The Gospel of Jesus
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Introduction:
What is the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Last week we looked at the portrayals and emphasis of the different gospel writers:
Matthew - Jesus as King
Mark - Jesus as Servant
Luke - Jesus as Teacher/Prophet/Son of Man
John - Jesus as Son of God
However, it would be a mistake for us to think of these as 4 different “Jesus-es” or different gospels. They are the same gospel.
Also, we want to ask ourselves the question: what is the gospel?
If we cannot answer that question then we will never be able to truly convert people to Jesus Christ.
We must be able to answer this question.
The Beginning of the Gospel
The Beginning of the Gospel
Mark opens with the announcement that he was writing about the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ -
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The term gospel means “good news”—in its ancient setting, the town herald might hear of the king’s victory at battle and come into the town to announce victory; or the throne was vacant for some time and then a new king is installed on the throne and the “gospel” is announced to the city—good news about the king’s enthronement.
In the most basic understanding, the gospel is the story of Jesus Christ.
There are not 4 different gospels. These 4 writers tell the one gospel “according to Matthew/Mark/Luke/John.” These are 4 witnesses of the gospel of Jesus—good news about who Jesus is.
They tell about Jesus’s miraculous birth—Immanuel, “God with us,” recognizes the humanity and deity of Jesus.
They tell about His identity as the Son of God, son of David, and right to the throne of Israel.
They tell us about the teaching of Jesus and His kingdom and Him as the Christ/Anointed King, ready to take the throne and rule over the kingdom -
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
They tell about His power and miracles.
They tell about His parables and teachings about the kingdom of God.
They tell us about His mission to “seek and save that which is lost” or how He came to “give His life as a ransom for many” or how His “food” was to “do the will of Him who sent Me.” Jesus was a man who was busy about His Father’s business; He had a mission to accomplish. Some of His last words, “it is finished.”
They tell us about how He was rejected, mocked, and spat up. The gospel tells us about His death through crucifixion.
They tell us about His resurrection!
They tell us about His ascension to glory to be exalted to God’s right hand to reign as the King over His kingdom.
This story is told 4 different times with different points of emphasis and portrayals, but it has always been a story to be told repeatedly.
It is a message worth repeating and retelling over and over again.
Identifying & Obeying the Gospel
Identifying & Obeying the Gospel
The gospel is an announcement about Jesus -
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
Death-burial-resurrection
The gospel is in harmony with the scriptures
The story of Jesus fits into the larger scope of the story of Israel and the Old Testament
Apostolic preaching of the good news saw the gospel of Jesus in accordance with the Scriptures -
Scriptures (plural) included promises that God made -
Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh,
This indicates the nature of the gospel: it is good because it was promised and anticipated something good that was to come!
The gospel comes from a God who makes promises and keeps those promises. He is a gracious and giving God.
What promises were made?
Eve & Adam -
Abraham - ;
David -
Prophecies of birth -
Prophecies of death -
Prophecies of ministry - ;
The gospel invites people to become disciples of Christ—we join Christ and His story.
The gospel is not about “us”; it’s about Jesus Christ -
The gospel is not about “us”; it’s about Jesus Christ -
The gospel is not simply a set of facts we must accept as true; it’s an invitation to act and join in with Christ -
Disciples, followers, learners—who take the name of Christ in “Christian” -
Since the story of Jesus is primarily a story of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, we are called to join in that gospel with Him - ; ;
Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;
Disciples participate in the “gospel act” with Christ, united in His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.
Since the story of Jesus is primarily a story of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, we are called to join in that gospel with Him - ; ;
Disciples are baptized into Christ and are joined with Christ.
Disciples become participants/sharers with Christ and “in” Christ
Through faith-repentance-baptism we become children of God, we are born again, and we are “in Christ.” We become Christians. We recognize Jesus as the Anointed King, Christ, and Savior. We offer our self and our obedience to Him.
Conclusion:
When we begin to shape our understanding of the gospel to be first about Jesus, secondly, an invitation to become His disciple, then we will also understand the faithfulness and commitment we offer to God and Christ.
Will you obey Him? Recognize the gospel, believe in Him and His kingdom and offer your obedience to Christ.
He will save you from your sins and add you into the church, His kingdom.