THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST

An article I read recently claimed that the gospel should be known as the “gospel of the kingdom”, for “Jesus is not the gospel” but rather one who “will stand directly alongside the true gospel and will rule the entire earth when He returns and establishes His kingdom.” The gospel of Christ is simply Christ’s message about the kingdom of God. Christ functioned plainly as a messenger, representative and spokesman for the coming kingdom of God.

To support his claims, the author (David C. Pack) argues the gospel is found over 100 times in the Bible, sometimes alone, and sometimes “of the kingdom” follows it. Other times it includes “of the kingdom of God” or the equivalent phrase “of the kingdom of heaven.”

David C. Pack further claims that the Apostles preached the same gospel message concerning the kingdom of God:

“And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.” (Acts 19:8)

“And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.” (Acts 20:25)

“For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:11)

“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” (James 2:5)

The author then sounds a warning against preaching a false gospel. “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8) This true gospel is none other than the gospel of the kingdom, as preached by David C. Pack and the Restored Church of God. To do otherwise is to be accursed!

What is the Gospel?

The term “gospel” is the Greek euanggelion where we get English word “evangel” or “evangelise”. It literally means “good news”. The content of the gospel is most clearly summarised for us in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

From these verses we see clearly that the central theme of the gospel is Christ and His Work. It involves Christ’s death on the cross for our sins, His burial, and also His resurrection on the third day. These are not a figment of man’s imagination, but the truth of the Holy Scriptures.

That Christ was the central message of the Apostle’s and disciples’ preaching is clearly seen in these verses.

“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” (Acts 5:42)

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect . . . But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;” (1 Corinthians 1:17, 23)

“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” (2 Corinthians 4:5)

“And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.” (Acts 17:2-3)

In the verses above, Christ is seen explicitly as the subject of the preaching. To thus say that the gospel concerns mainly the kingdom of God and not Christ runs contrary to the teaching of the Scriptures.

Moreover, consider the testimony of Romans 1:16. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” The gospel here is said to be the power of God that saves. How then is one saved? Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10) The message then is one of Jesus’ salvific work, which Paul says in verse 8 is the “word of faith which we preach”.

What is the Gospel of Christ?

Now David C. Pack claims that the term “gospel” is “sometimes” seen alongside the term “of the kingdom” or “of the kingdom of God”. What he does not state is how often it occurs. A survey of the Scripture reveals that the expression “the gospel of the kingdom” occurs a total of 3 times in the Scriptures (Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 24:14). Meanwhile, the expression “the gospel of the kingdom of God” occurs only once in Mark 1:14.

On the other hand, the expression “gospel of Christ” occurs 11 times in the Holy Scriptures. One example is Romans 1:16 which was quoted earlier. Others include the following:

“Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” (Romans 15:19)

“And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.” (Romans 15:29)

“If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 9:12)

“What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:18)

“For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:” (2 Corinthians 10:14)

“Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” (Galatians 1:7)

David C. Pack insists that the term gospel of Christ simply means that Christ is the messenger of the gospel. However, as seen earlier, Christ is not only the messenger of the gospel but also the whole theme and person of the gospel itself. The expression “the gospel of Christ” thus signifies the following:

  1. Christ is the both the author and the one who reveals the gospel. Paul says in Galatians 1:11-12, “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” That Christ is the author and the gospel itself is seen in John 1:1, where it is written, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
  1. Christ is the message and subject of the gospel. “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:17-24)

From the above, we see that Christ is called the power of God in verse 24. On the other hand, the gospel is called the power of God in Romans 1:16. Surely this points to the fact that Christ indeed is the central theme and thrust of the gospel. To deny this is to deny the very gospel itself!

Conclusion

The Scriptures unequivocally declares Christ to be the gospel. Christ is not just the messenger of the Gospel, but is the Saviour of the World as proclaimed in the gospel itself. As believers, we are commanded to preach Christ and His Work on the Cross. It is by the preaching of the cross that sinners may be saved. It is because the gospel is the gospel of Christ that we can sing this children song:

Good News! Good News! Christ died for me;
Good News! Good News! If I believe;
Good News! Good News! I’m saved eternally,
That’s wonderful extra Good News!

Let us continue to be a people that will labour continually for the gospel of Christ! Amen.

Pr Clement Chew