The original Greek word for the gospel is represented in English as ‘evangel’, from which are derived the familiar terms evangelist, for a preacher of the gospel, and evangelical, as theology that is centred upon the need to receive personal salvation. The word gospel is generally understood to mean ‘good news’; we refer to the good news of the gospel. Interestingly, the term was originally applied to a reward that the messenger of good news received, but it morphed to refer rather to the message itself.
Strange
We are about to celebrate Good Friday. For anyone looking in on Christian faith from the outside, the very term Good Friday must appear ironic, as we are remembering the gruesome death of the Son of God. Jesus’ eleven remaining close disciples certainly didn’t think of it as good, not at least until the following Sunday. The gospel message that all Christians are commissioned to proclaim also begins with something that other people would not consider to be good. It begins with a recognition of personal sinfulness – failure to live in a way that is pleasing, or even acceptable, to God. Without such a realisation, there is no good news. It only becomes this when there is an appreciation of need, and a recognition that whilst we ourselves can do nothing to bring about our reconciliation to God, Jesus carried the consequence of our sin when he died on the cross. The good news that we preach is that he died for us, so that we can be forgiven, cleansed, and our relationship with God restored. His death opened the way for our reconciliation. The essence of the gospel message is that anyone who recognises their sinfulness and need and seeks forgiveness, through what Jesus achieved on the cross, can put the past behind them and live a new life in relationship with the Living God.
Scalp hunter?
Some people see this message as the beginning and the end of the gospel – what do you think, is it?
If it is, then upon receiving salvation, we might be inclined to see this as a case of ‘job done’. We may think that now we are just waiting for death and the promise of eternity with God. Or, we could add to this a recognition that we have a job to do in the meantime, as defined by Jesus’ words in Mark 16:15, which are referred to as the ‘Great Commission’. I want to suggest that the message of the gospel is broader, deeper and richer than this. God is not a scalp hunter, nor is he a task master. He calls those who have received salvation to a fulfilled life; something to be lived to the full, purposeful and enjoyed. When we receive salvation, declaring that from then on Jesus will be our Lord, we enter into a new life that God intends to bless. He wants us to become everything that he created us to be; to become a whole, complete human being who brings honour to his name. We are called to live in the light. Not just in the sense of not abiding in sinful darkness, but as those who rejoice in, and benefit from the light of his truth and revelation.
Promise
This points to another element of the gospel message, which is that God has not left us alone to ‘get on with it’. That which was promised in the Old Testament, we find being fulfilled and experienced throughout the New Testament writings. In Ezekiel 36:27, we read:
“And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” And again, in Joel 2:28: “And it shall come to pass afterwards, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.”
It was a long time before this promise was fulfilled, but the same can be said of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. Both were linked – before returning to his father, Jesus asked him to send the Spirit – now we live with the benefit of both promises. We have a saviour from the consequences of our sin and a guide, comforter and empowerer.
Consequences
The expectation of the Spirit of God coming to dwell with the people of God was not all about mysticism, but very real, down-to-earth consequences. We see this clearly in the verse from Ezekiel, which refers to walking in obedience to God. This is how every Christian should aim to be; the only alternative is disobedience, defiance!
In Acts chapter 2, we find a group of God’s people who are frightened and uncertain, upon whom the Holy Spirit descends, filling them and empowering them to proclaim the message of salvation, which they promptly set about doing. We read that some three thousand of those who heard their message on that day, the gospel message, were baptised as a result. Having heard Peter, these people were ‘cut to the heart’ and asked what they needed to do in response. Here is what he replied to them:
“Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” Acts 2:38
This applies to us just as much as to them. Some refer to the promise of the Holy Spirit as the ‘full gospel’. However, whilst this is a vital element alongside the need for personal salvation – being born again – this still isn’t everything. God has promised to empower us by his Spirit so that we are equipped to fulfil the great commission, but the good news is also personal; the news of God’s love for us and his grace towards us. Yes, he has given us a commission to serve him, but he has also called us to live optimally – to be everything that we can be. He called us to serve, but also so that he can bless us here and now with good things. We will be blessed in service, but his heart towards us is not just consequential upon our work in proclaiming his kingdom; it results from our intimate relationship with him, and from our being open to hear and embrace his direction and the teaching of scripture.
The benefit
I have been reading the book of Proverbs. Whilst this doesn’t have a lot to say about God directly, it is packed with Godly wisdom. We might see this as common sense, but to benefit from it, we also need to embrace it. We find teaching in the New Testament letters which is very clearly about God, but again, we need to embrace this if we want to benefit from such wisdom. We are blessed to have God’s word readily available to read, study and refer to, as well as the Spirit of God to comfort, guide and empower us. When we embrace both, we truly appreciate and understand the gospel. Let’s be those who, in proclaiming the gospel message, are mindful of its true breadth, depth and richness.