When Paul defined the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus as "gospel" I don't think he meant that was all there is to it. But some had rejected the hope of bodily resurrection, so Paul's corrective is that a denial of resurrection rips the very heart out of the gospel (1 Cor. 15). There is no gospel without the atoning sacrifice of Christ for our sins and his resurrection which makes him the firstfruits of those who will follow (1 Cor. 15:23). Without forgiveness of sin, reconciliation to God, and the hope of eternal life, there is no gospel.
For these truths to be routinely neglected by the preacher means that he is not preaching the gospel. These tenets were the staples of apostolic preaching (Acts 2 & Acts 13). Denial of these basic tenets removes the hope of life in the eternal kingdom which is delivered up to God at the end (1 Cor. 15:24)
So it's possible to define "gospel" too broadly as if everything counts as gospel so long as the preacher mentions God and quotes some Scripture. But it is the cross and the empty tomb that keeps us anchored in the center of the gospel.
While "gospel" can be defined too broadly, it can also be defined too narrowly. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is not the extent of the gospel as if the only real gospel sermons are expositions of the Passion narratives.
While the Passion narratives take up a significant portion of all four Gospels, revealing the heart of "the gospel," the entire message of these books consists of "gospel." Mark begins his account, "The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (Mark 1:1). Along with his death and resurrection, Jesus' life and teachings are also gospel. To preach from the Gospels is to preach the "gospel."
Jesus' ministry is "gospel," for his coming powerfully brought the kingdom of heaven to bear on earth. His miracles demonstrated that the kingdom was advancing upon earth (Matt. 12:28). By doing good, Jesus granted a foretaste of a future life when the kingdom is fully consummated. In that day, all tears will be wiped away and there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away (Rev. 21:4).
Jesus wiped away tears and reversed death. Just prior to rasing a widow's only son from the dead, Jesus said to her, "Don't cry." (Luke 7:13-14). Jesus reversed death and mourning, restoring life and wholeness. He touched a leper and made him clean (Mark 1:40-45). Jesus healed a woman who had been disabled for 18 years (Luke 13:10-17). These are all evidences of God's kingdom being brought to bear upon earth.
When God's kingdom is the only rule left, when "the kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ," the traits of a fallen world will be reversed as creation is redeemed (Rev. 11:15; Rom. 8:19-21). The effects of sin will be reversed as the barren wilderness of thorns and thistles is restored to the garden of God where the tree of life forever stands (Gen. 3:18; Rev. 2:7; 22:2). The enmity existing within creation will give way to harmony (Gen. 3:15; 9:2; Isa. 11:6-9). The curse will give way to blessing in the kingdom.
Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom (Luke 8:1; Mark 1:14-15). But he did more than just preach about the realm of God's future rule. Jesus brought the kingdom to bear on earth in the here-and-now. To pray that God's kingdom come is to pray that his will would be done on earth as it is heaven (Matt. 6:10). So if we are to pray that the kingdom be brought to bear on earth, then we are certainly to partner with Jesus in bringing the kingdom to bear on earth. We put our prayer into action as the kingdom advances through our efforts as the body of Christ in this physical world.
So what kind of kingdom did Christ proclaim and how does it advance through our service ?
More later.
I think Jesus proclaimed an earthly and heavenly kingdom. "Thy kingdom come, on earth, as it is in heaven." I think we advance the kingdom through serving the poor, sick, hurting, outcasts. I think Jesus gospel and ministry was very "Social", or here and now, not just getting from here to there. When we believe that gospel is just the death, barrial and resurrection we miss that Kingdom on earth part of the good news. We should do our part to make the world a better place. When people see the Kingdom in practice on earth I think that is an incredible way to reach the lost. Actions go along way with people.
Posted by: preacherman | October 12, 2011 at 05:28 PM
Thank you, Preacherman. And what you said about kingdom service and the social dimension of the kingdom will be the subject of my next post.
Posted by: Wade Tannehill | October 13, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Can't wait.
Posted by: preacherman | October 14, 2011 at 07:49 AM