The Gospel

The word Gospel was originally the name given of a gift given to someone who brought a good message. In time the word changed in use to mean the good message itself.

In the Nt the word evangellion - 'Gospel' is used in a special sense - as a declaration to men that God has provided salvation in Christ’s atoning death on the cross.

However the word Gospel is also used in a broader sense in the Nt for any message of goodwill to men and so great care must be exercised as to which message of goodwill the writer is referring to.

1. First of all we have what is called the 'Everlasting Gospel' This message of goodwill to men was proclaimed from the beginning, even in Adam's day. The message came directly from God the creator to man on earth. It was the message that God expects men to worship him as creator God. The message included the promise of blessing on the godly and the prospect of judgment on the ungodly. Enoch preached this Gospel. Jude 14-15. Noah preached this too. Heb 11v7 2Peter 2v5. this message will be preached again in a future day. Rev 14v7.
This Gospel looks forward to the cross and brings the sinner a sence of the fear of the Lord and of his need of salvation.

2. The second message of goodwill is the good news of the coming kingdom. This was promised to Abraham and to his seed. Gen 12v1-3. This message of goodwill to Abraham and his seed was gradually expanded and developed but it always came to the Sons of Abraham and latter called 'the children of Israel'.
This glorious message of goodwill to men was proclaimed to the Shepherds on the Judean hillsides.
'Behold l bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord'.
The immediate audience of this message were the children of Israel. It was a message from Jehovah calling upon Israel to return unto him in covenant relationship - in preparation for the coming Messianic kingdom.
in Acts 2v30 Peter explains exactly what Israel had done to Christ and how they stood in relation to him. And for the next 37 years this message went out to all Jews scattered throughout the Roman world.
In a future day this message will be preached again throughout the world during the Tribulation in preparation for the return of Christ in glory and power.
This Gospel looks forward to the Kingdom and brings the lost sheep of the house of Israel back unto fellowship with the Shepherd of their souls.

3. The third message of goodwill to men is the glad tidings of the cross and resurrection and glory of Christ. It is the Gospel of God. We see in Romans ch 1 that the message of Gods goodwill to both Israel and to the Gentiles goes out through out the world and its subject is the Cross and Resurrection of Christ from the dead. The special feature of this Gospel is the basis upon which it is preached. It is the Gospel of the GRACE of God.
This is a message to both Jew and Gentile that both might be blessed by simple faith in Christ’s atoning work.
This Gospel looks back to the cross and takes a man from being a sinner to being saved.

This Gospel is a proclaimation that God is willing to save men from the guilt and power of sin by faith in Christ and in what Christ has done.

Steve