"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people..."-Revelation 14:6
Recently I was graced with the opportunity to have a dear friend of mine accompany me on one of my Bible studies that happened to be with a friend of His. The topic of discussion was the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Well, I don't know exactly how much the person I was studying with got from the study to be honest; but John (the man who accompanied me) really got a lot out of it! in fact, when we met for our weekly Bible study together yesterday, he showed me what he has been working on. John went and found every place in the New Testament where the word "Gospel" is found and typed them all up with a little Bible study of his own.
Having read this Bible study the Holy Spirit lead me down an interesting trail of thought, an idea to do a Bible study on the Gospel. I will not go to every place where the word Gospel is used, but I will cover many of them and I pray that by the end of this study we will learn what it means to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What is the Gospel?
"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to ever one that believeth; to the Jew first them to the Greek."Romans 1:16
- The Gospel is the Power of God according to the plain statement of Scripture, but what power of God does it refer too? God is all powerful, to what specifically does the Gospel pertain?
Interesting, so the Cross of Calvary is a revelation of the power of God, the power of god as it were, to take a sinner who manifests the work of the flesh Gala 5:19,20 and change the chief of sinners so that they can manifest the work of the Spirit Gala 5:21. The Gospel is the Five Solas; the Gospel is the Truth of God's Word and is the very standard of God's Word.
In Revelation 14:6-12 the Gospel is revealed in an earthshaking way!
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, '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 fountain of waters.' And there followed another angel, saying, 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all the nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.' And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, 'If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without measure into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.' Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus."This is the Gospel which God's people are commissioned to send out to the world, in it is contained every foundational truth. Anyway that is a different study all together for another time. Lets take a little look at the study that John gave me, with added notes and commentary to build on.
"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people."-Matt 4:23
See also Matt 9:35
Jesus here teaches us a principle, one He teaches us about missionary work, Jesus was a medical missionary. He brought healing to the body and taught healing to the soul, and He expects us to do the same. (Matt 10:8)
It is also interesting to note that Matt 9:35 is worded almost the exact same as 4:23, Jesus' mission in preaching the Gospel was always to heal the wounded, bless the poor, share His love, and teach salvation (the Kingdom of Heaven.)
In Mark 1:1, 13-15 we see John the Baptist lay the foundation for the gospel; but also in these verses we see something in addition to what Matthew records, another important piece of information.
"And saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe the gospel.'"In saying this Jesus reveals the importance of repentance, true repentance which is not only being sorry for your sins but learning to detest sin as Jesus does. When we repent and ask God to make us detest sin He is faithful to do this, as Jesus said in John 14:15 "If you love Me keep My commandments." and in 15:10, "If ye love Me keep My commandments and ye shall abide in My love even as I have kept My Father's commandments and I abide in His love."
John the Baptist, and Jesus Christ both taught repentance. They taught that salvation is in no other name but that of our Lord and Saviour Jesus. This salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. Which will produce the works of the spirit.
"Then Peter began to say unto Him, 'Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.' 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 of for the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundredforld 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."-Mark 10:28-30
Here Peter is concerned because John the Baptist was slain, and he comes to Jesus with the question of what will come of those mend of faith who have given all for the gospel. Jesus answers beautifully that we may have to make a sacrifice of that which is seen; But this is to receive that which is not seen, which we can receive by Faith. (Heb 11:1)
"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."-Mark 16:15
This forms a part of what is called the great commission to preach the gospel of Christ. (See Matt 28:19) The gospel to be preached ti the world is found in Revelation 14:6-12! The final warning to all the earth of that glorious day of the soon coming Saviour.
"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."-Luke 4:18
Reading from the book of Isaiah Jesus reveals to the Jews in the synagogue what His mission as the Messiah is.
"Then Jesus answering said unto them, 'Go your way , and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached, and blessed is he that is not offended because of Me."-Luke 7:22,23
Jesus tells the apostles of John the Baptist to relate to their teacher the Truth that Jesus is the Messiah, and what they witnessed that helps to, along with scripture, display that fact. he also said "Blessed are they that are not offended because of Me." In Mark 1:22 it says that all were "Astonished by His doctrine" because He spoke with authority. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh (John 1:1,14) if we are offended by the pure doctrine of God's Word than we are displaying the spirit of the Antichrist and not the true worship of God most High, Jesus Christ.
Brethren, I pray that this study is a blessing to you and that the Holy Ghost makes His will plain. I pray that all will hear the true gospel of Christ, may many come out of Babylon before the doors of probation have closed.
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