I had started another thread earlier and evidently there's not been too much of exposure to the two gospel Theory that seems to be taken hold in several Christian Ministries. But I came across a post where someone was declaring that the gospel is this or that. And so I have a question for the members here do you know what the gospel is? Do you understand what exactly salvation is?
The Gospel of the kingdom of God.
Before Jesus came on the seen, there were gospels of kingdoms that were being announced, as this was the way one kingdom would overthrow another kingdom.
They didn’t have elections in those days it was the strongest kingdom that would overthrow a weaker kingdom by way of their “gospel”.
Say if the king of Babylon wanted to enlarge his kingdom he would send out his army to the capital city of the kingdom he wanted to overthrow.
His army would surround the capital city where the king was and cut off any support of food, or reinforcements.
This was called a siege. It was designed to weaken the troops in the capital city.
Then after about a month the commander of the army would ride out and meet ambassadors from the king of the city that was to be conquered.
Here is where the “gospel” was to be announced.
Example:
The kingdom of Babylon is at hand.
Turn away (repent) from the king you are serving and come and bow the knee to the king of Babylon or you will die.
The “gospel” was basically the terms of unconditional surrender.
The Gospel was about being transferred from one kingdom into another kingdom by “bending the knee” to the conquering king and confessing him as your king or lord.
Many of the troops in those days just chose to fight to the death because ther surrender meant that they would become slaves of the conquering kingdom.
Their daughters would in many cases be raped and sons put to a life of hard labor.
Not good news.
However, the difference with the gospel of the kingdom of God was that God has called us to become His sons, and also joint heirs with Jesus Christ.
That’s why the term Gospel, came to be known as “good news”.
Here is the gospel Jesus Christ sent Paul to preach.
The proverbial road to Damascus experience recounted by Paul.
Words of Christ in red.
So I said, ‘
Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘
I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:15-20
Key verses.
- in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God
- but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God
Repent means turn to God; in submission to Him as LORD.
If a person is called to turn to God, then by default they are called to turn away from Satan as their lord.
The way we obey the Gospel command to repent is by confessing Jesus as LORD.
that if you
confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and
conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, Colossians 1:13
JLB
)
