Title: Eternal Gospel
What is Gospel?
The Greek word for ‘gospel’ is ‘Uangelion’. It is a compound word of ‘U’ which means ‘to be well off, prosper, good and ‘Angelos’ which means ‘a messenger, the one who is sent, an angel.’
In English, it is translated as ‘god (good) + spel (news)’ = gospel. Therefore, gospel is the word that means good news or glad tidings that remove all the darkness and even anxieties from our hearts.
Usages in the Old Testament
- When a baby boy is born (Jer 20:15)
It is an ironic phrase. What we need to see here is that the news of giving birth to a baby boy made his father happy and glad.
It is not to discriminate a baby from a baby girl or vice versa. In the Bible, to continue family’s generation is important, when a baby boy is born, it becomes good news to the family.
- When a battle is won (1 Sam 31:9)
This is the moment when King Saul was killed by the Philistines. This news is sad because Israel was defeated. However, from the Philistine’s point of view, this is a great victory and good news to them.
- Prophecy regarding the Messiah (Isa 40:9-10)
The one who proclaims and spreads the good news about the coming of our God is the bearer of good news. Therefore, the good news is the Messiah, the Christ, is coming.
- Liberation from oppression (Isa 52:7-9)
Historically, the messenger who brings good news refers to Darius of Persia who found King Cyrus’ Decree and fully supported the temple’s reconstruction. But prophetically, this messenger refers to Jesus Christ who liberated us from our sins (Jhn 3:16). Gospel or good news can mean various things to different people. But ultimately gospel means Jesus Christ Himself (Luk 4:17-21). It can be understood that what Jesus had been preaching is the good news, moreover the fact that Jesus came to them is the good news. Here, Jesus was saying “you heard that the gospel will be proclaimed and that’s Me.”
Jesus Christ is the Gospel
Mat 13:16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
Christians think that the word or the teaching that Jesus spoken is the gospel. I am not saying that they are not the gospel but if only what Jesus said is the gospel, He should have written a book and given to His disciples and His followers. If He had done so, it would be better than the gospel written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Why didn’t Jesus leave any writings to us? It is because it is not only what He spoke but He Himself is the gospel. Gospel is not the written word and not even the spoken word but Jesus Christ Himself (1 Jhn 1:1-2).
Jesus is the Word of Life / the Word of God / the Gospel who was with the Father and was manifested to us. That is why we must read the Bible and study the Word of God. To have great knowledge of the Bible is not the point, to understand what Jesus had said is not the point. We must understand Jesus, we must understand the Gospel, we must understand God Himself (1 Jhn 1:3-4).
The reason why Jesus was manifested is for us to have fellowship with the Father and Jesus Christ. It is for us to get to know God and Jesus Christ, it is to get close to the Father and Jesus.
How amazing it is! This is the whole purpose of becoming a Christian, attending the church, studying the Word of God, reading the Bible.
It should become my Gospel
People say that if we read the Bible, we will meet Jesus Christ but if I haven’t seen Him yet, I haven’t met the Father yet. Then, it is not my Gospel.
2 Tim 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel,
Apostle Paul met Jesus and was so certain about Jesus that he said, ‘my gospel’. My Gospel means we should meet Jesus and the Father: what I believe about Him and how I believe about Him.
Rom 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,
My Gospel means we should preach about Jesus and the Father. What I believe should be proclaimed through our lips.
Then, Gospel will become my Gospel and eternal Gospel. I pray such blessings be given to all the members of TLCC today. Amen.
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 