). We are children of God (Galatians 3:26; 4:6) and therefore heirs of God (Galatians 3:26-29; Romans 8:16-17).

The gospel of Christ is a product of God's grace (Galatians 3:8). The promises it contains are for those who obey. Have you obeyed this God-given message?

—David Carl Swanson