Most people have heard the anecdote about the blind men describing an elephant. One feels its tail and says it is like a rope, another feels the leg and says it is like a tree. A third feels its side and says it is like a leather wall, and so on.
A diamond is similar. We can focus on one facet, but each facet is not the entire diamond. Today’s verse, to me is like one part of a bigger thing, one facet of a glorious diamond. It is from 1 John 1 and says, “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”
The “gospel” is mentioned throughout the New Testament. It is to be preached, believed, and kept true and uncorrupted. Yet my quick study didn’t produce a clear definition.
In Mark 1, “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.’”
In chapter 16, some description is added: “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
Romans 1 adds more: “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before . . . concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. . . .”
In that same chapter the gospel is said to be “the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes . . . for in it the righteousness of God is revealed.” Chapter 10 calls it “the gospel of peace . . . glad tidings of good things.”
1 Corinthians 15 says the gospel is the good news that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 2 Corinthians calls it “the gospel of the glory of Christ.”
Ephesians calls it the “gospel of your salvation” and says through it we “partake of God’s promises in Christ.” Ephesians also calls the gospel “a mystery” and something revealed to those who believe but hidden from those who do not.
Another place says, “God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The last word is in Revelation 14: “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’”
From this quick overview, I conclude that the Gospel (literally “good news”) can be defined this way: Christ, who is God in the flesh, came to earth, died for our sins, was buried, rose again the third day, was seen by hundreds, ascended to heaven and lives forever to intercede for us. However, I can also so how the Gospel might come to us in pieces, like bits of good news that God reveals to any person in need.
For example, the good news to those in deep despair may be that God really does exist and loves them. The good news to those deeply convicted of sin is that He is their Savior and He forgives. For those overwhelmed by antagonism and rejection, it might be “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
And for those in darkness and want out, or for those who say they are enlightened but are living in sin, the gospel message is that “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”
Good news is entrusted to me, but not as a ‘canned’ message nor as “pat” answers. Instead, I need the wisdom and insight of the Holy Spirit to know which facet of this diamond will shine His light into each person’s heart.
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