There are numerous churches in the world, and they each claim to preach the gospel of Christ. However, when you ask them what the gospel is, they cannot give a definite answer. How can they claim to preach the gospel without knowing exactly what it is? If one claims to believe and follow Jesus as the Savior, he must know why the gospel of Jesus Christ is important and what it is in detail.
Importance of the Gospel
Jesus is God in the flesh. God Almighty could send an angel or a prophet if He wanted to, but instead, He Himself came to the earth and preached the gospel. From this point of view, we can easily understand how precious and important the gospel is. If we look at the blessings contained in the gospel of the Kingdom, which Jesus preached, its importance becomes even clearer.
In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Eph 3:4–6
It is written that even the Gentiles who do not know God can become heirs, members of one body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. God’s promise is eternal life (1 Jn 2:25). Anyone who understands and keeps the gospel will become a member of the body of Christ and an heir to the Kingdom of Heaven, and will receive eternal life. On the other hand, no one can receive eternal life or inherit the Kingdom of Heaven except through the gospel. The gospel is a blessed and important message that contains the great blessings of eternal life and the Kingdom of Heaven.
What Is the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
The gospel literally means good news. Broadly speaking, we can say that the content of the Old Testament is also the gospel as it was recorded to bless God’s people. However, it is written that the gospel in the New Testament begins from the moment Jesus got baptized by John (Lk 16:16; Mk 1:1; Mt 4:17). It is also written that the gospel of the Kingdom which began from that moment does not end with Jesus crucified on the cross, but continues on until the end of the world.
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Mt 24:14
What specifically was the gospel that Jesus preached?
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Mk 16:15
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you . . .” Mt 28:19–20
After Jesus was resurrected, He commanded His disciples to “preach the gospel to people of all nations.” Matthew recorded these words of Jesus as “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” In other words, the gospel is all that Jesus taught and commanded. It is important to study in detail what examples Jesus set for three years, and follow in His footsteps.
Jesus got baptized (Lk 3:21), kept the Sabbath on the seventh day according to His custom (Lk 4:16), went up to the temple to preach at the Feast of Tabernacles (Jn 7:2, 37–39), and established the Passover of the New Covenant (Mt 26:17–28; Lk 22:15–20). In this way, the Feasts of God, which Jesus Himself kept, became an indispensable part of the gospel of the Kingdom. Jesus confirmed that everything that He did is guidance for the salvation of humankind, saying, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (Jn 13:15).
The Core of the Gospel Is the Passover of the New Covenant
We can say that the gospel of the Kingdom is the New Covenant itself.
This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. Col 1:23
He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant . . . 2 Co 3:6
Apostle Paul, who wrote the books of Colossians and 2 Corinthians, said that he was a minister of the gospel and a worker of the New Covenant. This means that the gospel is the New Covenant.
The core truth of the gospel of the New Covenant is the Passover. Jesus established the New Covenant, keeping His last Passover with His disciples.
When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer . . .” . . . And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Lk 22:14–15; 19–20
The Passover of the New Covenant contains all the blessings of the gospel, recorded in Ephesians 3. Just as those who inherit the blood of their parents become children, those who inherit the flesh and blood of God through the New Covenant Passover become children of God, God’s heirs (Ro 8:16–17). And those who keep the New Covenant Passover become one in Christ (1 Co 10:16). In other words, they become parts of the body of Christ. Jesus also said that those who eat His flesh and drink His blood have eternal life (Jn 6:53–54). Therefore, those who keep the Passover of the New Covenant will receive eternal life.
In this way, all kinds of blessings contained in the gospel are given through the Passover of the New Covenant. The apostles who devoted themselves as gospel workers by following Jesus’ command also preached the Passover, the core truth of the gospel, and emphasized that we must keep it (1 Co 11:23–26). He also taught that if we do not obey the gospel of Christ or follow other gospels, we will be punished and cursed (2 Th 1:7–9; Gal 1:6–9). Therefore, if a church claims to follow the early Church which preached the gospel of Christ, it must keep the truth of the New Covenant along with the Passover that Jesus Himself taught, instead of following other gospels.
