The Gospel IRL - What is the Gospel?

What is the Gospel?

The Gospel is sometimes thought to mean that Jesus Christ came became human, lived a sinless life, died for our sins, rose again three days later, and ascended to the Father. That whoever believes this and confesses this will live forever.

Yes, that is part of the Gospel. That is the way of salvation but there is more to the story.

When we think that is all the Gospel is we miss out on a lot.

Euangelion - Good News

The word Gospel means good news and was used when a kingdom wanted to announce that there was a military victory or maybe a royal baby was born.

So if a royal baby was born this was good news. If the kingdom you are in just overcame an enemy then this was good news. There was a Euangelion announcement.

In the Gospel of Mark that is what we find.

Mark 1:1 CSB

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

We see that what we have is the start of the Good News or Gospel story.

Jesus’ first words in Mark tell us more about what we need to know concerning this good news.

Mark 1:15 ESV

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

The gospel, the good news is that there is a major military victory and a royal birth. Both of which are found in Jesus Christ.

This is huge. The salvation aspect of the Gospel, that Jesus Christ came became human, lived a sinless life, died for our sins, rose again three days later, and ascended to the Father. That whoever believes this and confesses this will live forever. Is both how Jesus won the victory and how we have access to the Kingdom of God. What we are now doing once we submit to His Lordship and Sovereignty is that we are praying and seeking

Matthew 6:10 CSB

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

We are partnering with Jesus to bring the fulness of the Kingdom to earth. Jesus did all the hard work.

Mark 3:27 CSB

But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.

Jesus plundered the strong man. He took back from the devil what belonged to God. He did the hard work. We now live in the here not yet time of the kingdom. We are working to see the fulness.