Define "The Gospel"

[steaver]

Gospel by definition means "good news".

Hbr 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it].

Gal 3:8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, [saying], In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Here we have the gospel being preached to those before Jesus Christ came in the flesh. So what was being preached as the gospel to the OT people which is the same as the gospel being preached after Jesus Christ came in the flesh? Seeing there is only one gospel.

What I am looking for is when we say "the gospel of Jesus Christ" what all would be included in this?

Would we say "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved"? Is this all inclusive?

Would we say "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and keep the law and thou shall be saved"?

Is the gospel of Jesus Christ specifically about salvation? Or can we say that the passages about rewards are also the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Just what are we saying when we say "the gospel of Jesus Christ"?

Are the ten commandments the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Would all 66 books be considered the gospel of Jesus Christ? If that be the case then how could Paul and Hebrews say that the OT peoples had the gospel preached to them? They never had the 27 NT letters. They never had the full word of Revelations preached unto them.

Did the OT peoples have some of the gospel or did they have all of the gospel?

Just what is the gospel of Jesus Christ?

:jesus:

 

[ReformedBaptist]

1 Corinthians 15
1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

 

[Cutter]

I believe the testimony of Jesus is the Gospel and since the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy according to Revelation 19:10. that would include both the Old and New Testament together. Both the foretelling of Jesus then and the forth telling of Jesus now. Every believer has the testimony of Jesus. It is found only 4 times in scripture and all 4 are in the Book of the Revelation.

 

[menageriekeeper]

Ya'll are way to complicated:

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and ye shall be saved. (acts 16:31)

That is the gospel. It is that simple. It is us humans that want to make it complicated.

 

[Amy.G]

Ya'll are way to complicated:

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and ye shall be saved. (acts 16:31)

That is the gospel. It is that simple. It is us humans that want to make it complicated.

:thumbs:....................

 

[billwald]

>Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and ye shall be saved. (acts 16:31)

That is the proper response to the Gospel. it is NOT the Gospel.

 

[steaver]

1 Corinthians 15
1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Is this the same gospel delivered to Adam?

:jesus:

 

[steaver]

Ya'll are way to complicated:

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and ye shall be saved. (acts 16:31)

That is the gospel. It is that simple. It is us humans that want to make it complicated.

How would Adam or Noah believe on the Lord Jesus Christ?

:jesus:

 

[BobRyan]

Indeed "ONE GOSPEL" in all of time Gal 1;6-11.

The ONE Gospel not only provides for forgiveness of sins through the death of Christ - it ALSO provides for the New Covenant promise of "The Law written on the heart" so that for the NEW CREATION "old things are passed away - all things become new".

In the Gospel we have the promise of the indwelling Holy Spirit as part of the benefits of being reconciled to God - such that "it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives IN ME".

In the Gospel - Paul says there is a future judgment of the saints (Romans 2).

In Daniel 7 - we are told about the good news in that future judgment - "The Judgment was passed IN FAVOR OF the saints" Dan 7:22.

The Gospel benefits promise -- (under that ONE Gospel) includes the New Earth.

Thus in Heb 11 Paul can say that those who died in the faith in the OT did not receive what was promised - because the ultimate promise in the Gospel is the New Earth event seen in Rev 21.

And yet - What I list here - barely scratches the surface in the awesome depths of the Gospel.

Thus the Gospel itself is a massive concept given by an infinite God that does much more than some of the snippet-views of it so often taken from time to time.

As Paul said in Heb 4 "We have had the Gospel preached to US just as THEY also" (speaking of OT Israel in the wilderness for 40 years). And so we may ever be discovering more and more details about this massively complex "good news" that we call the Gospel - but God's view of it has always been "full and complete". As is with all truth - the Truth does not change - but our discovery of it grows and grows.


in Christ,

Bob

 

[steaver]

Indeed "ONE GOSPEL" in all of time Gal 1;6-11.

The ONE Gospel not only provides for forgiveness of sins through the death of Christ - it ALSO provides for the New Covenant promise of "The Law written on the heart" so that for the NEW CREATION "old things are passed away - all things become new".

In the Gospel we have the promise of the indwelling Holy Spirit as part of the benefits of being reconciled to God - such that "it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives IN ME".

In the Gospel - Paul says there is a future judgment of the saints (Romans 2).

In Daniel 7 - we are told about the good news in that future judgment - "The Judgment was passed IN FAVOR OF the saints" Dan 7:22.

The Gospel benefits promise -- (under that ONE Gospel) includes the New Earth.

Thus in Heb 11 Paul can say that those who died in the faith in the OT did not receive what was promised - because the ultimate promise in the Gospel is the New Earth event seen in Rev 21.

And yet - What I list here - barely scratches the surface in the awesome depths of the Gospel.

Thus the Gospel itself is a massive concept given by an infinite God that does much more than some of the snippet-views of it so often taken from time to time.

As Paul said in Heb 4 "We have had the Gospel preached to US just as THEY also" (speaking of OT Israel in the wilderness for 40 years). And so we may ever be discovering more and more details about this massively complex "good news" that we call the Gospel - but God's view of it has always been "full and complete". As is with all truth - the Truth does not change - but our discovery of it grows and grows.


in Christ,

Bob

What do you see was the "other gospel" Paul was speaking of to the Galatians taht they were following?

Gal 1:6¶I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

:jesus:

 

[Doubting Thomas]

1 Corinthians 15
1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

That about sums it up. :smilewinkgrin:

>Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and ye shall be saved. (acts 16:31)

That is the proper response to the Gospel. it is NOT the Gospel.

Exactly. :thumbs:

 

[BobRyan]

What do you see was the "other gospel" Paul was speaking of to the Galatians taht they were following?

Gal 1:6¶I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

:jesus:

The "other Gospel" was that gentiles had to become Jews in order to be saved - the same as we see being promoted in Acts 15.

As Paul points out in Eph 2 - and as we see in Acts 15:1-2, it was not enough to simply have gentiles in the synagogue Sabbath after Sabbath (as we see in Acts 13) for some of the Jewish Christians, they felt that Gentiles had to be circumcised - had to become Jews to be saved.

In Acts 15 the Jerusalem council pointed out - that that was not even true in the OT much less the New.

However many Christians today fall into the same trap of "imagining" the idea "oh yes - in the OT that is exactly how the Gospel worked - gentiles would need to become circumcised Jews to be saved". Turns out they are unwittingly promoting the views of the NT Judaizer.

in Christ,

Bob

 

[Dr. Walter]

The gospel has been a matter of progressive revelation before the cross and since the cross it has been a matter of fulfilled revelation.

Before the cross commencing from the fall in Eden it is a message about the promised "seed" (Gen. 3:15) as the sacrificial lamb savior for sin (Acts 10:43; Heb. 4:2; Acts 26:22-23).

From Abraham the gospel has progressed in revelation to be the "promised seed of Abraham" (Gal. 3:6-8).

From Moses the sacrificial lamb has progressed in revelation into the five different offerings (Lev. 1-5) as well as the promised "prophet" (Deut. 18) as well as our Great High Preist.

From David the gospel revelation has come to embrace the promised "Son of David" or "Messiah" King of Israel. In Isaiah he is presented as the Suffering Savior and Daniel as the "Son of man" or coming King.

Prior to the birth in Bethlehen the Savior was the promised "Christ" (Acts 10:43) but at Bethlehem He became known as "Jesus" the man.

During the time of Jesus Israel was in bondage to Rome and they were looking for "the King of the Jews" as the deliverer from political oppression and restortation of the kingdom of Solomon. They were not looking for the Suffering sacrificial Savior and High Preist.

The cross was never revealed clearly to the disciples (Psa. 22) and the apostles of Christ did not perceive this aspect although they trusted in Him as the promised Savior, coming Messiah and Son of God (Mt. 16:15).

Hence, sufficient gospel revelation preceded the cross but the cross itself was a matter of progressive revelation.

However, the essence of gospel revelation from Abel to Malichi is found in Acts 10:43. After the cross the essence of gospel revelation is found in 1 Cor. 15:3-4.

A person can be saved by this minimum revelation of gospel salvation applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit - I am a sinner and Jesus Christ is my salvation from sin (Acts 10:43).

However, minimum gospel revelation is all that is necessary to save a person but minimum rejection of essentials of the gospel is sufficient to prevent salvation. It is one thing to believe in the minimum revelation of gospel salvation and quite another thing to cognantly oppose and reject gospel essentials. A person may be saved through bare essential gospel revelation without understanding other essential revelation necessary in the scheme of salvation (Trinity, election, predestination, justification, sanctification, etc.). However, a person who cognantly opposes and rejects such essentials cannot be saved (I Cor. 15:9-15; Gal. 3:9-15; 3 Jn. 9-11; 1 Jn. 4:1-6; Rom. 4:5-15; Jn. 17:3; etc.).

 

[steaver]

The "other Gospel" was that gentiles had to become Jews in order to be saved - the same as we see being promoted in Acts 15.

As Paul points out in Eph 2 - and as we see in Acts 15:1-2, it was not enough to simply have gentiles in the synagogue Sabbath after Sabbath (as we see in Acts 13) for some of the Jewish Christians, they felt that Gentiles had to be circumcised - had to become Jews to be saved.

In Acts 15 the Jerusalem council pointed out - that that was not even true in the OT much less the New.

However many Christians today fall into the same trap of "imagining" the idea "oh yes - in the OT that is exactly how the Gospel worked - gentiles would need to become circumcised Jews to be saved". Turns out they are unwittingly promoting the views of the NT Judaizer.

in Christ,

Bob

But isn't circumcision a commandment of God? And haven't you held the position that true Christians keep the law?

:jesus:

 

[steaver]

......... A person may be saved through bare essential gospel revelation without understanding other essential revelation necessary in the scheme of salvation (Trinity, election, predestination, justification, sanctification, etc.). However, a person who cognantly opposes and rejects such essentials cannot be saved (I Cor. 15:9-15; Gal. 3:9-15; 3 Jn. 9-11; 1 Jn. 4:1-6; Rom. 4:5-15; Jn. 17:3; etc.).

I must say you lost me on this one. You say one does not need to understand essentials to be saved, however one who rejects such essentials cannot be saved?

I appreceate your post, but I don't really see an answer defining the "one gospel" preached from Adam through this day in your post.

Hbr 4:2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it].

What is this "word preached" that they did not place their faith in?


Is the gospel message simple or is it a mountain of rules and regulations?

"Gospel" means good news! What is this "good news" preached from Adam through unto the end?

:jesus:

 

[BobRyan]

Originally Posted by BobRyan
The "other Gospel" was that gentiles had to become Jews in order to be saved - the same as we see being promoted in Acts 15.

As Paul points out in Eph 2 - and as we see in Acts 15:1-2, it was not enough to simply have gentiles in the synagogue Sabbath after Sabbath (as we see in Acts 13) for some of the Jewish Christians, they felt that Gentiles had to be circumcised - had to become Jews to be saved.

In Acts 15 the Jerusalem council pointed out - that that was not even true in the OT much less the New.

However many Christians today fall into the same trap of "imagining" the idea "oh yes - in the OT that is exactly how the Gospel worked - gentiles would need to become circumcised Jews to be saved". Turns out they are unwittingly promoting the views of the NT Judaizer.

But isn't circumcision a commandment of God? And haven't you held the position that true Christians keep the law?
:jesus:

1. Circumcision was a requirement for anyone who wanted to become a Jew - it was never a requirement for Gentile believers - no not in the OT nor in the NT. This in Is 58 and in Romans 4 and in Acts 15 it is affirmed that the gentile - the foreigner worships God without needing to "become a Jew".

However in the OT the Jews alone were the "Chosen nation" and "Royal priesthood" set apart to instruct, teach, evangelize the rest of the world. It was the "nation-evangelist" model. The Jews were to be the evangelists.

2. My position was never that all Gentiles must become Jews.

in Christ,

Bob

 

[BobRyan]

The gospel has been a matter of progressive revelation before the cross

That is true. And it still is to this day.

Our understanding of Truth is always progressive - even Gospel Truth.

God alone is static - and "does not learn" or discover any new fact.

A person may be saved through bare essential gospel revelation without understanding other essential revelation necessary in the scheme of salvation

That is true - as Romans 2 points out - the are some among the gentiles without any access at all to the Word of God "doing instinctively those things of the Law showing the works of the Law written on the heart" - In Romans 2 Paul argues that it is the INNER fact of the Holy Spirit having circumcised the heart that makes one a spiritual Jew.

in Christ,

Bob

 

[steaver]

1. Circumcision was a requirement for anyone who wanted to become a Jew - it was never a requirement for Gentile believers - no not in the OT nor in the NT. This in Is 58 and in Romans 4 and in Acts 15 it is affirmed that the gentile - the foreigner worships God without needing to "become a Jew".

However in the OT the Jews alone were the "Chosen nation" and "Royal priesthood" set apart to instruct, teach, evangelize the rest of the world. It was the "nation-evangelist" model. The Jews were to be the evangelists.

2. My position was never that all Gentiles must become Jews.

in Christ,

Bob

So you are saying that some commands in the OT are just for Jews?

:jesus:

 

[billwald]

>So you are saying that some commands in the OT are just for Jews?

The NT teaches that Mosaic additions - Exo thru Deut - are just for the Jews.

 

[BobRyan]

So you are saying that some commands in the OT are just for Jews?

:jesus:

yes the laws about annual feast days, circumcision etc - are just applicable to Jews in the OT. No OT gentile believers were required to observe such things. Not in the OT - not in the NT.

in Christ,

Bob