"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16 (NASB)John 3:16 is a wonderful message. We were sinners. God loved us all anyway. So He sent His Son—the only begotten One—to bring eternal life to all who believe. Everyone knows this verse, and many people consider it the Gospel in a nutshell.
It's not.
The fact is that personal salvation, as wonderful and vital as it is, is only a tiny part of the Good News, the proclamation of God's plan which all men need to hear to which the entire world must submit. The actual Gospel is so much bigger, starting with God's imagination before time and spanning to the eternal state. Stated most generally, as the theme which unifies the Old and New Testaments, the Gospel is that God reigns, and He is faithful to deliver His people. Stated more specifically, as revealed from the details of the New Testament, the Gospel is this:
Jesus Christ is the risen Lord, the King of Israel, who has won victory over sin, Satan, and death, and He will bring final salvation to all who follow Him when He returns to establish the Kingdom of God for all eternity and judge those who rebel.This is the true Gospel. This is what we are supposed to be telling the world. As great as it is that Jesus loves you and died for sin to save sinners, that is not the Gospel. That is only one piece.
I will approach and defend my expansive statement of the Gospel piece-by-piece with as much Scripture as I can. So here goes nothing...
Jesus Christ is the risen Lord
While we all agree that Jesus Christ is the risen Lord, we do not give this doctrine sufficient emphasis in evangelical circles, but this seems to have been the core of apostolic preaching. The exalted status of the living Jesus as King over all was core to nearly every instance of preaching in Acts. Examples:
“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds, wonders, and miraculous signs that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know – this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles. But God raised him up, having released him from the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held in its power. For David says about him, ‘I saw the Lord always in front of me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced; my body also will live in hope, because you will not leave my soul in Hades, nor permit your Holy One to experience decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of joy with your presence.’ “Brothers, I can speak confidently to you about our forefather David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. So then, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, David by foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did his body experience decay. This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it. So then, exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you both see and hear. For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.”
Acts 2:22-36
When Peter saw this, he declared to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us as if we had made this man walk by our own power or piety? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate after he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a man who was a murderer be released to you. You killed the Originator of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this fact we are witnesses! And on the basis of faith in Jesus’ name, his very name has made this man – whom you see and know – strong. The faith that is through Jesus has given him this complete health in the presence of you all. And now, brothers, I know you acted in ignorance, as your rulers did too. But the things God foretold long ago through all the prophets – that his Christ would suffer – he has fulfilled in this way. Therefore repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out.
Acts 3:12-19
let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:10-12
You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all) – you know what happened throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John announced: with respect to Jesus from Nazareth, that God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him. We are witnesses of all the things he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him up on the third day and caused him to be seen, not by all the people, but by us, the witnesses God had already chosen, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to warn them that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. About him all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”I could go on for some time quoting evangelistic sermons in Acts, but by now one thing should be obvious. The first and foremost point of the Gospel as Paul and Peter presented it was that Jesus, having been crucified and then raised from the dead and exalted by God, now asserts His Lordship everywhere, and all men must repent and submit to be saved. So the beginning of the Gospel is the Lordship of Jesus. Jesus is the Messiah and the Lord, and everyone must submit to Him.
Acts 10:36-43
The King of Israel
No exhaustive presentation of the Gospel can ignore Israel. Israel is the focal point of God's work at every stage of redemption, from Creation (if you believe, as I do, that Eden was Israel) to Abraham to Isaiah to Jesus to the New Jerusalem. God's promises were always tied to Israel from Abraham onwards. As the Bible makes abundantly clear, our salvation is from Zion. We can never ignore this, because it is through Israel that we join in to God's grace, and Israel will be the seat of Christ's reign both in the Millennium (unless you're amillennial, I guess) and the New Earth. Our covenant status in the Church comes from Israel! So the Gospel is very much a message about Jesus as the King of Israel.
Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel!”
John 1:49
So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him. They began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!”
John 12:13
For the Israelites must live many days without a king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred fertility pillar, without ephod or idols. Afterward, the Israelites will turn and seek the LORD their God and their Davidic king. Then they will submit to the LORD in fear and receive his blessings in the future.
Hosea 3:4-5
For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called: Extraordinary Strategist, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His dominion will be vast and he will bring immeasurable prosperity. He will rule on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom, establishing it and strengthening it by promoting justice and fairness, from this time forward and forevermore. The LORD’s intense devotion to his people will accomplish this.
Isaiah 9:6-7
They will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those accompanying the Lamb are the called, chosen, and faithful.”
Revelation 17:14
But they will be subject to the LORD their God and to the Davidic ruler whom I will raise up as king over them. So I, the LORD, tell you not to be afraid, you descendants of Jacob, my servants. Do not be terrified, people of Israel. For I will rescue you and your descendants from a faraway land where you are captives. The descendants of Jacob will return to their land and enjoy peace. They will be secure and no one will terrify them.
Jeremiah 30:9-10
I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will rule over them all. They will never again be two nations and never again be divided into two kingdoms. They will not defile themselves with their idols, their detestable things, and all their rebellious deeds. I will save them from all their unfaithfulness by which they sinned. I will purify them; they will become my people and I will become their God. “‘My servant David will be king over them; there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow my regulations and carefully observe my statutes. They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, in which your fathers lived; they will live in it – they and their children and their grandchildren forever. David my servant will be prince over them forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be a perpetual covenant with them. I will establish them, increase their numbers, and place my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then, when my sanctuary is among them forever, the nations will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel.’”Thus Jesus' role as Messiah also means that He is the King of Israel, the people through whom we have become part of God's covenant. For "salvation is from the Jews" (John 4:22). Israel will be His kingdom. When Jesus returns, He will not be reigning generically over all people without any regard to the nations. He will rule over Israel first, enthroned in Zion, and from there He will hold sway over all kingdoms. We cannot forget that we are of Israel's olive tree, and Jesus is our King because He is the King of Israel.
Ezekiel 37:22-28
Who has won victory over sin, Satan, and death
If any of you study soteriology extensively, you may be wondering if I am adopting a Christus Victor theory of the atonement. The answer to that question would be "No" (and if you don't know what that means, ignore it). I do, however, see the need to assimilate many themes and ideas from Christus Victor into the evangelical presentation of the atonement, without compromising penal substitution. Anyway, that's not the point. Jesus' death and resurrection spelled doom for sin, Satan, and death. All of the power they held over humanity was broken by Christ's victorious return from the grave. Each fell in a different way.
Sin was defeated when Christ's substitutionary death paid its penalty and crucified its power, and Christ's resurrection brought new life with Spirit-power over sin, ultimately leading to a future glorification in which all sinfulness will be eradicated.
He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed. All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of us had strayed off on his own path, but the LORD caused the sin of all of us to attack him. He was treated harshly and afflicted, but he did not even open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughtering block, like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not even open his mouth. He was led away after an unjust trial – but who even cared? Indeed, he was cut off from the land of the living; because of the rebellion of his own people he was wounded. They intended to bury him with criminals, but he ended up in a rich man’s tomb, because he had committed no violent deeds, nor had he spoken deceitfully. Though the LORD desired to crush him and make him ill, once restitution is made, he will see descendants and enjoy long life, and the LORD’s purpose will be accomplished through him. Having suffered, he will reflect on his work, he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done. “My servant will acquit many, for he carried their sins.
Isaiah 53:5-11
For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.
Galatians 3:10,13-14
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed.
1 Peter 2:24
Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection. We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. (For someone who has died has been freed from sin.) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that since Christ has been raised from the dead, he is never going to die again; death no longer has mastery over him. For the death he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.Jesus was victorious over Satan because with sin defeated, Satan had no more power left. If Satan cannot destroy and accuse and condemn with sin, he can do nothing more but lie. And as the Bible says, Satan has the power of death, and death was also defeated by the resurrection.
Romans 6:3-11
I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you to open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Acts 26:17-18
The God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
Romans 16:20
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil).Finally, Jesus defeated death by rising again. I think I need no more citation for this than this one:
Hebrews 2:14
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!Early apostolic preaching made a big deal out of Jesus' resurrection and exaltation and how they meant victory had come for the Messiah and His people. This theme was also dominant during the early church after the apostles were all gone, and it lasted for many years. Jesus, the risen Lord, is the ultimate victor. He has won, and the powers of darkness are defeated.
1 Corinthians 15:24-27
He will bring final salvation to all who follow Him
This brings us to the most commonly discussed part of the Gospel: personal salvation. Because Jesus is the resurrected Lord and King, who has defeated all enemies, He is able to and will save all who follow Him, and in the end this will be proved. What do I mean by "follow," though? Going by the Gospel presentations in Acts and reading the rest of the New Testament, I come to this conclusion. To follow Christ means two things: to believe in who He is and what He did, and to submit to the news of His Lordship (this begins with repenting from sin). These elements are constantly unified and commanded by the apostles.
Now when they heard this, they were acutely distressed and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “What should we do, brothers?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”
Acts 2:37-39
Therefore repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and so that he may send the Messiah appointed for you – that is, Jesus. God raised up his servant and sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your iniquities.”
Acts 3:19-20, 26
He commanded us to preach to the people and to warn them that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. About him all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Acts 10:42-43
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Acts 16:31
I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you to open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Acts 26:17-18
because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.According to the apostles, those who will be saved are those who believe in Jesus Christ and submit to His Lordship. Note that these are not two different things. Faith is both mental and volitional. By believing the truth about Jesus Christ, that is the Lord and Messiah and Savior who died and rose in victory, the person is made to act upon that understanding. Works are not needed to be saved, but works are the real, tangible expression of faith. When God calls a man, faith is created, and wherever faith flows, works follow.
Romans 10:9
Also, I will point out that those who merely claim to follow Christ will not inherit salvation. Anyone can say they believe, and anyone can be intellectually convinced that Jesus is who He is, but because saving faith is active, no one without works will inherit final salvation. All who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit to faith will also express that faith in works, as we learn from these passages:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’
Matthew 7:21-23
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it? So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works. You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear. But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified [note: in this passage the term "justified" means essentially "vindicated in judgment"] by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.This is the part of the Gospel message that beckons men to come and die. This is the invitation part, the answer to the question, "What must I do to be saved?" It is glorious and wonderful and essential, but it is important to remember that this is not the entirety of the Gospel. Basically, this is what happens because Jesus rose as Lord and won victory over sin; because of Jesus' exalted state, He can bring His followers triumphantly into salvation.
James 2:14-26
He returns to establish the Kingdom of God for all eternity
The Kingdom of God has already come in part, spiritually. Jesus Christ reigns as Lord in heaven, and in the hearts and minds of believers. Through the believers of the Church, Christ's will as Lord is being implemented in the created world. However, this is only a partial, incomplete reign. The story of redemption will not be concluded until the end, when Jesus comes back to earth to restore the universe, transforming our decaying earth into New Earth, over which He will reign eternally from Zion. The will of the Lord will finally be completely realized and in force over all the world. God's sovereignty will climax and Jesus' exaltation will be complete as He reigns forever and ever.
He said, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel!”
Mark 1:15
I tell you the truth, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Mark 14:25
While the people were listening to these things, Jesus proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.
Luke 19:11
But when they believed Philip as he was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:12
As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth – and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11
Then I saw thrones and seated on them were those who had been given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. These had not worshiped the beast or his image and had refused to receive his mark on their forehead or hand. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were finished.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who takes part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4-6
A shoot will grow out of Jesse’s root stock, a bud will sprout from his roots. The LORD’s spirit will rest on him – a spirit that gives extraordinary wisdom, a spirit that provides the ability to execute plans, a spirit that produces absolute loyalty to the LORD. He will take delight in obeying the LORD. He will not judge by mere appearances, or make decisions on the basis of hearsay. He will treat the poor fairly, and make right decisions for the downtrodden of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and order the wicked to be executed. Justice will be like a belt around his waist, integrity will be like a belt around his hips. A wolf will reside with a lamb, and a leopard will lie down with a young goat; an ox and a young lion will graze together, as a small child leads them along. A cow and a bear will graze together, their young will lie down together. A lion, like an ox, will eat straw. A baby will play over the hole of a snake; over the nest of a serpent an infant will put his hand. They will no longer injure or destroy on my entire royal mountain. For there will be universal submission to the LORD’s sovereignty, just as the waters completely cover the sea.
Isaiah 11:1-9
For look, I am ready to create new heavens and a new earth! The former ones will not be remembered; no one will think about them anymore. But be happy and rejoice forevermore over what I am about to create! For look, I am ready to create Jerusalem to be a source of joy, and her people to be a source of happiness. Jerusalem will bring me joy, and my people will bring me happiness. The sound of weeping or cries of sorrow will never be heard in her again. Never again will one of her infants live just a few days or an old man die before his time. Indeed, no one will die before the age of a hundred, anyone who fails to reach the age of a hundred will be considered cursed. They will build houses and live in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build a house only to have another live in it, or plant a vineyard only to have another eat its fruit, for my people will live as long as trees, and my chosen ones will enjoy to the fullest what they have produced. They will not work in vain, or give birth to children that will experience disaster. For the LORD will bless their children and their descendants. Before they even call out, I will respond; while they are still speaking, I will hear. A wolf and a lamb will graze together; a lion, like an ox, will eat straw, and a snake’s food will be dirt. They will no longer injure or destroy on my entire royal mountain,” says the LORD.This part is vital; it is the consummation. Even for personal salvation, this matters, because our destiny is not to live for eternity in a spiritual heaven disembodied. That is a beautiful but still inferior state. The destiny of the entire universe is submission to the perfect will of the Lord Jesus. Those who submit to Christ will be resurrected to live under His loving rule for eternity, those who refuse the Lordship of Christ will be continuously destroyed in Hell for all eternity, and the entire cosmos will be purged of everything bad or negative or unseemly for God's dwelling. Heaven will come to earth, and the two will unite under one banner: that of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 65:17-25
Judge those who rebel
Unfortunately for many people, eternal bliss under the peaceful and prosperous reign of Jesus Christ will not be their destiny. After all, those who refuse to accept the Gospel, those who do not submit to the proclamation that Jesus is the risen Lord, are still in their sins. They do not follow Christ. They will not be marching in behind Him when He brings final victory and salvation. Instead, they will be at His sword. His wrath will consume them for their insistent rebellion. They will be tossed away with their sin, their spiritual death, and their master Satan. The problem for them is that Jesus, the risen Lord who has come to power and against whom they have rebelled, is their judge.
Furthermore, the Father does not judge anyone, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
John 5:22-23
He commanded us to preach to the people and to warn them that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.
Acts 10:42
And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are too, and they will be tormented there day and night forever and ever. Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another book was opened – the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death – the lake of fire. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.This is the solemn warning we must preach. The apostles always warned in their messages that Jesus, now the risen Lord, is the judge of mankind, and so to resist Him will bring condemnation. We cannot forget this. Hell is their destiny who do not submit to the Lordship of Christ, who do not believe in the Gospel.
Revelation 20:10-15
This is the end of it all. Jesus is the risen Lord, and He will inaugurate His kingdom of Israel, the New Jerusalem, in the end, saving His people and judging everyone else. That is a summary of the Gospel. John 3:16, that whoever believes in Jesus will be saved instead of going to Hell for their sins, is an important part, but also just a small part. Give them the whole Gospel. They need it.