American Gospel: The Gospel of Jesus, Part I
Gospel of Jesus
I have assumed it is a synonym to “evangelism”. It is not
euangelion, (you on GELL ee on) the greek word means “Good news, good tidings, or just ‘news’”
This word is used primarily in the NT for the new of Jesus Christ.
The English translation is usually ‘gospel’ or ‘good news’.
Less frequently it is translated “evangelism” which is not a translation, but what is called a “trans literation” essentially making a word sound and feel like english equivalent.
The difficulty is that these transliterations can often become our default translation.
Example: “Let’s go ‘evangelizing’”.
In my experience this nearly always implies going out and meeting strangers, and inviting them to some event, a small group or church event.
“Sharing my faith” also become muddy here and is reduced to an invitation to an event, or perhaps a passing reference to my church experience.
Today we will do a survey of some of the prominent uses of the phrase “gospel” in the NT and attempt to clarify adn define what it actually is.
Next week we will offer practical instruction on how to make this a reality in our lives, what it actually might look like to “share the gospel”
The meaning of Greek logos is broader than that of the English “word”;
among its range of meanings is “message.” Sometimes in the NT it is used to refer specifically to the message about Jesus and his work, and in these cases it is nearly synonymous with the NT usage of euangelion (“gospel”; e.g., Acts 2:41; 10:36; 1 Cor 1:18; 2 Tim 4:2).
The word logos is often used in ways that draw richly on the OT idea of the דָּבָר (dābār) of the Lord, his word that is living and active (Isa 40:8; 45:23; 55:11). Thus, logos can designate the word of the Lord that comes through the mouth of the messenger. For example, Romans 10:8, quoting Deut 30:14, explicitly identifies the word mentioned there with “the word (logos) of faith that we proclaim.”
Kugler, C. (2014). Gospel. In D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Lexham Press.
What is “the gospel?”
Mark 1:1–8 NIV84
The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
It is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”—
“a voice of one calling in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’ ”
And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Mark begins his gospel narrative with Isaiah, with the prophets...
With Isaiah 40:1-5
Isaiah 40:1–5 NIV84
Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.
A voice of one calling:
“In the desert prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the wilderness
a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the
Lord has spoken.”
A message of comfort; of the end of slavery; that sin has been paid for; that Gods glory is about to be revealed.
“preaching the gospel” again here cannot be in NT sense of Acts or the letters....
Romans 1
The New International Version (1984) Chapter 1
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirita of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of Godb by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
the gospel began with the prophets....including Abraham
it is older than we, not a NT idea, the gospel “of Jesus” is new testament, but the good news of God is “of god” before time began
the gospel pre-dates the NT
Romans 1:16–17 NIV84
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Gospel is Power
Righteousness by Faith is Revealed (See Galatians 3:6-9)
Lexham Theological Wordbook λογός
The meaning of Greek logos is broader than that of the English “word”; among its range of meanings is “message.” Sometimes in the NT it is used to refer specifically to the message about Jesus and his work, and in these cases it is nearly synonymous with the NT usage of euangelion (“gospel”; e.g., Acts 2:41; 10:36; 1 Cor 1:18; 2 Tim 4:2). The word logos is often used in ways that draw richly on the OT idea of the דָּבָר (dābār) of the Lord, his word that is living and active (Isa 40:8; 45:23; 55:11). Thus, logos can designate the word of the Lord that comes through the mouth of the messenger. For example, Romans 10:8, quoting Deut 30:14, explicitly identifies the word mentioned there with “the word (logos) of faith that we proclaim.”
the gospel is preached before Jesus died and rose, so....it has to be more than that, its bigger than just getting saved, in a transactional sense.
It is all that is Good about God and his reign. Healing, Love, justice, mercy, ‘salvation’ yes, of course, Salvation is a means to the end of Gods kingdom, it is not a transaction fundamentally, it has a transactional sense, FROM lost to SAVED, but LOST to FOUND is better.
the good news of Jesus sent to Israel....so this ‘gospel’ is more than a NT message. It is fulfilled IN CHRIST, but came much before that.
Romans 10:16 NIV84
But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”
“on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 2:16, ESV)
Gospel also has judgement...
The gospel declares judgement as well as life. The gospel can see our secret lives.
The gospel was preached to Israel ‘in advance”. Israel had a chance, but not all took the chance.
It is not exclusive of Israel, but now has an expanded meaning and inclusion after the life of Christ
Galatians 3:6–9 NIV84
Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
a Gen. 15:6
b Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18
The Holy Bible: New International Version (Ga 3:6–9). (1984). Zondervan.
All nations blessed via Abe; “the gospel in advance” its a prophecy about the inclusion of all people in Gods plan
1 Corinthians 15:1–8 NIV84
Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
The gospel seems to be substantially about the resurrection, the possibility of eternal life, and that it begins as soon as we are baptized into Christ.
2 Timothy 1:8–10 NIV84
So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
life and immortality to light, via the gospel
Gospel also has judgement...
the gospel declares judgement
the gospel was preached to Israel
It is not exclusive of Israel, but now has an expanded meaning and inclusion after the life of Christ
The gospel reveals that we can have righteousness BY FAITH...it is possible to be like Jesus, to live like Jesus , to be kingdom bringers like Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:8–10 NIV84
So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
life and immortality to light, via the gospel
‘good news’ i can live forever, i can see where I am going
Mark 8:34–38 NIV84
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
The Gospel Requires Loss of Life
“losing myself” when I feel like I don’t have enough time, what is typically means is “for myself”.
Matthew 4:23 NIV84
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
preaching is healing and being among people
The Gospel Heals
Matthew 9:35–38 NIV84
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
“harvest” is a word Jesus uses for those who would respond to the gospel.
A right response to the cross is part of ‘the gospel’
Matthew 26:13 NIV84
I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
this woman’s actions are part of the gospel, the response that is anticipated, perhaps
CLOSE:
The gospel has always been in the mind and heart of God
The gospel is related to “evangelism” but not confined to it
The gospel is about new life, immortality and resurrection
The gospel is eternal, not just ‘being saved’ today
The gospel does require ‘loss of life’
The gospel does anticipate a response to the death of Jesus to be enacted
Embrace the Gospel
Engage with the Gospel
Enjoy the Gospel in your daily life