The Gospel

Update (October 16, 2008): made some minor edits for clarity.

Recently, I have been wrestling with the question of what exactly is the Gospel.

If you go by Paul's definition in 1 Corinthians 15, and go over the sermons in Acts (especially Peter's sermons in chapters 2 and 10 and Paul's sermon in chapter 13)—as well as the Old Testament texts cited throughout Acts (especially Psalm 2:7, Psalm 16, Psalm 110:1, Isaiah 52-53, and Joel 2)—and consider Jesus Christ's own pronouncements in Luke 24, a few basic elements emerge:

1. Jesus Christ died for our sins in accordance with Scripture.
2. Jesus Christ was raised bodily on the third day in accordance with Scripture, appeared to many witnesses, and sits at the right hand of God.
3. Jesus Christ will return to judge the living and the dead.
4. We are called to repent for our sins and be baptized, for all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Providentially, Phil Johnson has posted John Newton's very beautiful description of the Gospel here (see the last two paragraphs). Note that the contrast Newton depicts in the very last sentence between those who are self-sufficient and those who are hungry echoes Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and publican in Luke 18.

In fact, the essence of what our response should be is summed up in the publican's prayer in Luke 18:13—compare it especially to the heart of David's prayer in Psalm 51:1, and Asaph's prayer in Psalm 79:7. And on what basis should God have any mercy on us at all? On the basis of Christ's imputed righteousness to us, for He died for our transgressions.

There are a couple of sermons on the Pharisee's and publican's prayers in Luke 18 that are very much worth reading or listening to. First, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, whose words are recorded here. Secondly, Reddit Andrews, who may be heard here (MP3 file).

Finally, the recent discussion a few of us have been having on my old Old Testament post also helped to bring a lot of the stuff I've written above together.

The Gospel is the good news of what Jesus Christ has done to reconcile us sinners to our holy and righteous God. What wonderful news it is. Isaiah couldn't even have known its ultimate fulfilment in the incarnation, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour when he wrote this in Isaiah 53:7:

How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."

(Note that in the Septuagint, "brings good news" is "euangelizomenou," or "proclaims the Evangel": proclaims the Gospel. This is hardly a novel observation, either, since Paul quoted this very verse in Romans 10:15.)

I want to flesh out this post in future days, but this is all I can write for now, due to other demands on my time. Praise God for His grace and mercy, and to Him be all power and dominion and glory, forever and ever. Amen.