What is the Christian Gospel?
On being asked this fundamental question “What is the Christian Gospel?” at a Spring Harvest group discussion, one educated man answered “It is the rule by which we should live.” Another lady thought it was the story of Jesus’ life. Even some guide notes seemed unclear, suggesting that something needs to be added to the old gospel to make it more ‘relevant, attractive and contagious’.
On Good Friday members of many churches of a town joined together for a March of Witness, stopping at several sites to sing and hear a short talk. One of talks these dealt with the death of Jesus on the cross. When the meaning of this was explained it was suggested that Christ’s death was simply an example of selfless living that we need to emulate. Nothing was mentioned about the main gospel message that is repeated throughout the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. How could the purpose of the most important fact of history be left out? “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.” (1 Peter 2 v 24)
Even more depressing is the fact that although many visitors attended our churches on Easter Sunday, the gospel was not always made clear to them either. “How do you know they are not Christians?” is a reasonable question. The simple answer to this comes by asking them. About half the visitors to one church, when gently asked whether they are convinced Christians or still unsure, openly acknowledge that they are unsure. John wrote his gospel in order to remedy such uncertainty. “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20 v 31) It is no trifling matter whether they really believe in Jesus or not. Jesus himself said, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” (John 3 v 36) Don’t we want to give people the opportunity of hearing the gospel, or are we trying to change it?
There are now some church leaders who say “We don’t understand the gospel in those old Biblical ways today. We see it more in terms of a caring society.” Neither Jesus nor his apostles would tolerate such thinking. Caring is a product of the gospel but it is not the gospel and neither Jesus nor his apostles would support such changes. Jesus, the lamb of God, taught, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory.” (Luke 9 v 26) Paul taught, “Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned.” (Gal 1 v. 8)
The gospel is a message about the Lord Jesus, who created this world. Our problem is that we cannot and do not even want to live under his authority. We all want to be independent, living our own lives as we please. The gospel is that Jesus came to this earth to be the remedy, by dying on that cross to bear our sins. He alone could do this because he alone is God. God then treats those of us who return to live under the authority of the Lord Jesus as if we have never rebelled. We are completely forgiven and become part of His personal family forever. If Jesus does not become our Lord, even if we attend church, he cannot be our Saviour and we are destined for eternal separation from God in hell. Jesus taught this clearly in the story of Dives, who went to hell, and Lazarus (Luke 16 19-31).
In John Chapman’s book ‘Setting Hearts on Fire’, he tells of some evangelistic talks he gave at Oxford University. Before each talk, one of the undergraduates told how he or she had become a Christian. On the last night, a young man in a wheel chair was lifted up onto the stage. He manoevred himself to microphone and gave his story.
“I have been in this wheel chair since I was eight. It was a result of a family car accident. However that is of no importance. I am reading classics at this university and that also is of no importance. Several years ago my uncle wrote a book called ‘The Enigma of Suffering’. The book was technical and difficult. By the time I had finished it, I was convinced that God was there and that he was basically good. I asked my uncle if he would recommend further reading. He gave me a book the name of which I have now forgotten. However, as I read it, I discovered that I was a sinful man and in desperate need of forgiveness. I also read that the death of Jesus was sufficient for my total forgiveness. And I availed myself of that forgiveness. And I stand before you tonight as a totally forgiven man. And that is important. The only thing I want to say is that God has been so good to me that I want to spend the rest of my life serving him and I think that is important and that is all I have to say.”
If anyone is uncertain about the gospel, whether it is true or whether they are really Christians, one solution is to read ‘Cure for Life’ (ISBN 978-1-7399376-1-4) which discusses these questions. Alternative solutions would be to study one of the gospels or join in a Christian Basics group such as Exploring Christianity, but please do sort it out as there are no more important questions anyone can ask. If you have put your faith in the Lord Jesus and would like to share with others how this happened to you, would you consider writing it down and sharing it?
BVP
