The Biblical Gospel

On a daily and ongoing basis our world encounters serious and seemingly unsolvable problems and concerns – economically, politically, educationally, environmentally, morally, and most assuredly, spiritually. Christian denominations in the United States, Canada, and Europe are undergoing great stresses and strains as they deal with a postmodern culture that wrongly emphasizes relativism and pluralism at the expense of objective truth.  Even the most conservative Christian churches are struggling against the prevailing culture and powerfully imposing counter-Christian mores and ideas.  Many in our country mistakenly believe there are no absolute truths and also erroneously believe that politically correct and morally inclusive attitudes and practices are to be embraced by our society and churches rather than eschewed.

Added to the mix of this progressive turmoil and confusion is that our world is awash with a myriad of views regarding the reasons for these problems and their corresponding solutions.  On just the religious spectrum, there are a plethora of viewpoints regarding religion and what constitutes truth.  With so many competing philosophies and ideologies, one might question whether absolute truth exists or whether it is even possible to know what is right or wrong.  Our postmodern society clearly answers no because truth is personal and subjective, and what may be true for you may not be true for me. 

The church has witnessed similar difficult and convulsing times in her past and survived by God’s grace to witness to the truth of the gospel.  The English Reformers of the sixteenth century were used by the Lord mightily to bring spiritual life and renewal to the English Church, which had lapsed into gross immorality with little or no understanding of the Bible and Christian faith and practice.  The monolithic Roman Catholic Church had a stranglehold upon the clergy and its people, and its ungodly practices and false teachings in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries are well documented.  By the sovereign, providential action of God and mighty movement of the Holy Spirit, the English Reformers brought the Scriptures to English churches and homes through a variety of means, methods, and measures, some of which are still felt today.  The faithful reading and proclamation of the Holy Scriptures in their native tongue changed the course of history for the English and much of Western Europe as the gospel was proclaimed with all its power and influence.   The same effect could happen today and is desperately needed in a culture starving for truth and longing for spiritual meaning and vitality.  John MacArthur writes, “The church today is badly in need of reformation again.  And Christ’s lordship over His church is still the central truth we must recover, which requires the unleashing of His word among His people again” (2009:69).  Richard Loveless concurs, “We will have less anxiety ourselves and more of a hearing from the world if we will believe in and preach the awesome, dangerous, but solid realities taught in Scripture” (1979:144).

Unfortunately and tragically, “the reality of present-day Christendom is that most professing Christians actually know very little of the gospel, let alone understand its implications for their day-to-day lives.  My perception is that most of them know just enough gospel to get inside the door of the kingdom.  They know nothing of the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Jerry Bridges 2003:15).  What all persons need to know is that the gospel is about Jesus and is richer and greater than anything anyone can possibly imagine and has the power and energy to change our minds and hearts, and ultimately our lives.  Keller concurs: “The gospel transforms our hearts and thinking and approaches to absolutely everything” (Keller “The Centrality of the Gospel:” 56). 

Three instances of biblical renewal and change occurred through the lives and witness of three servants of the Lord who faithfully proclaimed the word of the Lord:  the godly young Judean king Josiah, the faithful and godly teacher Ezra, and the difficult to deal with but highly successful curmudgeon prophet, Jonah.  Between these three colorful and effective Old Testament figures, God’s word and acts restored the people who desperately needed to hear, receive, and act upon God’s written and prophetic word.   Down through the centuries these men have served to illustrate the impact and effectiveness of the gospel message which alone has the power and ability to change and transform our recalcitrant hearts and minds.

From the inspired gospel of Matthew to the apocalyptic book of Revelation, Jesus Christ is presented as the Word of God, the incarnate Son of God, and the promised Messiah who ministered faithfully for three years to his people in the land of Israel, died on a cross for the sins of the world, rose from the dead by the power of God on the third day, ascended into heaven, and is now seated at the right hand of God.  Because of what Jesus did, he established himself as the Savior and Redeemer of the world, and the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Mt 1:21; Rev 19:16).  His gospel message was obediently proclaimed throughout the known world by him and his disciples as the only one that was true and ultimately reliable, a biblical message that redeemed and set man free from his sin (Eph 1:7) and reconciled him back to God (2 Cor 5:19), thereby sparing man from eternal separation from God Almighty (Rev 20:15) and providing an eternal home to those who love him.  This precious gift of salvation is predicated upon one’s repentance and faith in Christ according to the grace of God and action of the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:8).

The New Testament is replete with examples of the success of the biblical gospel in saving and transforming lives of Jews and Gentiles.  Three examples will illustrate the impact and effectiveness of the gospel:  two instances of the preaching of Peter in the book of Acts, Paul’s ministry to the Thessalonian church, and Paul’s ministry to his beloved disciple, Timothy.  All three instances serve to highlight the significance and influence of the gospel that alone can make us right with God.

The mighty trap and power of postmodernism is a “matrix” that encompasses all of twenty-first century humanity, shaping the way people think and live their lives.  This reality has great cultural and personal implications and only the power of the gospel can overcome postmodernism’s mighty clutches.  Paul rightfully warns us:  “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Col 2:8).  Meaning and purpose apart from Jesus Christ is not possible; only knowing and doing the will of God makes life meaningful and valuable.  Apart from Christ, the fragmentary truths we wrongfully acquire on our own behalf lead to confusion and emptiness.  The gospel is the all-encompassing truth that our postmodern culture desperately yearns for and needs, but the traps of postmodernism prove to be too strong a snare for many.