The English word “gospel” is derived from the Greek “euangelion,” a word which means “good tidings.” The word occurs more than 75 times in the New Testament. The “gospel” is the joyous
good news that salvation is available through Jesus Christ. The gospel message is the good news that God has provided a way of redemption through His Son Jesus Christ. The “gospel” is the good news that people who are enslaved by sin can find deliverance and pardon and freedom from guilt–because Jesus died for us.
The word “gospel” in the New Testament never means a book (that is, it never refers to one of the four Gospels). It always refers to the good tidings which Jesus and the apostles announced. It is called “the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1) “the gospel of Christ” (Romans 1:16), “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24), “the gospel of your salvation” (E hesians 1:13) and “the glorious gospel , (2 Corinthians 4:4) The gospel was preached by Christ (Matthew 4:23; Matthew 11: 5), by the apostles (Acts 16: 10; Romans 1: 15); and by the evangelists (Acts 8:25). It was not until the Second Century A.D. that each of the first four New Testament books was called a Gospel.
The gospel is the account of God’s gift of salvation through the person and work of Christ, which the church has been commissioned to proclaim (Mark 16:15; Ephesians 1:13). 1 Corinthians 15:3 sets forth with clarity the message of the early Christians:
“Christ died”–God the Son bore the punishment for sin.
“for our sins”–human beings are depraved with a basic flaw in their inborn natures, and sin offends God.
“according to the Scriptures” -the Scriptures are true by their own claim, and by the testimony of Jesus.
Early “preaching of the gospel” included at least t ree concepts:
1) The proclamation of the death, resurrection, and exaltation of Christ.
2) An evaluation of the person of Jesus as both Lord and Christ.
3) A summons to repent and believe and receive the forgiveness of sins.
The gospel is power (Romans 1:16) because as an instrument of the Holy Spirit, it convicts (1 Thessalonians 1:5) and converts (Colossians 1:6). Those who proclaim the gospel should do so boldly (Ephesians 6:19).
May/June 1989