1. HOW DOES THE BIBLE DEFINE GOSPEL?
Very simply if you have not got the time to read all the supporting scriptures in this post the take home message and scriptural definition of the Gospel in the bible is…
The Gospel is JESUS CHRIST <Jesus means Savior; JOHN 1:29> and JESUS is THE WORD OF GOD (JOHN 1:1-14; JOHN 17:17; JOHN 14:6). THE WORD OF GOD is the GOSPEL BECAUSE BY FAITH IT IS OUR SAVIOR and this IS the GOOD NEWS to those who BELIEVE. (JOHN 1:1-14; JOHN 1:29; JOHN 17:17; 14:6; MATTHEW 4:4). Therefore ALL THE WORD OF GOD IS THE GOSPEL because it points to JESUS and Gods plan of salvation for all mankind and we are to live bu every word of it *MATTHEW 4:4.
The death, burial and resurrection of Christ is a very important part of the Gospel but is that all there is to the Gospel? Lets look at God's Word.......
The Gospel means; G2098 εὐαγγέλιον euaggelion (ev-an-ğe'-liy-on) n. a good message; Good news).
Ok I think most know that the word Gospel means good news or a good message. So if you only believe that the Gospel is the death burial and resurrection of Christ, how do you harmonize the following scriptures......
After Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.....
MARK 1:15[15], And saying, The time is fulfilled, and THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL.
Wait a minute? Jesus is ONLY JUST STARTING HIS MINISTRY and has NOT DIED, has not been buried and if he has not died and not been buried, he certainly has not been resurrected. Yet here we have Jesus BEGINNING his MINISTRY and preaching the GOSPEL
and again..................
MARK 8:35 [35], For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but WHOSOEVER SHALL LOSE HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE AND THE GOSPELS, THE SAME SHALL SAVE IT.
Well here we have it again the Gospel is being preached BEFORE the death of Jesus and again......
Matthew 4:23 [23], And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Seems like Matthew and Mark both agree that Jesus is preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom before the death of Jesus...
MATTHEW 9:35[35], And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Yep Jesus still going about everywhere preaching the Gospel. His whole Ministry BEFORE His DEATH was preaching the GOSPEL..
MATTHEW 11:4 [4], Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: [5], The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and THE POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.
and again..............
MATTHEW 24:14 [14], And this GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM SHALL BE PREACHED IN ALL THE WORLD for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Yep Jesus is still preaching the Gospel before His Death and Resurrection. Mathew and Mark both agree.....
Luke talks about Jesus in the Synagogue.....
LUKE 7:22[22], Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED.
Yep Matthew, Mark and Luke all agree the Gospel was being preached BEFORE the DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS.......
Luke 20:1 [1], And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and PREACHED THE GOSPEL, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,
Yep there goes Jesus again teaching the people in the temple and preaching the GOSPEL before the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.....
So ok lets bring it all together............
The Good New (Gospel) is JESUS and Jesus is the WORD OF GOD. It is the WORD OF GOD THAT IS THE GOSPEL that we are to BELIEVE IN AND LIVE BY. (Matt 4:4; John 1-1-4; John 3:16). Why do you say it is a "works based doctrine" when we have to BELIEVE EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD? It is by GRACE that we are SAVED <HOW?> THROUGH FAITH and NOT of your selves it is a GIFT of GOD and NOT of WORKS LEST ANY MAN should boast.
Now if you do not know what the GOSPEL is how can you preach it to others? Man does not live by bread alone but by EVERY WORD that proceeds out of the MOUTH of GOD.
Jesus's ministry started since he was a child but more so after the Baptism of John and his temptation in the wilderness where he soon after started preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND! (MATTHEW 4:17; MATTHEW 23; MATTHEW 9:35; MATTHEW 11:5; MATTHEW 24:14; MATTHEW 26:16)
Did you know that the Gospel was being preached BEFORE the NEW Testament scriptures (Hebrews 4:2)? The GOSPEL is indeed JESUS; the Word of God and he is the good news of the Old and NEW Testament scripture that we are to BELIEVE and FOLLOW.
The Gospel is JESUS <Jesus means Savior; JOHN 1:29> and JESUS is THE WORD OF GOD (JOHN 1:1-14; JOHN 17:17; JOHN 14:6). THE WORD OF GOD is the GOSPEL BECAUSE BY FAITH IT IS OUR SAVIOR and this the IS GOOD NEWS to those who BELIEVE. (JOHN 1:1-14; JOHN 1:29; JOHN 17:17; 14:6; MATTHEW 4:4). Both the old and the new testament scriptures are the two great witnesses pointing to JESUS as the Saviour of the world *JOHN 4:42
MARK 1:1 The beginning of the GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST; THE SON OF GOD <the WORD OF GOD; John 1:1-14; 17:17; 14:6>
THE GOSPEL WAS PREACHED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT....
GALATAINS 3:8 [8], And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, PREACHED BEFORE THE GOSPEL UNTO ABRAHAM, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Yep once again seems like Abraham had the Gospel in his day in the OLD Testament well before Mt Sinai...
LUKE 4:17-19 [17], And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, [18], The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because HE HAS ANNOTATED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, [19], To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Well it seems like Isaiah from the OLD TESTAMENT knew about the Gospel (ISAIAH 52:7 pointing to Jesus in LUKE 7:22) so the Gospel indeed was being preached BEFORE the DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS even in the OLD TESTAMENT.......
The Gospel was preached to God's people leaving Egypt...
HEBREWS 4:1-5 [1], Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. [2], FOR UNTO US WAS THE GOSPEL PREACHED AS WELL AS UNTO THEM; BUT THE WORD PREACHED DID NOT PROFIT THEM NOT BEING MIXED WITH FAITH IN THEM THAT HEARD IT. [3], For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. [4], For he spake in a certain place of the SEVENTH DAY on this wise, And God did rest the SEVENTH DAY from all his works.
[5], And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
In summary....
1. The "GOSPEL" meaning is simply "Good News"
2. The "GOSPEL" was being preached in the OLD TESTAMENT as well as the NEW TESTAMENT scriptures
3. JESUS preached the "GOSPEL" BEFORE his death buriel and resurrection
The "Gospel" (good news) is EVERY Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God and it is God's Word that we are to live by and have life (Matthew 4:4). The "Gospel" was being preached before the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (e.g. Mark 1:15; 8:35; Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35; 11:5; 24:14; Luke 4:18; 7:22; 20:11)
The Good New (Gospel) is indeed Jesus, His life, death, resurrection and new administration as our great high priest, but Jesus is the Word of God. The Gospel is the WORD OF GOD and it is the WORD OF GOD that we are to BELIEVE and live by. (Matthew 4:4; John 1-1-4; John 3:16).
If we are NOT BELIEVING and LIVING by the WORD OF GOD we have yet to experience God's GRACE through FAITH, because OBEDIENCE is the FRUIT of FAITH. If their is NO FRUIT you are still in your SINS and do not know him who LOVES ALL (1 John 3:3-10; James 2:18; 20; 26; Hebrews 10:26-27; 6:4-8).
God loves you and wants you to be ready for his return. If you hear his voice please harden not your heart. Search the scriptures and see if these things be so like the faithful Bareans and examine yourself to see if you are really in the faith or not and receive Gods blessings.
God bless…