The Full Gospel Includes Everything Jesus Taught
The Full Gospel of the Kingdom - Part 8
“but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”—1 Corinthians 1:23-24 (NIV)
Jesus’ crucifixion is at the heart of the gospel message, but the full gospel is about more than Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus preached the gospel message long before He ever told His disciples about His upcoming crucifixion.
“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’”—Mark 1:14-15 (NKJV)
Mark tells us in his very first verse that the Gospel message begins before Jesus was even born.
“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God”—Mark 1:1 (KJV)
In fact, the gospel message permeates the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’”—Galatians 3:8 (ESV)
Even the Old Testament prophets prophesied the Gospel message without fully understanding what they were saying. With great desire, they sought to know more about what they themselves were prophesying!
“Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.”—1 Peter 1:10-12 (NIV)
We must not dismiss any part of Scripture as irrelevant. It is true that we have a new covenant because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, but the Old Testament is still relevant and will continue to be relevant as long as heaven and earth exist.
“Don’t even begin to think that I have come to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I haven’t come to do away with them but to fulfill them. I say to you very seriously that as long as heaven and earth exist, neither the smallest letter nor even the smallest stroke of a pen will be erased from the Law until everything there becomes a reality. Therefore, whoever ignores one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called the lowest in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps these commands and teaches people to keep them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”—Matthew 5:17-19 (CEB)
All of Scripture is given to us by God for very good reasons! We need all of Scripture in order to be fully equipped and prepared for the purposes that God has for us to fulfill.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.”—2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)
The Gospel is not just a message to be believed, but it includes the commands of Christ, which are to be obeyed. Jesus didn’t just preach a gospel of salvation. Jesus preached the full gospel of the Kingdom of God which includes all of His commandments and teachings.
“Therefore, as you go, disciple people in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age.”—Matthew 28:19-20 (ISV)
“If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.”—John 14:15 (AMP)
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?”—Luke 6:46 (ICB)
The Gospel gives us God’s standard for what is true and what is false; what is right and what is wrong.
“Now we know [without any doubt] that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully and appropriately, understanding the fact that law is not enacted for the righteous person [the one in right standing with God], but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinful, for the irreverent and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for sexually immoral persons, for homosexuals, for kidnappers and slave traders, for liars, for perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.”—1 Timothy 1:8-11 (AMP)
The Gospel is the most important message given to mankind. Every one of us will ultimately be judged according to how we responded to the Gospel message.
“. . . when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in blazing fire. He will take revenge on those who do not know God and on those who refuse to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Such people will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction by being separated from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious power when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be regarded with wonder on that day by all who have believed—including you, because you believed our testimony.”—2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 (ISV)
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