Εὐαγγέλιον is the Greek word for Gospel in the New Testament. It is a noun. In English letters, it is spelled: euaggelion. In phonetic letters, it is spelled: yoo-ang-ghel’-ee-on.
Εὐαγγέλιον is the message that Jesus is Messiah. He suffered death on the cross to obtain eternal salvation for people. He arose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of God in heaven. He will return from heaven in majesty to bring those who believe in Him into the kingdom of God. The Gospel is the glad tidings of salvation through Christ. It is the grace of God revealed and promised to believers in Jesus Christ.
The word “evangelist” comes from the Greek word εὐαγγέλιον. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are also known as four evangelists. The Greek word for angel is contained in the word εὐαγγέλιον. The Lord Jesus said of Himself, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach Good News (from εὐαγγέλιον) to the poor.” [1]
If the Gospel is such good news, why are not more Christians sharing it?
One of the challenges for us believers is that we are up against spiritual powers of darkness in heavenly places. “The god of this age has blinded those who do not believe, lest the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” [2]
We also have a sinful nature. David wrote, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” [3] Until our sins are forgiven by Christ and He transforms our nature, we love to sin. The devil holds us captive to sin.
Martin Luther worked hard to free his conscience from the guilt of sin. He did not want to sin but kept on sinning. He felt that he was under God’s wrath. He had no peace. He hated God for demanding perfection that he could not produce.
God revealed to Luther via the Scriptures that the Gospel is not about us. It is about Christ. The Gospel is about faith. It is about faith in Christ. Faith is not a good work. Faith receives Christ and all that He has done for us. All who receive Christ receive the remission of their sin. God counts the person who believes in Christ as righteous. He justifies the person who believes in Jesus.
When “I” believe in Jesus, it was just-if-I’d never sinned. The sin of the believer in Christ is placed under His blood. He paid the penalty for it. Jesus Christ the Lamb of God took our sin away. Now, we are holy and righteous in His sight.
Some wonder, “If we are saved by grace through faith in Christ, why should we do good works? The answer is that God prepared good works for us to do before the foundation of the earth. [4] The Holy Spirit who comes to dwell in us will not let us be content to do nothing after we have received such wonderful grace from God. The Holy Spirit inspires, empowers, and leads us to do good for God and neighbor.
What kind of tree does an apple seed produce? An apple seed! In the same way an apple seed produces an apple tree, Christians produce Christian fruit when Christ is in our lives. But what does the seed go through before it produces? The seed is buried. It dies. There is a moment in time when God transforms that seed from a dead seed to a living plant. It grows into a seedling and after that into a large apple tree. Finally, it produces hundreds of apples per year, year after year. What a miracle! Who gets the glory for this? God does!
“Heavenly Father, I place the seed of my life into Your hand and ask You to please transform me into a Christ fruit-producing plant for You. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.”
[1] Luke 4:18
[2] 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 6:12
[3] Psalm 51:5
[4] Ephesians 1:4
“The children of the flesh are not the children of God; but the children of the PROMISE are counted as the SEED.” [1] PROMISE in this passage reflects God’s grace. God gave Abraham a PROMISE that through His SEED all nations will be blessed. SEED in this passage refers to Abraham’s descendent Jesus Christ. Abraham did not deserve or earn this PROMISE. God initiated the blessing to Abraham.
“For the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls.” [2] God graced Jacob to be the twin through whom His PROMISED Messiah came. Jacob deceived his father. He stole his twin brother’s birthright. His wily ways caused him much trouble, but God’s grace still brought to pass His PROMISE. Jacob’s descendent, Jesus, is Messiah and Savior of the world.
“So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” [3] The “it” here refers to the election or calling that Jacob received to be included in the Messiah’s family tree. Jesus is the Messiah to whom all Scripture points.
“As He says also in Hosea: ‘I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved.’” [4] There is one way to be in the Father and that is wholly through believing in and embracing the undeserved grace and mercy that He gave to us in His Son Jesus Christ. In Christ, sinners who were once unloved become beloveds of God.
“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.” [5] A dead person cannot resuscitate himself. We were dead to God. Sin held us captive and blind to our lost condition, but God who is rich in mercy because of His love for us made us alive together with Christ.
How marvelous! To embrace a grace-based destiny! The good works that come forth from our lives are because God prepared them for us before we were born. [6] The Lord turns what is meant for evil into good. [7] “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” [8]
Good things come to those who believe in and receive the Promised Messiah Jesus Christ. He is the source of all blessings and the Savior of our soul. Glory to His Name!
[1] Romans 9:8
[2] Romans 9:11
[3] Romans 9:16
[4] Romans 9:25
[5] Ephesians 2:1-2
[6] Ephesians 2:10
[7] Genesis 50:20
[8] Romans 8:28
“At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were loosed.” [1]
Paul rebuked an evil spirit out of a woman. Men were exploiting her for financial gain. Those men stirred up trouble against Paul and his ministry partner Silas, beat them severely and threw them in prison. What a terrible response to a divine miracle! What did Paul and Silas do? They kept on praying and praising God in songs, and the Lord did another miracle. He divinely set them free. [2]
Evil exploiters tried to bind up the Gospel from spreading with prison bars and chains, but the Lord broke their bars and chains, and even more unbelievers believed in Jesus.
“The keeper of the prison… supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, ‘Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.’ …And he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’” [3]
That prison guard “believed in God with all his household." [4]
May our Heavenly Father break chains of injustice and shake foundations of prisons that try to hinder unbelievers from receiving and believing the Good News of salvation that is in Jesus Christ.
[1] Acts 16:25-26
[2] Acts 16:16-24
[3] Acts 16:27-28, 30-31
[4] Acts 16:34
“For when we were still without strength, In due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Rom. 5:6-10)
Prayer: “Thank You Heavenly Father for Your love for us that compelled You to give Your Son’s life for us sinners. Thank You for justifying us by His blood and saving us from the wrath that is due us. Thank You for reconciling us to You when we were Your enemies. Thank You for saving us. Now, please use our lives to boldly bring Your Good News to others. This we pray in the Name of Jesus Your Son. Amen.”
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different Gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a Gospel other than the one, we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” (Galatians 1:6-9)
Legalism - no! License to sin - no! Living by the grace of Christ - YES!
The Righteous One (Jesus Christ) paid the debt for the unrighteous ones (us) to bring us to God! The message of the Gospel is about Jesus Christ!
“Lord Jesus, help us to sing and speak Your praises! You alone are worthy! You are the Lamb who was slain for our sins. There is no other Savior besides You. You alone are the Savior of the world. No matter how people respond, even if no one responds, we dedicate ourselves to the proclamation of Your Gospel. We depend upon Your grace to keep us focused and fruitful. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.”
