Summarizing part One: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news about the Kingdom of God, where everything operates according to God’s perfect will. It is not just Jesus dying for our sins or saving us, but a transformative message revealing our true nature. Through the Gospel, we enter God’s Kingdom by being born again, and it requires living according to His principles. The Gospel differs from theology and religion; it brings life and calls for conviction, repentance, and commitment, enabling us to overcome our sinful nature and align with God’s Spirit….
The Gospel is different to Theology
Theology, which is the STUDY of the scriptures, is different to the gospel. The gospel is a living experience of Jesus Christ. Theology is often influenced by opinions of men, and often practiced at the expense of a particular organization’s members. The Gospel on the other hand, is the imparting of a living relationship with God to folks who are lost or have gone astray from the Lord’s path. The Gospel is the culmination of the life of Jesus on earth and His final victory over Satan on the cross of Calvary.
Please don’t misunderstand this point. Theology is not bad or wrong – not at all – it’s just that there is a difference between theology and the Gospel – as has been described.
The Gospel is Power
In the first book of Corinthians, Paul said that the Gospel is the only route for the salvation of mankind (1 Cor.1:17-18; 22-23). For those who don’t have sight of the Kingdom, the Gospel is foolishness, but to those who have sight, it is the power of God.
A person who does not have spiritual sight and power, cannot be successfully counselled to change their life’s direction. Paul shows us in first Corinthians, that such people need only receive the Gospel (1 Cor. 2:2,4-5). It is only when the Gospel is shared with them that they will receive faith to believe, spiritual illumination to understand, and then are able, make positive life changes (Rom.1:16; Rom. 10:13, 14, 17).
The Gospel is not a message that entertains
Paul expressed great shock that the Galatians were so easily deceived, after the power of the gospel had been so visibly portrayed in their midst (Gal. 3:1).
In our day we have been raised for entertainment, and hence the reason why many will reject the message of the true Gospel, which as mentioned, does not entertain. Rather it calls for conviction, repentance, commitment and indeed the very piercing of our natures (Acts 2:37-39; 2 Timothy 4:3-4).
We see in the book of Hebrews that the Gospel is not new, but rather a timeless message (Heb. 4:3). Its accomplishment was attained in a six-hour operation performed by God on the cross, to set aside the sinful nature of man. It is not a dead message, but rather a reality of which all will have an opportunity to experience.
How does the Gospel compare with Religion?
Lastly, much of what professing Christianity offers today centers around lifeless liturgies, doctrines, humanism and man-made rules. This is religion. The Gospel on the other hand, is life. The two are not compatible, because religion is not controlled by the Spirit of God. Yet it should be understood that the Gospel will accomplish the perfect will of God in spite of religion and that in many cases, the system of religion has been used by God to draw many, to the true Gospel and therefore to God.
In conclusion then, Jesus told us in Matthew to share the gospel in all the nations – this would include those who say they are Christians. Why? because sadly, the majority have only heard the true Gospel in part.
So, just to recap then – we have said –
- The Gospel is simply a good news message about the Kingdom of God
- Jesus said that entry to His Kingdom would come at great cost
- The Gospel is like a surgical lamp that shines deep into our natures
- People will either accept the light of the gospel or run away from it
- The Gospel is different to Theology
- The Gospel gives us power to overcome our sinful nature
- The Gospel is not a message that entertains
- The Gospel is not religion
Be blessed as you share this message with others!