Dear friends,
The brother was extremely caustic and sarcastic in his criticism of me. “The Gospel is only five words, Marc: Jesus died for your sins!” And according to his rollover methodology based on stonewalling, that was the end of the discussion.
As a matter of fact, he has not spoken to me in all the years that have followed, much to the chagrin of our Father. He dismissed me that day like many a disinterested shopper does a checkout clerk at Wal-Mart here in America.
So much for Ephesians 4 and preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. So what inflamed this man so much?
We has spoken many times in the past. We had confided in each other. We had attended Christian conferences together where we both were speakers. I had surmised our bond was deep and lasting. Silly me that I would believe and obey the Scriptures to go and sin no more.
Why Did This Brother Attack?
There were a couple things at play it seems. One, we had published a major piece on the idolatry of sports, and the huge waste it was in God’s kingdom. This had stuck in his craw since, in my opinion, he was addicted to sports and was under conviction.
Second, I had eagerly testified to him what the Holy Spirit was showing me in His Word and throughout history of the breadth and depth of the gospel proclamation.
Obviously, he wasn’t buying it. Not one bit.
You think he would have at least loved me enough with the grace of Jesus to listen and maybe even learn something. I later came to find out this harsh dismissal was his modus operandi with those he couldn’t control.
Thus his five word summation of the gospel.
Now, many in the west reduce much of life to a ridiculous absurdum. Even in a modern text message, I myself have gone to a single letter “K” when replying to say “OK.”
But is the gospel just a two word description meaning “good news?” Indeed, the real, true, and whole gospel is good news! But does this good news entail a description much more detailed than most give credit to in order to represent the heart of the Living God?
Just Believe? 
Another example of shallow western terminology is the Biblical word “believe.” As “believe” in Jesus Christ. The “for God so loved the world” passage in John 3.16 says to “believe.” But the original intent of the apostles meant that believing was a continuing full trust always accompanied by absolute and complete obedience.
We rarely, if ever, see John the baptizer’s admonition in John 3.36, just twenty verses later. Very dicey doctrine, indeed.
John 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Well, I was called up short again on the same topic years later by an energetic young man who was on the fast track to be the head buffalo “pastor” of a new institutional church plant. Even after I proclaimed to him much earlier the truth that a pastor is a gift, not an office, and the simple home church is the only model God ordains in the New Covenant record, he plowed ahead unfazed it appeared with his goal of “leading” the church.
The origin of his attempted admonition of me was the fact I was telling him of our extensive work at Walk Worthy on exposing the American gospel in contrast to the real gospel. As I listened carefully, he explained matter-of-factly that the gospel was “simple,” and then the walk and any obedience came later. Thus, he split the gospel and life of Christ into two arenas.
I was not convinced in the least for I has already done extensive work in this area. But in deference to him that maybe I was wrong, I told him I would seek God. Of course, I never heard again from him too since all our meetings were at my arrangement. And in my prophetic calling, I had pleaded with him earlier to come out and live a simple life with his Lord. He disappeared into the bowels of the insidious institutional church system. What a waste, I pondered.
Now, in the Holy Spirit-filled art of biblical interpretation, hermeneutics, we can discern several rules that will allow us wisdom into the heart of God and His Gospel.
In humility, we must remember the Holy Bible is an ancient Mideast document written thousands of years ago by dozens of authors. We must know that the eternal purpose of God is the population, maturation, and completion of His kingdom with His King, His Son.
Also, the Word is a high context work meaning it is brief in nature compared to the expansive let’s-tell-all ways of the modern west. We must remember to always seek the specific, clear, consistent, and in context, only then the general, isolated, and sporadic.
This is not an attempt to be a do-all-to-end-all work on the gospel, but to show that the gospel is not as “simple” in the least as has been declared by most in the western church. It certainly is not only five words! You may see all the NT passages with the word gospel here, for they number over seventy!
So, What Is The Gospel?
First, it is the gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 4.23, 9.35). It follows that details about that kingdom would be contained in the gospel message since that is the eternal purpose of God.
Furthermore, the gospel has a “beginning” (Mark 1.1), so it has a middle and end. And it is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, at least according to the Mark. We must “stand” in this gospel, so there is an after-the-fact component to it (1 Cor. 15.1) that we must follow and even obey. If we do not hold fast the message, we “believe” in vain, and end up in the lake of fire.
Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
The apostle Paul states to the saved Roman Christians he wanted to preach the gospel!
Romans 1:15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
An angel proclaimed this truth of a “whole” life message to the newly freed apostles imprisoned for preaching the gospel.
Acts 5:20 “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.”
So, we can see the gospel has some measure of expanse in its content! Our brother the apostle Paul stated as much when he kept declaring “according to my gospel.” Let us not forget he received this gospel in the heavenlies from Christ Himself.
In Romans, Paul declares in his gospel that God will judge the secrets of men through Jesus Christ (Rom. 2.16.). In the same book, he mentions that God will “establish” us (Rom. 16.25). This certainly means the gospel has as its intent much more than a simple declaration, but the meat of life itself.
In Timothy, Paul proclaims a main theme “according to my gospel” in that Christ rose from the dead (2 Tim. 2.8). Hallelujah!
It Must Be Obeyed 
Moreover, we must obey the gospel or be destroyed as its opponents, so it is propositional. This means there is a requirement to satisfy, and rules to follow according to Christ to inherit His kingdom. Let us look closely at these vital passages.
1 Peter 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Philippians 1:27-28 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.
To obey the gospel it follows then we obey Jesus Christ and His commands. The Scriptures confirm this natural projection.
1 Peter 1:2 …according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.
Now then, what are the gospel commands we need to obey to escape this end times fury of our Lord? It’s the whole kingdom gospel. It can be no other in the context of what we have displayed here.
So, the next time some well-meaning or even arrogant irreconcilable stonewalling Christian tries to pigeon hole you in the simple or even five word “gospel,” quickly point them in the direction of the Word of God.
And ask them why we need to obey the gospel in order to be saved from the eternal destruction that befalls those who are disobedient to it. Be sure to follow up with the inquiry of what are the gospel commands we need to obey!
The Gospel Is Tied to Many Truths
The gospel, by the way, is a powerful doctrine with many other elements of the kingdom attached. It is to be proclaimed and solemnly testified, never shared (Matt. 4.23; Acts 20.24). It involves repentance (Mark 1.15). It is a testimony preached to the whole world (Matt 24.14). It can be a calling to preach it (Acts 16.10; Romans 1.1). It needs to be fully preached (Romans 15.19). It is to provide a living for those who preach it (1 Cor. 9.14; Phil. 1.5). It can end up being a different gospel if not careful (2 Cor. 11.4; Galatians 1.6-8; Galatians 2.14). It must be defended (Phil. 1.7). It is the word of truth (Col. 1.5). It can come in power (1 Thess. 1.5). It is eternal (Rev. 14.6).
The gospel is not a sentence, or a pithy phrase it appears. So, what is the Gospel then?
The holiness. The obedience. The love. The power. The word. The service. The sacrifice. The peace. The prayer. The persecution. The joy.
Of His glorious eternal kingdom.
The gospel, in sh
ort and in our opinion, is the Life of Jesus Christ! In Him are hidden all the treasures of power and wisdom (1 Cor. 1.24).
He is our Life (Col. 3.4.)
He is the Gospel.
And that, beloved, is the Good News!
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,
Marc
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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!
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Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Marc White, Director, Walk Worthy Ministries, www.WalkWorthy.org
