What was the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

dataylor · Aug 21, 2015

Most of my life, I've heard the "gospel" described as "Jesus dying for our sins so we can be saved." Yet when I read the statements of Jesus in the Bible, they say something different. For example:

Matthew4:23 Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.

Matthew9:35 Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

Matthew10:5-7 These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach,saying,‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mark1:14-15Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;repent and believe in the gospel.”

These passages seem to indicate that Jesus defined His good news (gospel),as the soon coming Kingdom of God. And here is something else. In the NASB, Jesus uses the word "saved" eleven times; while He uses the word "salvation" only two times. However, Jesus uses the phrase "Kingdom of God" 50 times, while He uses the phrase "Kingdom of Heaven" 29 times. Thus Jesus emphasized the God's Kingdom far more than He did salvation.

Question:Should Christians use Jesus' definition of the gospel? Or should Christians stick to the "gospel of salvation?"

Willie-T · Aug 21, 2015

The "gospel" is the Good News that there is a true Kingdom of God, it is here and now, we can share in it, and Jesus is the king of it.

Gr8grace · Aug 21, 2015

dataylor said:

Most of my life, I've heard the "gospel" described as "Jesus dying for our sins so we can be saved." Yet when I read the statements of Jesus in the Bible, they say something different. For example:

Matthew4:23 Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.

Matthew9:35 Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

Matthew10:5-7 These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach,saying,‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mark1:14-15Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;repent and believe in the gospel.”

These passages seem to indicate that Jesus defined His good news (gospel),as the soon coming Kingdom of God. And here is something else. In the NASB, Jesus uses the word "saved" eleven times; while He uses the word "salvation" only two times. However, Jesus uses the phrase "Kingdom of God" 50 times, while He uses the phrase "Kingdom of Heaven" 29 times. Thus Jesus emphasized the God's Kingdom far more than He did salvation.

Question:Should Christians use Jesus' definition of the gospel? Or should Christians stick to the "gospel of salvation?"

To believe the Gospel...............is entrance into the Kingdom.

The Gospel is believing in the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation. Your salvation gains you entrance into His kingdom.

Its soooooooo simple, its hard.

shotgunner · Aug 21, 2015

I believe Kingdom of God represents God's ways of doing, his manner of operation and all that is contained in that. Kingdom of Heaven represents Heaven itself.

Concerning the gospel
Galatians 3:8King James Version (KJV)[SUP]8 [/SUP]And 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.

That's about as simple as it gets.

Willie-T · Aug 21, 2015

I kinda think the "difference" between KG and KH, was really just the different audiences being addressed, Jew or Gentile. (But, what do I know?)

Speaking to the rich young ruler, Christ uses “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” interchangeably. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 19:23). In the very next verse, Christ proclaims, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (verse 24). Jesus makes no distinction between the two terms but seems to consider them synonymous.

Willie-T · Aug 21, 2015

I have even heard that the translators often just swapped usages.... sometimes one way, and sometimes the other. Maybe they flipped a coin? Or maybe one group might have lost a bet to the other?

dataylor · Aug 21, 2015

Great posts...lots of food for thought.

dcontroversal · Aug 21, 2015

The everlasting gospel according to the angel that flies through the midst of heaven...Fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters....the gospel is encapsulated in numerous truths....

dataylor · Aug 21, 2015

That too...but does it negate Jesus' definition for His gospel???

Willie-T · Aug 21, 2015

I don't think so.

Angela53510 · Aug 21, 2015

dataylor said:

Matthew was a Jew, and he was writing to Jews. They did not use the name of "God", because it was considered blasphemy.

So those 29 times Matthew uses "Kingdom of Heaven" it is a euphemism for the "Kingdom of God."

I guess the question is, how do we as sinners come into the Kingdom of God?

"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [SUP]10 [/SUP]For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." Romans 10:9-10

So, the answer to your final question is that we need to use both. Jesus brought in the Kingdom of God and he died to save us so we might be part of it.

Oh, there is also a "now and not yet" theological quality to the Kingdom of God. You might want to google that! If not, I will explain it.

slave · Aug 21, 2015

It's beautiful isn't it? The kingdom of God! So beautiful we could even look at it in comparison to the pot of Gold at the end of the rainbow. But what is the value of the Gold, what is the value of Gold to you? The ability to rule planets? Or the love and acceptance of a relationship with God Himself? Jesus came to be a real answer to our needs not found in poetry, but found in the grind of a cross thru a man/God.. The poetry is on the way, but the emphasis of scripture is of practical conclusions, not mystic hopes.

Seeing the finger pointing to heaven is poetry, beautiful but impractical. If the beauty is the gain, wouldn't then the practical question be how do we get to it? Wouldn't a world that knows not this answer put that question above the issue of the value of the gold? If sin has us over the cliff isn't it more important that we figure out the WAY out of threat of the cliff-first, then when we are pulled out of that mess, isn't it more important to find out how to get from this saved position to the position of obtaining the gold promised?

Why would God and Jesus suddenly be daft in nor understanding the logic of this practical step of emphasis over stopping on the corner in our walk and saying , "Look now unto Heaven...focus on nothing else as a theme of importance over this!" Someone thinks of the practical need to know more before getting to heaven and begins to utter out a question, while Jesus, hushes him and says, "I know what you are about to ask but simply look at heaven longer for this is my Words emphasis now...!" Sorry a bit off don't you think? See Jesus does know my questions and heart and He knows I actually want it, that Gold, that relationship, that victory, !!! To touch it, to feel it, to know it, to experience it in real-time. So all of this makes for an easy emphasis of Scripture for me what[ or in this case, who] is the way out of the mess from getting to gold[ by now you know I mean my relationship open to the Father, as to compare it to gold] and what/who is the way to it?

"Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. no one get's the gold [Or actually, comes to the Father]...except thru Me. If you really know Me you will know of the value of the gold, {or in actuality: you will know my Father as well]. From now on [Sounds like an emphasis]...you know Him and have seen Him." [John 14: 5-7; emphasis added] .

Then Jesus said to His disciples, whoever wants to be my disciples must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Matt. 16:24; Luke 9:23 goes on to add ,"....daily...."

If the gold [or heaven] is the theme wouldn't the first theme really be while we live on this planet Jesus Christ first? Logically? Regardless of the isolated Scriptures picked out to suggest otherwise? Be careful of being clever. Our life will be variable unto death, unless our resolve to faithfulness in Christ is stone solid. Satan won't stop fighting however regardless of your personal resolve and procurement of Heaven in you even here, now. The focus will always be in a man/God in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord! And the cross!!! We are not to go thru phases of truth unto Him, we are to sit in Him to have the all of heaven found in us right here right now. But eventually the hope we have is seen down the road unto the glory of our changed bodies and communion with our Father unto eternity without Satan's influence .. Oh what a glorious day that will be!!!, but our current emphasis is focusing on the walking to get there for now!-- Hence Scriptures emphasis!

Willie-T · Aug 21, 2015

Angela53510 said:

Matthew was a Jew, and he was writing to Jews. They did not use the name of "God", because it was considered blasphemy.

So those 29 times Matthew uses "Kingdom of Heaven" it is a euphemism for the "Kingdom of God."

I guess the question is, how do we as sinners come into the Kingdom of God?

"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [SUP]10 [/SUP]For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." Romans 10:9-10

So, the answer to your final question is that we need to use both. Jesus brought in the Kingdom of God and he died to save us so we might be part of it.

Oh, there is also a "now and not yet" theological quality to the Kingdom of God. You might want to google that! If not, I will explain it.

Watch it! You're drifting into Vineyard Territory with that "now and not yet" kingdom idea...... and VW might lower the boom on you like he did me. LOL

Karraster · Aug 21, 2015

Psalms 116:13 (KJV) I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of Yahweh.

slave · Aug 21, 2015

If God knows the Gospel is a gift to our poverty and not a triumph to our resources, why would He show off His cool house while we are clamoring to maintain a grip on the cliffs edge of sin waiting for a picture of His cool house? While we live a period of 100 years now [ish]...then seeing how cool His house was and is, simply falling off the cliff as death reaps it's eternal abyss. Well, but then again we can always remember what we never will get... thats comforting at least--NOT! It reminds me of the 70's when people would wax their car every weekend and open all the windows and blast 800 watts of pure funk out the windows in order for people to glory in the beauty of their gold sort of speak. This thought is so wrong.....smile sorry. God doesn't wear Gold chains around His neck I bet. His love focus is not the shiny anything it is His Son straight up! And oh how He shines!

crossnote · Aug 22, 2015

The Gospel of the Kingdom was announced at that time because the good news that the King was amongst them. They rejected their King and crucified Him so that Gospel is put off until the two witnesses and the 144,000.
Today in the Church age we have this clear Gospel of grace not to be confused with the Gospel of the Kingdom...

Now I'm making known to you, brothers, the gospel that I proclaimed to you, which you accepted, on which you have taken your stand, and by which you are also being saved if you hold firmly to the message I proclaimed to you—unless, of course, your faith was worthless. For I passed on to you the most important points that I received: The Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures, he was buried, he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures—and is still alive!—
(1Co 15:1-4)

To try and mix those two gospels leads to much confusion.

MikkoAinasoja · Aug 22, 2015

Our Lord Yeshua has shown the way of righteousness for us to follow.

There are different's parts in his body, and some preach the word, and some serve him in different way,s but we all should share the same values, and love.

Magenta · Aug 22, 2015

.
Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

"Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."

John 12:23-28

valiant · Aug 22, 2015

dataylor said:

Jesus came proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingly Rule of God (Heaven). It was the Good News that men could personally and permanently come under God's Rule. It is the same as truly confessing Jesus as Lord, and thus being saved (Rom 10.9).

As had already been emphasised by John the Baptist, to come under God's Kingly Rule required repentance and faith. The difference between the Gospel of the Kingly Rule of God which Jesus taught and the post-pentecost message of the Kingly Rule of God is of course the cross and resurrection. But no man finds salvation without coming under the Kingly Rule of God which continued to be proclaimed throughout Acts and the Epistles. Indeed in one sense salvation is to come under His Kingly Rule, as a consequence of being born from above.

valiant · Aug 22, 2015

crossnote said:

This is Scofieldism not Scriptural truth. We still proclaim the Good News of the Kingly Rule of God today (Acts 28.32), and men are daily coming under His Kingly Rule. The prayer 'may your Kingly Rule come' is not a pious wish for some long distant future but a pray that in our own day His Kingly Rule may come about in more and more people so that His Rule is established and His will is done on earth as it is in Heaven. Whilst some of the Jews rejected Jesus Christ's kingship, large numbers responded to Him as king. And as Peter pointed out His Davidic throne was established in Heaven at the resurrection (Acts 2.30, 36).

The Gospel of the Kingly Rule of God IS the Gospel of salvation. There can be no other Gospel.

What was the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

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