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[Note: <\/strong>This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles-3<\/strong> page.]<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The word Gospel<\/em> is frequently found in the New Testament (101 occurrences). Its literal meaning is \u201cglad tidings\u201d or \u201cgood news.\u201d It refers to the wonderful news that man can be saved from his sins through Christ and what He did when He came to earth. Sometimes people speak of the first four books of the New Testament as \u201cthe four gospels.\u201d However, there are not four Gospels. There is only one which may be preached with God\u2019s approval (Gal. 1:7\u20139). It would be better to speak of \u201cthe four accounts of the Gospel,\u201d therefore. In the larger sense the word Gospel<\/em> may be used to refer to the entire message of the New Testament, for all of it revolves around the good news about salvation through Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Gospel consists of facts to be believed. Paul gives a very brief summary of these facts in 1 Corinthians 15:1\u20134 as the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. He shortens the Gospel even further in 1 Corinthians 2:2 where he says, \u201cFor I determined to know nothing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.\u201d We are not to understand him to say that nothing else about Jesus is important, but he is saying that it is these matters (Christ\u2019s death, burial, and resurrection) that constitute the foundation of salvation, which is the good news. It is ironic, but so true, that the death of God\u2019s Son becomes good news, \u201cGospel,\u201d to the sinner. Had He not died, we could not be saved! However, there is no virtue in merely believing that a man named Jesus died, but that in His death, redemption and salvation from sin were accomplished.\u00a0 Of course, His death could have wrought nothing special, had He not been the only begotten Son of God. Likewise, He could not have been man\u2019s Savior had He remained in the tomb. The Gospel then includes many facts about Jesus (and adequate evidence to support them) all of which relate to the glorious news of salvation.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Gospel also consists of commands to be obeyed. Faith in the facts of the Gospel is necessary to be saved, but insufficient by itself. Jesus said, \u201cHe that rejecteth me and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the Word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day\u201d (John 12:48). Later, He said \u201cIf ye love me, ye will keep my commandments\u201d (John 14:15). The Gospel commands us to believe in Christ (John 8:24), repent of our sins, and be baptized to be forgiven of sins (Acts 2:38). When we have obeyed these commands, the blood that Jesus shed in His death on the cross washes away our sins (Rom. 6:3\u20134; 17\u201318; Rev. 1:5; Acts 22:16) and the Lord adds us to His church (Acts 2:41; 47). The Gospel also commands us to live pure and blameless lives of service to Christ (Jam. 1:27; Tit. 2:11\u201312; Rom. 12:1\u20132, etc.). We will be lost if we do not obey the Gospel (2 The. 1:8\u20139).<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Gospel consists of promises to be enjoyed. Jesus promises that those who follow Him will be greatly blessed in this life but even more abundantly in eternity (Mark 10:29\u201330. Jesus promises His disciples that He will be with them as they do His work, even to the end of the world (Mat. 28:20). Then, when the life and work of the Lord\u2019s people is finished on earth, He has promised to give us eternal glory (2 Cor. 4:17), an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and imperishable which has been reserved in Heaven for us (1 Pet. 1:3\u20134) and freedom from all sin, pain, trial, and tears (Rev.21:3\u20138).<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It is no wonder that God chose the word Gospel <\/em>to describe the message He had for men.<\/span><\/p>\n [Note:<\/strong>\u00a0I wrote this article for, and it was published in the \u201cBible Thoughts\u201d Column for the Hood County News<\/em>, Granbury, Texas, January 20, 1980.]<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution:<\/strong> From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 3[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles-3 page.] \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The word Gospel is frequently found in the New Testament (101 occurrences). Its literal meaning is \u201cglad tidings\u201d or \u201cgood news.\u201d It refers to the wonderful news that man can…<\/p>\n