The Gospel according to Scripture
What does the Bible say?
Matthew 4:23a “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom”
Next reference is similar, and expands to broader regions of coverage.
Matthew 9:35a “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom”
Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
Fairly significant.
Mark 1:1 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God”
Indicates a whole book detailing the good news of Jesus Christ.
Mark 8:35 “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.”
A significantly different approach! Definitely not the natural route.
Mark 10:29 “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for *My sake, and the gospel's [sake]*, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.”
Sounds reverse. Also positive at the same time. (Did you notice by the way, that the spouse was not multiplied?) :-)
Mark 16:15 “And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Huge endeavor. Intriguing that Christ simply said go, while leaving out the supporting game plan or business model here. Go everywhere, teach everyone. Ready, okay ✅ go 👏🏽.
Luke 4:18,19,21 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. … This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
Clear declaration of Messiahship, right in the public forum, stating He is the Christ Who is now fulfilling this prophecy of Isaiah. Bombshell news! 🤯
Luke 20:1b “… He taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel”
Teaching and preaching both belong together.
Acts 8:25 “And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.”
Covering MANY villages requires a:
Team
Time
Teaching material
Tenacity
Acts 14:21,22 “And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
Notice a team accomplished the work together in harmony, reportedly covering whole cities. Wow. Soon-after saturating a city with the initial news, returning again to ensure proper growth.
How so? Love those key words: confirming and exhorting! We should look them up!
Confirming: supporting further, strengthening more, establishing beyond basics
💥 💪🏽 🤩
Exhorting: admonish, motivate, calling for advancement, beseeching … embolden, bringing cheer. The primary sense seems to be to excite or to give strength, spirit, or courage. To incite by words or keen advice; … with much animation … urging by reasonable persuasion to perform excellent deeds! Stimulate to strong exertion of worthy effort! Continue … through much tribulation!
🗣🔊🏁 Finish line!
Acts 15:7b “… Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles *by my mouth* should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.”
God could have used His own mouth. Personalize it; God made choice that the {insert people group here} should hear the word of the gospel by my mouth and believe.
Acts 16:10 “And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”
Instantly springing to action! Valiant effort based on assurance of comprehension. Answering the call immediately.
Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
Aspire to be this guy:
Zero excuses.
No higher priority.
Fixated on the finish line.
Embracing the commission directly from the Commissioner.
“Testify the gospel” … testify means: earnestly & solemnly affirming, bringing solid evidence, thereby causing to be believed.
Romans 1:1 “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, … separated unto the gospel of God …”
“Separated unto” … implies singular devotion, worthy of separating away from all lesser pursuits.
Romans 1:9 “For God is my witness, Whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son …”
“Spirit service” … (what does that mean?) spirit is the chief influence and primary affection which fills and governs the soul. Divinely-imparted, borrowed power by which the human beings feel, think, and select a course of action.
Romans 1:15 “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.”
As much as in me is = giving it all I’ve got.
Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it [the gospel of Christ] is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
The gospel is the power, therefore I am not ashamed.
•••
Let’s pause here. Will pick up this thread in a separate post.
Thanks so much for tuning-in. Please tap the ♥️ if you have a heart for the Gospel.
Also, please comment on anything that stirred your spirit.