When we hear the word Gospel, most people have the same general thought. “Jesus saves us.” While this is an accurate, simplified understanding of the good news, the story of the Gospel that unfolds with each page of scripture is much more profound, inspiring, and powerful when fully understood. It is important as Christians, that we see the whole picture in order to share the Good News. What follows is a theological elucidation of the Gospel narrative. 

The Gospel, as proclaimed by Jesus and articulated in Scripture, is fundamentally about the Kingdom of God breaking into human history. In Mark 1:14-15, Jesus declares, “The time has come. The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” This brief statement encapsulates the heart of Jesus’ message and mission on earth.

Understanding the Gospel requires recognition of its historical and cultural context. 

The Bible begins with the beautiful story of creation in which God makes man and woman in His image. God looks at all He has made, and calls it “good.” Only a few verses later, in chapter 3, we find a heartbreaking turning point in history. Through deception of the serpent and self-serving desires, humans turn away from God, beginning a long history of brokenness, and a fractured relationship with their creator. But not before an interesting plan is set. In Genesis chapter 3, we observe God tell the serpent that his head will be crushed as he strikes the heel of someone in this lineage of humans. Thus, the first prophecy of hope for restoration. A hint of the coming Messiah. 

Throughout the story of humanity, there is a constant struggle between service to the Divine and to self. We see kings, priests, prophets, and others attempt to restore people to God, yet each of them come up short. 

As we observe these figures rise and fall, we follow an important theme. Beginning with Adam and Eve in the Garden, to Moses assembling the tabernacle, the children of Israel with pillars of fire and clouds, to Solomon constructing a temple, we notice that God is constantly in pursuit of His creation. The garden, the tabernacle, the temple, the cloud; He wants to be with His people. Yet, because of the curse from Genesis 3, humans are separated from a Holy God. 

As we continue through the story, God makes a promise to a king named David that his lineage will produce an everlasting Kingdom; another prophecy of hope to restore humans out of this cycle of rebellion. David and other prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah continue to speak of this coming Messiah (meaning anointed one, rescuer, deliverer). As Isaiah records in chapter 7 verse 14, He will be called “Immanuel.” God with us. Isaiah also gives a glimpse of what is expected of us as God’s people in 52:7, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news…”

The anticipation grows until we enter the story of Jesus. Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi. His life and ministry were not only a fulfillment of dozens of Old Testament prophecies, but He made unique claims to be both the Son of God and the Son of Man as prophesied in Daniel chapter 7. Is this the Messiah who was promised to restore people to God? The New Testament begins with four short biographies of Jesus’ life written by His close followers. 

In Greek, these short books are titled Euangelion Kata (Author), which means the Gospel of, or the Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. In other words, “the Good News/announcement according to Matthew.” In short, the gospels are the Gospel! These stories of Jesus are the Good News for all of humanity!

In each of the four accounts, we see story after story of a man like no other. From a miraculous virgin birth, to miracles performed throughout Galilee and Judea, to sermons and parables with some of the most profound ethical teachings ever recorded, Jesus was more than a man. He was, as recorded in Luke, called Immanuel. “God with us.” We see God  making a way to be with His people Throughout Old Testament stories, we see God making a way to be with His people through the tabernacle and temple. In the New Testament we see God Himself, through the person of Jesus, making a way to dwell in the midst of humans. John 3:16 records, “…he gave his only begotten son.” Remembering Mark chapter 1 when Jesus declared, “The time has come…” we see that this story of redemption has arrived at its climax. 

But how was this Jesus going to fulfill the prophecies of the Messiah? After all, the Jewish understanding of the Messiah was a mighty king, ruler, or political figure. How else would the Kingdom of Israel be delivered from Roman occupancy? Jesus didn’t fit that description. Instead, He was a lowly, meek carpenter who avoided the type of scenarios that would prop Him up to rule the people as a political and military conqueror.

This story becomes the climax of all human history. Jesus; morally perfect, innocent, fully God and fully man, gave His life in our place. Philippians 2:8 records this act as Jesus, “being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” 

A death most excruciating both physically and spiritually. At this point, Jesus has been an incredible religious teacher, philosopher, and prophet. But what makes Him different from any other religious leader?

The glorious resurrection of our Savior!

The Father knew that this sacrifice was sufficient to defeat sin and death. Now, Jesus, conquered sin, hell, death, and the enemy! He came alive and ascended to Heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. 

In Jesus’ time, “gospel” (euangelion) would have been the term used by the Roman Emperor or other royalty to announce the ascension of a new ruler or a military victory, bringing peace and prosperity. Jesus repurposed this term to announce God’s Kingdom arrival, bringing spiritual liberation and eternal life.

When it comes to the Gospel, consider these words of Jesus, recorded in John 11:25. “I am the Way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus’s proclamation of the Kingdom of God refers to God’s reign and rule, His effective will being realized on earth as it is in heaven. It is not merely a place or a future event but a present reality inaugurated by Jesus Himself. This Kingdom brings peace, justice, reconciliation, and restoration to all who embrace it. It has been said that the Gospel is as much about getting us into heaven as it is getting heaven into us. We long for the day, when we are in perfect communion with God, cleansed from the evil and sorrow of this world. Yet, we rejoice in the here and now. We are living in a broken world that is promised restoration through the Kingdom of God. The already, not yet. This Kingdom Theology is a message of peace and hope to a lost world. A message that requires a proper response. 

So what is the proper response?

Central to responding to the Gospel is our repentance and faith. To repent means to turn away from sin and self-rule in an act of submission to Christ. It involves a change of mind, heart, and direction, acknowledging Jesus as Lord and Savior. Faith, then, is placing our trust in Jesus, believing in His life, death, and resurrection as the means by which God’s righteousness is attributed to us through Christ’s atoning blood. A solution of restoration. 

In Jesus’ time, one evidence of this restoration was the veil in the tabernacle being torn from top to bottom, signifying a restored relationship between God and man. This event was recorded by all three synoptic gospel authors (Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45). Another was the Holy Spirit of God, which was seen first at Pentecost as a flame over the heads of believers, evocative of God’s presence with the Israelites in the wilderness. And above all, Jesus’ return from death, as proof that He is the Son of God and the victor over sin and death through His sacrifice. 

Today, the Gospel remains transformative and relevant. It challenges individuals and communities to align with God’s Kingdom values of love, justice, compassion, repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation. It calls us to embody these values in our relationships, work, and societal engagement. The term often used to describe how Jesus empowered or inaugurated the Church to be His kingdom on earth is “inaugurated eschatology” or “realized eschatology.” This theological concept emphasizes that through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, the kingdom of God has begun to be realized or inaugurated on earth, even though its full consummation is yet to come. He established his Church as the means to bring His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

As followers of Jesus, our mission is to proclaim and demonstrate the Gospel in our lives. This involves not only sharing the good news verbally but also living it out through acts of love, mercy, and justice. Matthew 5:16 – “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Just as early Christians were transformed by the Gospel, we are called to be agents of transformation in our spheres of influence.

The Gospel is the good news of God’s Kingdom breaking into our world through Jesus Christ. It invites all people to repentance, faith, and participation in God’s redemptive plan. May we embrace this Gospel wholeheartedly and share it boldly, knowing that it has the power to change lives and reconcile humanity to God.