What is 'the Gospel'?
Here in America we commonly say 'the Gospel' when we are talking about religious things associated with Christianity. But often our idea of what exactly it means is a little fuzzy.
The word "Gospel" is an old word. Literally, it means "Good News". It was applied to the message of the early Christians because the world finally had a way to God that was not burdensome and full of anxiety. For thousands of years mankind had struggled to get to God. One time he built a tall tower, thinking he could physically reach into the throne room of God; we call it the Tower of Babel. Sometimes he created a system of intricate gods, each with its own personality, likes & dislikes, and sphere of influence; the chief god of the Roman system was named Zeus. Sometimes he created a system of good works; one such system we know as the 10 Commandments. Sometimes he came under the power & rule of religious figures, who dictated to him what was & was not acceptable to God; the Pharisees of Judea during the Roman rule is an example. Often these systems involved self-denial or self-inflicted pain as a means of averting the wrath of a holy God.
Although such approaches may have led to some sense of spiritual peace & comfort for a temporary time, in most cases the person was left with a deep sense of religious failure. Nothing he did, or said, or refrained from doing linked him to God with certainty. Nothing brought sure peace. Nothing eradicated the stain of guilt. Nothing removed the wrong deep inside the human heart.
Then came Jesus. He Himself fulfilled the righteous demands of a holy God. From eternity past He has been God. As God, He created the World. He showed the Jewish people about holiness and about the awful demands of sin. From the beginning He explained that guilt cannot be removed without death. And then He Himself came to earth, becoming fully man as well as fully God, for the purpose of dying for mankind. His death was a substitute for our death, so that by His death we could live. He took our sins, our spiritual death, upon Himself. He suffered the wrath of God against Him because of those sins. He said to all mankind: "Here I am. I die for you." His last words on the cross, literally moments before He voluntarily died were "It is finished". He came to earth expressly to clear the debt we owed God for our sins.
God accepted his death as a sacrifice for our sins. Why? Because Jesus Himself was without guilt. He had no sins of His own to clear. So He was free to take our sins on himself. And when God raised Jesus from the dead, He was saying "I accept the sacrifice."
So the Good News is that Jesus has finally made a way of peace with God! Most of us at Bethel Hill Baptist have embraced Jesus and His way to God. We no longer follow a religious system of good works, or penitence, or religious association. Instead, we simply say "Jesus' death was my death. I am 'hiding' in Him and the sacrifice He made for my sins. I completely rest my case before God, believing that the evidence of Jesus' holy death is enough to satisfy God's righteous anger against my sins."
There is an easy way to explain this. Today many, many people in America are laden with an awful burden of financial debt. No matter what they seem to do, there is no escaping it. Creditors are knocking constantly. Depression tugs at the emotions. Tension is in the air. Everything else in life seems to be on hold; the debt looms so large!
Imagine a person in this condition, and then one day he is given court notice. The day of reckoning has come! He knows full well that he stands to lose absolutely everything in his life. (In fact, in the old days, they would take his wife & children for enforced labor, and they would put him in jail until the debt was paid.)
It is with much fear & trembling that he comes to the Judge to deal with the issue of his debt.
As he enters the Courtroom, a man intercepts him. This man's eyes are full of love and peace and gentleness. In a gentle, soft voice he says "I want to pay your debt, so you can go free. Will you let me?" Behind him sits the Judge, ready to sign off the case. The man must decide...will he trust this stranger to save his skin? Will he rest in the stranger's ability to do what he says he can do?
Why would anyone refuse such an offer? One filled with stubborn pride, ego, disbelief, suspicion, embarrassment would refuse such an offer. But is it worth the price? Why suffer an unnecessary death, banishment, endless pain because of Ego, Suspicion or Embarrassment? Today Jesus steps forward to every person and says "I want to pay your debt, so you can go free. Will you let me?"
And that, my friend, is the Gospel! The Good News that Jesus has paid our debt of sin so we can go free. It's that simple!! The only thing that remains is to accept His offer....and then live the New Life He has made possible!
If you want to discuss this more, please call me, BeckyLynn Black (434-374-0492; dblack@sebts.edu), Jason Evans (336-504-0789/cell;evans@esinc.net) or Joel Bradsher (919-323-9452/cell; joelbradsher@gmail.com) Don't let ego, suspicion or embarrassment destroy you. Remember, once we were in your shoes....but now we want to introduce you to the One who has given us Good News!
Recommended reading: John 3 & 11-20, Ephesians 1-2, Romans 1-5, II Corinthians 5