My Picture of The Gospel
My Picture of The Gospel
Collin Leong. October 28, 2023
Introduction
Gospel was from the Greek word "Euangelion" which means "good news". Picture of the Gospel matters as we end up living out the gospel we believe. Most people feel that Gospel means the forgiving of sin and eternal life in heave after I die. This is true but there are much more.
How did Jesus Define His Gospel?
Mat 4: 17From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Mark 1: 14After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Luke 4: 42At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. 43But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”
The theme is that Jesus primarily proclaims his gospel by announcing the fact that with his arrival, the kingdom of heaven or the Kingdom of God is now close at hand. The reason the Kingdom of God is "good news" is because what God wants done is love, mercy, justice, healing, and wholeness, It's a good place to be.
The apostle Paul describes God's kingdom as a kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Jesus' good news is that with his arrival on the human scene, the kingdom of God has become accessible like never before. Having access to Kingdom of God gives us a different kind of life - a life that changes us from the inside out, starting now.
That's because when you decide to follow Jesus, you agree to become a part of his kingdom mission. You sign up to partner with him to bring his truth and justice and love and liberation to every corner of his creation. You become part of something much bigger than yourself and the adventure of kingdom living begins.
If you think Jesus came only to make a way for you to get to heaven after you die, you will say yes to the gospel and then potentially go on living much as you did before. If, however, you understand that Jesus came to invite you to a completely different life, serving a different king, living in his kingdom, and directly experiencing his love and life and power, your life will become radically different.
1. The Gospel is more than the forgiveness of Sin
John 1:7-10: "So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
Questions:
a) What does "the door of the sheep" means?
Out in the pasturelands for sheep, pens were made with only one entrance. If the sheep wants to go out to find pastures, or if they want to come in to find protection, you must go through the door*, which is Jesus Christ.
Psalms 118:19-24:
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Eph 2:18: For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
b) Does the phrase "you may have life and have it abundantly" refer to afterlife, or the current life?
What does "life" means? Jesus said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." John 14:6
What does "abundant" means? MacArthur - "The matchless gift of eternal life exceeds all expectation"
(Steven Cole) "It’s not pointing to having an abundance of material goods, but rather to the soul satisfaction that comes when you know that the Lord is your Shepherd. You know that He is caring for you and He prepares a table before you even in the presence of enemies, so that your cup overflows (Ps. 23:5). He goes with you even through the valley of the shadow of death. In other words, Jesus isn’t promising an easy life where there are no trials or where you get instant deliverance from your trials. Rather, He is promising to meet all of our spiritual needs if we will enter through Him as the door."
Both uses of have (have life...have it abundantly) are in the present tense which speaks of continual life (now and in eternity) and continually (now and in eternity) over and above life.
John 7:38 - "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
c) What is your picture of the gospel (good news)? Is it only forgiveness and future life in heaven? Or is it another kind of life here and now?
Appendix (1)
"The door"
Barclay - He began by saying: 'I am the door.' In this parable, Jesus spoke about two kinds of sheepfolds. In the villages and towns themselves, there were communal sheepfolds where all the village flocks were sheltered when they returned home at night. These folds were protected by a strong door of which only the guardian of the door held the key. It was to that kind of fold Jesus referred in Jn 10:2-3. But when the sheep were out on the hills in the warm season and did not return at night to the village at all, they were collected into sheepfolds on the hillside. These hillside sheepfolds were just open spaces enclosed by a wall. In them, there was an opening by which the sheep came in and went out; but there was no door of any kind. What happened was that at night the shepherd himself lay down across the opening, and no sheep could get out or in except over his body. In the most literal sense, the shepherd was the door.
Steven Cole - G. Campbell Morgan tells of a conversation he had with Sir George Adam Smith, a scholar who had spent much time in the Near East. Smith told of meeting a shepherd there who showed him the fold where the sheep were led at night. It consisted of four walls with a way in. Smith asked, “That is where you go at night?” “Yes,” the shepherd said, “and when the sheep are in there they are perfectly safe.” “But there is no door,” said Smith. “I am the door,” the shepherd replied. He was not a Christian man, but rather an Arab shepherd. But he was using the same language that Jesus used. He explained further, “When the light has gone, and all the sheep are inside, I lie in that open space, and no sheep ever goes out but across my body, and no wolf comes in unless he crosses my body; I am the door.”
2. The Gospel of the Kingdom
"Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15)
He did not come to proclaim the wrath of God which we deserve, but to preach the gospel of God. The word "Gospel" comes from the Old English term “godspell”, which is a translation of the Greek noun “euangelion.” Euangelion means “good tidings” or “good news.” We always think that the gospel is about Jesus, but Jesus came to reveal the good news from God Himself.
There are two ancient Greek words that can be translated to time. One is chronos, meaning simple chronological time. The other is kairos, meaning “the right, critical, or opportune moment.” Jesus used this second word when He said, “the time is fulfilled.” His idea was, “Now is the right time for the kingdom of God. You now have the opportunity to repent and believe".
The biblical definition of “repent” is not only feeling sorry or remorse for sin, but also a change of mind and heart that leads to a change of direction towards God. It is an action word. This verse may sound as if we need to repent of all our sins and to be righteous before we can be saved. However, in this context, it means a 180 degree change from unbelief to the belief of the gospel.
The ancient Greek word Jesus used for believe (pisteuo) means much more than knowledge or agreement in the mind. It was more about trusting God, taking Him at His word, and living a relationship of dependence on Him.
Questions:
a) What did Jesus say is the reason he was sent in Luke 4:42-23?
“I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”
Jesus saw His main ministry, at this point, to be preaching the kingdom. Miracles were a part of that work, but not His main focus. Do note that is not the only reason he came:
Luke 19:10 (NIV): "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
Matthew 20:28 (NIV): "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
He did not just sent to speak or spread the kingdom of God, but he came to seek, to save, to serve, and to sacrifice Himself for everyone.
b) In Colossians 1:9-14, what things from God did Paul list and pray for in that passage?
"9And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
- First prayer point: Knowledge of his will (informed by) Spiritual wisdom & understanding
- Second prayer point: Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord (and) to fully please Him
- Third prayer point: Fruitful in good works, (and) increasing in knowledge of God
- Fourth prayer point: Strengthen with all power (and having) endurance and patience, and joy
- Fifth prayer point: Giving thanks to the Father (who has) Qualified us to share the inheritance, (by) delivered us from darkness (and) Transferred us to the kingdom (and) Redemption and forgiveness of sins
In KJV, the word "transferred" was translated as "conveyed." This is significant, as in the ancient world, when one empire conquered another, the custom was to take the population of the defeated empire and transfer it completely to the conqueror’s land. It is in this sense that Paul says we have been conveyed or transferred into God’s kingdom. Everything we have and everything we are now belongs to Him.
The word Redemption comes from the Latin word "redemptio," which is derived from the verb "redimere," meaning "to buy back." It is related to the concept of buying back or regaining something that was lost or surrendered. Jesus said "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luk 19:10). However to "buy us back" is not free; it cost Him his life.
c) What would change if God's kingdom took over completely in your community and your own heart?
It will be like heaven. We will know God better, we will walk worthy of the Lord, we will be fruitful in serving God, we will be strengthen and joy, we will always be giving thanks to God.
3. The Gospel Changes Everything
16And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
18“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:16-21)
Jesus had came from Galilee to his hometown, Nazareth. He had a reputation of teaching in the synagogues, and so they asked him, as a visiting rabbi, to teach the law as in their Sabbath custom.
a) Why do you think Jesus chose to read this passage from Isaiah?
Technically, Jesus did not chose to read this passage. He was literally handed the scroll of Isaiah. Some commentaries say that it is customary that the same verses will be read in all the synagogues in Israel. Perhaps he chose to read another verse, we do not know. Nevertheless, both He and God knows it was time to begin his ministry.
He quoted Isaiah 61:1-2. But he stopped at "to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (v2a), and did not mentioned the last part: "and the day of vengeance of our God;" (v2b) He did this purposely to highlight that he is coming to bring the kingdom of God, and not the judgement of God. The judgement of God will happen at the end days.
b) What do you think Jesus was saying about the nature and purpose of the Kingdom of God?
The purpose of the Kingdoms are:
i) To proclaim good news to the poor. Is this poor in money, or poor in spirit? "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Mat 5:3)
ii) To proclaim liberty to the captives. We are captives/ slaves to sin and to Satan: "and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." (2 Tim 2:26) (See Rom 6:16, Col 1:13)*
Jesus also freed people who were possessed by evil spirits: "they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word" (Mat 8:16) (See Eph 6:12)*
iii) Recovering of sight to the blind. We are blinded to the truth. "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2 Corinthians 4:4) (See Eph 4:18)*
iv) To set at liberty those who are oppressed (from Isa 58:6). Oppressed (thrauo) means literally to shatter or to break in pieces as pottery. These are people who are broken in spirit by oppressive circumstances, those who have been downtrodden or overwhelmed with trouble such as calamity, crushed by the circumstances of life to the point that they see no way of escape. He said in Matthew 5:4 - "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (See Mat 11:28-30, John 16:33)*
He did not just say it, but He did it. In John 8:1-11, Jesus forgive and comfort the adulteress woman, and said "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more," He also healed the old woman with the issue of blood for 12 years when she touched Him. He said "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your disease." (Mark 5:25-34)
v) To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. In KJV, it is translated to "To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Jesus was saying that the Kingdom of God is here, and now is the acceptable time to be saved and to come in to the Kingdom. It mirrors 2 Cor 6:2, which quoted Isa 49:8 - "For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation, I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."
The use of the word "acceptable year" implies that the time of grace will one day end. This sentence also tells of the urgency of accepting the gift of salvation. The reason Isaiah used the word "year" is to refer to the Jubilee year of Israel, which is every 50 years. In that year, God has commanded them to set free the slaves, return the land that they bought, no planting of crops, to provide for the poor, forgiving of debts. It was seen as a holy year.
In the song "Jubilee" by Michael Card, the lyrics said:
The Lord provided for a time for the slaves to be set free
For the debts to all be canceled so His chosen ones could see
His deep desire was for forgiveness, He longed to see their liberty
And His yearning was embodied in the Year of Jubilee
Note: The passage missed out "to heal the brokenhearted" in Isa 61:1.
c) Are there areas of your life where you can more fully cooperate with God and his kingdom?
d) Do you think of the gospel more as an invitation to personal decision, or as an invitation to a cosmic mission? Is there a way to be both?
Appendix
1“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me, To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; (Isaiah 61:1-2)
6“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?" (Isaiah 58:6)
Romans 6:16 (NIV):
"Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?"
Colossians 1:13 (NIV):
"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves."
Ephesians 4:18 (NIV):
"They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts."
Ephesians 6:12
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." In this passage, Jesus invites those who are burdened by life's troubles to come to Him for rest and find solace in His teachings.
John 16:33:
"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Jesus acknowledges the presence of trouble in the world but assures believers that they can find peace in Him because He has conquered the world.
4. The Gospel Means Eternal Life Starts Now
The gospel is not only forgiving sins, but the availability of a different kind of life.
John 17:3, Jesus defined eternal life saying, “This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Eternal life is now, when you accepted Jesus as your savior.
Questions:
a) John 14:6 - “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” Is Jesus offering to take us to a destination (he can get us into heaven), or that He is the destination himself (eternal life is found in Him)?
b) Practically speaking, does it make any difference how we live our lives if we think eternal life starts now rather than after we die?
c) In Colossians 3, how does the apostle Paul describe life in Christ? What does this life include? What does it rule out?
d) Dallas Willard has argued, “The simple and wholly adequate word for salvation in the New Testament is ‘life.’” Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Gospel Impressions
- Relationship available to me so that I can be loved and cared for which I did not earn it. But somehow I still feel that I need to earn it. Learning to live in God's love have freed me from the need to perform. Help me to face the stuff about ne that is not great because I feel secure from His love.
- What would you say about the gospel to others. Jesus said to "trust me" for everything - forgiveness, parents, children, eternal life, etc. FLOP into Jesus. Christ is our Immanuel. Everyone has a strategy but didn't work out. but maybe we can pray and trust in God's strategy.
- Some people may not buy in to the "kingdom" as they think it is related to colonization, hierarchy, oppression. God's kingdom is very different from human kingdom. First thing Jesus said and want you to get was that the availability of heaven (kingdom of heaven), for us to stretch in for resources for healing, etc.
- The theological concept of “already but not yet” holds that believers are actively taking part in the kingdom of God, although the kingdom will not reach its full expression until sometime in the future. We are “already” in the kingdom, but we do “not yet” see it in its glory.
- My kingdom vs His kingdom - constant surrender to his kingdom, and let Christ be the Lord,
- Gospel is personal but never private. As I increase my capacity to love, then I'm advancing the kingdom.
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