"The Bible on the Gospel"

Larry R. Ping II

​

     The New Testament speaks often of the Gospel. Consider these facts about the Gospel of the Bible.

 

     1) The Gospel’s Core Is the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins ac-cording to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (I Cor. 15:1-6). The gospel is the “good news.” What better news is there than we can receive salvation from our sins, and in the end defeat death and inherit an eternal home in heaven (I Cor. 15)?

 

     2) The Gospel Is Powerful. God breathed, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). The word contained in the New Testament volume is powerful. There are no other words which can save a man. James penned, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).

 

     3) The Gospel Requires Those to Spread It. As powerful as the gospel is, it still needs those to preach it. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things” (Rom. 10:14-15). There is a dire need for Gospel preachers!

 

     4) The Gospel Is to Be Preached to Everyone. Some of Jesus’ final words were, “Go ye into all the all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:15). At one point, it had been preached to “every creature” (Col. 1:23). Those who have heard and obeyed the gospel must in turn teach it to others (2 Tim. 2:2). We must adopt the attitude of Paul who said, “I am ready to preach the gospel” (Rom. 1:15).

 

     5) The Gospel Is To Be Fully Preached. Gospel teachers and preachers have the responsibility to fully preach “the gospel of Christ” (Rom. 15:19). Fully teaching the gospel entails teaching the core of the gospel, to be followed by instruction on how to take advantage of the good news. Until one has done so, he has not fulfilled his God-given responsibility. The Holy Book has often warned us not to tamper with its contents (Deut. 4:2, Rev. 22:18-19). We would do well in heeding the warning to “speak as the oracles of God” (I Peter 4:11)! As the apostle said, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel” (I Cor. 9:16)!

 

     6) The Gospel Will Serve As the Standard of Judgment. Paul addressed the Romans, “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel” (Rom. 2:16). The entirety of the New Testament constitutes the standard by which we will be judged. Jesus said “…the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (Jn. 12:48). The Apostle penned “…the things that I write unto thee are the commandments of the Lord” (I Cor. 14:37). May we learn the Gospel well in our times of study (II Tim. 2:15).