ello All,
(Just a general disclaimer that I must insert here at the beginning. I am but a lay person, like most of you. And these weekly “thoughts” are but my own. Not the definitive word on this or any topic. Just my own conclusions derived from my own study and faith in God. The greatest hope I have for these weekly “thoughts” is to have them be a springboard for further study on your part. Not to be a weekly treatise to be blindly accepted. So, please read them with this intent, this motive in mind).
This week’s lesson from “The Adult Sabbath School Guide” is titled “The Everlasting Gospel”. I have chosen a previous “thought” for this week. I hope it is a springboard for your own thoughts and investigation.
As we study once again the end-time “3 Angels” messages, we are compelled to address the very first unspoken question. A question we must answer before we proclaim… anything. That question? Just what is the Everlasting Gospel? We often jump over this question, assured that we know what it is. But do we? It is imperative that we know, else we may be proclaiming an erroneous gospel. Or worse. A “gospel” that is straight from Satan’s perversion to our lips. Paul tells us that “Yet I say that if I, or an angel from Heaven, were to preach to you any other Gospel than the one you have heard, may he be damned! You have heard me say it before and now I put it down in black and white—may anybody who preaches any other Gospel than the one you have already heard be a damned soul!” (Galatians 1: 8-9 Phillips). Strong language! Yikes! We must be sure we know the “gospel” we are proclaiming. No assumption will do. So, let’s look at the “gospel” Paul proclaims.
Throughout the New Testament, the gospel is referenced at various times and in various ways. Each of these references gives us clues to its meaning because the exact meaning of the gospel is only specifically defined in a couple places. So we will look first at the texts that reference the gospel and then the verses that state the gospel explicitly. Each verse cited gives substance to the meaning.
· The gospel is linked with healing:
o Matthew 4:23…” And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people”.
o Matthew 9:35… “Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people”.
o Luke 9:6… “So, they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere”.
Healing is the true definition of “salvation”. When Christ healed, He was living-out the true meaning of salvation… demonstrating “salvation”. Christ’s words and life hint nothing of “payment of penalty” nor of reparation for past sins (an explanation often cited as the “gospel”). The “gospel” has to do with God. Healing the damage sin has done is the result of who God is.
· The gospel is linked to Mary’s sacrificial gift of love:
o Matthew 26:13… “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her”.
o Mark 14:9… “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her”.
Mary’s anointing of Christ at Simon’s feast is a mirror of God’s love, poured-out for mankind (the gospel). Mary’s gift is a perfect image of God’s gift. God’s gift is regarded by so few. But if regarded, it causes a heart-change in the penitent. Mary’s response to God’s love demonstrates what the “gospel” can do for mankind. It changes us… heals us… leads us to love Him in return. Mary’s gift is the response to the gospel.
· The gospel is linked to the cross… which is the power of God:
o 1 Corinthians 1:17-18… “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”.
o 1 Corinthians 1: 24-25… “But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men”.
o Romans 1:16… “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek”.
Self-sacrificing love (the gospel) is the power of God… seen fully at the cross. And it is this love that has the power to change mankind… to heal mankind.
· Lastly, here are the clear texts that explicitly state the gospel:
o 2 Corinthians 4: 3-6… “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”.
This shows us that the “gospel of the glory of Christ” is “the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ”. The gospel is not so much about mankind’s salvation but about our God. The “good news” is not so much about me as it is about our God. The “good news” is that God is just like Jesus. That Christ on the cross shows us the Father. The way the Godhead really is. And it is this “good news” that sets us right (justification) and keeps us right (sanctification). It is this “good news” that clears-up the lies about our God and reveals to us the open door. The open door to come home.
o Ephesians 3:1-6… “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel”.
The “good news” about God, is that the door is open to all. This is the objective gospel. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19). The subjective gospel is our reciprocal response-of-love to God. Choosing Him as He has chosen us.
o Galatians 3:8… “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed”.
The gospel regrading God’s character shows us that everyone, “all the nations”, is the partaker of the Divine favor. All nations are blessed to see the truth about God. The gospel is not about you and me. The “good news” is about our God. Salvation (our healing) is a result of the gospel. Our salvation is not the gospel. You and I being saved (healed) is secondary to the revealing of the truth about our God. This revealing of the truth about our God is the gospel, the “good news”. All nations are blessed because the truth about God’s character and government has been fully revealed to all mankind through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. And this truth about God is the everlasting truth. Truth that is always so and always has been. No more being afraid of God (but being afraid of the sin that separates us from Him). No more hiding from God (instead, standing naked and transparent before Him so that He can see every evil thing… and heal us). No more being pursued by our past (for it has been long ago forgiven… even before we ask). Christ shows us the heart of the Father, who has done everything to encourage us to come back home to His arms. Come Home to Him… the only place in the universe where there is healing (salvation). And this is the everlasting gospel. The everlasting truth about our Father and His character. And the three angel’s messages are about this everlasting truth of God’s love. If we portray the three angel’s messages in any other way than His everlasting love, we are misrepresenting the Father. God forbid!
With brotherly love, Jim