The word Gospel means good news or glad tidings. It is a translation of a Greek word, Euangellion which was used in the ancient world, for example, the good news of victory which a runner would announce after a war had ended. The Gospel of Christ is the best news which has ever been announced in the history of the world. Here are some of the reasons why that is the case.
- In the Gospel, the way to be rescued from the greatest danger is provided.
All men because of their sin against the Holy and Just God deserve to be sent to Hell as their judgment. This Everlasting damnation is the greatest danger which people will ever face. But in the Gospel a way to escape this is provided. The Gospel message as announced by our Lord Himself to Nicodemus in John 3:16 is, “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. Those who repent and believe this good news will gain everlasting life and hence escape the greatest danger of everlasting damnation.
- In the Gospel, the greatest act of love of God to mankind is proclaimed.
The cross of Calvary in addition to displaying God’s Holiness and Justice also displays the greatest love of God to man. At the Cross, God delivered His Son to die as a substitute for the sins of His people. This is the greatest act of love which God has ever shown to man. For there was no other way sinful man would be reconciled to a Holy God. No man would be found among all the humans who had lived or would live on earth who would be a mediator between God and man. Only God’s Son, the spotless Lamb of God could take away the sins of God’s people and bring reconciliation between God and man. ‘In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son for the propitiation of our sins.’ 1 John 4:9-10.
- The Gospel is the greatest motivation to holiness.
God uses the preaching of the Gospel to turn sinners into saints. These saints when they understand the good news of their salvation, they seek in response to express their gratitude to God by living holy lives which are pleasing in God’s sight. There is nothing which motivates the believer more to seek after holiness than the understanding of the glorious Gospel of our blessed God. Believers who have left their first love need to be reminded of the truths of the Gospel. This will renew their zeal to live for Him who lived and died for them. To borrow the language of Isaac Watts; “When the Christian surveys the wondrous Cross on which the Prince of glory died, he will come to the conclusion that he should offer his life, his soul, his all because of this love which is so amazing and so divine which demands such devotion from him.”
- The message of the Gospel has its focus on the eternal realities and not on the temporal things of this world.
The prosperity ‘gospel’ is the commonest message in popular Christianity today. And because it has taken the center stage, one may think that that is the central message of the Christian Faith but far from that being the case, it is one of the lies which the devil is using to entice so many people to put emphasis on their fleshly desires. The prosperity ‘gospel’ focuses on the temporal things of this perishing world. Material riches and bodily health and other fleshly comforts which are temporal realities of this world. The Gospel of Christ is about everlasting life and the eternal pleasures which will be enjoyed in the presence of God forever. Those who neglect the great message of Salvation will miss out on these eternal pleasures.
- The Gospel is needed by both believers and non -believers.
Sinners need to hear the great message of the Gospel of salvation and embrace it so as to flee from the wrath to come. The Christians need the Gospel as the fuel of the engine of their Christian life. The Christian needs the Gospel on a daily basis in his walk of faith. He needs to seek to increase in the understanding of its truths which will be very essential for his spiritual growth. Therefore evangelism-the preaching of the Gospel is not for non- Christians only. Even true Christians need to be evangelized again and again. The pastors of local churches should see to it that they are presenting the truths of the Gospel to the Christians as well regularly.
Seeing that the Gospel is the greatest news ever told, may you seek to be sure that you have repented and believed it. If you have believed the Gospel, seek to understand its truths more and more. Seek to live a life worth of the gospel more and more. ‘Therefore, I urge you brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect’. Romans 12:1-2
Written By;
Elder Nasaba David
David is one of the elders at Reconciliation Baptist Church, born in Uganda, Married to Brenda.
