The church pulpits today are filled with many gospels. A prosperity gospel, a hyper-grace gospel, a gospel of works. Then there are outside forces putting in gospels of Judas and gospels of Mary Magdalene.
With all of these gospels being thrown at us, how do we know which one to hold on to? This is not a problem that is all too new, but one that has always been there.
Paul shares the same sentiments in Galatians 1:6-7: "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ."
The gospel literally means "good news" and is taken in our context as the good news of God's lavish love displayed through sending His One and Only Son to die the death we should have died so that we can live the life that Jesus should have lived.
While the gospel is infinite in magnitude and all-encompassing in scope, here are some helpful points that will clarify the gospel for us.
The gospel is a historical event
The thing about the good news about Jesus's life, death and resurrection is that it's news. It's not opinion, nor is it fiction. It is a historical event that happened at one point in history.
This validates for us the power of the gospel that we believe in because it's not based on myth or legend, but on facts that have been proven by various archaeological, literary and historical instruments that point to the existence of a man named Yeshua and the miraculous rebirth that happened after a shameful scoring death on a cross.
The gospel has a relevant status
The gospel is not only a past event, but has a current status that every follower of Christ now holds. Christ's sacrifice on the cross has set once and for all the defeat of sin and death for those who put their faith in his finished work and declare with their hearts and mouths that Jesus is indeed Lord.
The gospel is a relevant offer that declares salvation and freedom to all, and the grace of God that extends to all who believe in the message that it brings. By God's grace we receive faith, and by His grace that faith is activated so that we may receive the relevant status purchased for us on the cross.
The gospel is pinned on a Person
The gospel is not pinned on a doctrine, belief system or set of rituals, but on a Person who once existed at one point in history and who is now immortal and all powerful to cascade His power and reconciliation.
The gospel is about Jesus Christ, the live He lived, the death He died and the battle He won for all of us.
