DOCTRINE OF THE GOSPEL
November 20, 1986
  1. Definition: gospel (evuagge,lion, euaggelion) is a compound noun meaning good (evu, eu) news (avgge,lion, aggelion). It is used outside the New Testament (NT) for good news in contrast to bad news. It was used as a technical term for the news of victory (e.g., 1Sam.31:9) or as related to the emperor cult in which his birth and accession to the throne introduce a new and prosperous era. In the NT, gospel is used technically for the message of salvation; the best news mankind can receive. It is also used for good news presented to the believer.
  2. The boundaries of the gospel, 1Cor.15:14; cp. Rom.1:3,4.
    1. "Died for our sins according to the Scriptures."
    2. "Buried" (physical death).
    3. "Raised on the third day".
    4. But not the fact that we are sinners.
  3. Synonymous phrases.
    1. Gospel of Christ, Rom.1:16,17 (the focus of the gospel).
    2. "Glorious gospel", 1Tim.1:11 (frees us from the Mosaic Law).
    3. "My gospel" or "our gospel", 2Tim.2:8; 2Cor.4:3,4 (emphasizes the communicator's identification with his message).
    4. "Gospel of peace", Eph.6:15 (the barrier is removed).
    5. Gospel of grace, Act.20:24 (God's provision of salvation is a gift).
  4. Observations on the presentation of the gospel.
    1. Communicators of the gospel.
      1. Evangelists (the apostles, Philip, Mark, Apollos), Eph.4:11.
      2. Pastor-Teachers (limited), 2Tim.4:5 "do the work of an evangelist".
      3. All believers in personal witnessing.
    2. Evangelism is empowered by the Holy Spirit, 1Pet.1:12b.
    3. Emphasis of the gospel, 1Cor.1:17 "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ should not be made void."
    4. Mental attitude toward the gospel, Rom.1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
      1. For believers: not ashamed.
      2. For unbelievers: belief In Christ.
    5. Place of the gospel, Rom.15:20 "And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named" (proselytizing is not teaching the gospel).
    6. The gospel is without charge, 2Cor.11:7,8 "...preached the gospel of God to you without charge."
  5. The gospel also belongs to the Old Testament crowd, Gal.3:8; the gospel was preached to Abraham in Ur.
  6. The believer is edified by the gospel, Eph.6:15, "And having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE"; Isa.52:7 "How beautiful on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation."
  7. There is a false gospel of works, Gal.1:8 "But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed"; Gal.1:6.
  8. The enemy of the gospel, 2Cor.4:3,4 "And if our gospel is obscured, it is obscured to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
  9. The news of God's provision of rest for the believer in time is good news, Heb.4:6 "Since it remains for some to enter it (Phase 2 rest), and those who previously had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience."
Reviewed: May 1988
Reviewed: April 13, 1990
© Copyright 1998, Maranatha Church, Inc.