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Back To Basics – R C Sproul [What is the gospel?]

In the following sermon, R C Sproul explains the gospel in a basic but very complete manner. Most Christians don’t know all the points he covered.

R C opened by mentioning the preachers who has preceded him and the topics of their sermons: Mike Horton and John MacArthur regarding Christianity and American culture; Peter Jones on the modern resurgence of Gnosticism [my series on Paganism is based on one of Jones’ books].

Sproul noted that these preachers delivered sophisticated messages, whereas, he was requested to give a message ‘Back to the Basics.’

He opened with an anecdote about his task: Vince Lombardi was trying to get his team back to basics because they were ignoring them as they tried to perform more sophisticated plays… and he said to them, gentlemen, this is a football, am I going to fast; he began to talk about blocking and tackling.

The anecdote applies to Sproul’s task, as we currently have in American culture, a Christianity without the gospel.

He then spent a few moments talking about what the gospel is NOT: God has a wonderful plan…; God has a purpose for you…; your personal testimony…

[The following sermon HIGHLIGHT points begin around the 8-minute mark; bracketed statements, underscoring and emboldening are mine]:

 

 

Example of ‘gospel’ and the biblical meaning of the term from Bible dictionaries:

Mark 1:15  and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” 

e-Sword’s KJV+ [KJV with Strong’s Numbers, many words are given a Greek meaning for Bible student helps]

Mark 1:15  AndG2532 saying,G3004 TheG3588 timeG2540 is fulfilled,G4137 andG2532 theG3588 kingdomG932 of GodG2316 is at hand:G1448 repentG3340 ye, andG2532 believeG4100 theG3588 gospel.G2098 

From Strong’s Bible Concordance:

G2098

εὐαγγέλιον

euaggelion

yoo-ang-ghel’-ee-on

From the same as G2097; a good message, that is, the gospel: – gospel.

Total KJV occurrences: 77

From The Complete Word Study Dictionary [a dictionary I added, purchased to add to e-Sword, $40; e-Sword is a free Bible softward download for computer; $2.99 at the App store]

G2098

εὐαγγέλιον

euaggélion; gen. euaggelíou, neut. noun from euággelos (n.f.), bringing good news, which is from eú (G2095), good, well, and aggéllō (n.f.), to proclaim, tell. Originally a reward for good news, later becoming good news. In the Sept.: 2Sa_18:22, 2Sa_18:25. In the NT, spoken only of the glad tidings of Christ and His salvation, the gospel. Found twice in Acts, once in Peter’s epistles, once in the Book of the Revelation, but not found in Luke, nor in the epistles or Gospel of John Related to euaggelízō (G2097), to announce good news. Also from euággelos (n.f.): euaggelízō (G2097), to evangelize, proclaim the good news.

(I) In the books of the NT, particularly in the sense of glad tidings, except in the writings of Paul.

(A) The gospel of the kingdom of God (Mat_4:23; Mat_9:35; Mat_24:14; Mar_1:14). By implication (Mat_26:13; Mar_1:15; Mar_13:10; Mar_14:9; Rev_14:6, “eternal gospel” [a.t. {cf. Luk_2:10}]). See basileía (G932), kingdom. “Kingdom” must be interpreted in this context as the rule which God establishes in the hearts of men when Jesus Christ is received by faith. The gospel of the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God are one and the same thing (Mat_19:23-24). It means first and primarily the rule of God in the human heart because of Christ (Luk_17:20-21). It also refers to the kingdom in its future state during which the believers will reign with Christ forever (Rev_22:1-5). In the above references, however, when it is the gospel of the kingdom of God or the eternal gospel, reference is to the invisible rule of Christ in the hearts of believers. By metonymy, it means annunciation of the gospel through Christ (Mar_1:1), also the gospel of the grace of God as manifested in Christ (Act_20:24).

(B) In respect to the coming and life of Jesus as the Messiah, gospel, glad tidings (Mar_8:35; Mar_10:29; Mar_16:15; Act_15:7; 1Pe_4:17). Later, euaggélion came to mean a history of Jesus’ life such as we have in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

(II) In the writings of Paul, the gospel, that is:

(A) Generally the gospel plan of salvation, its doctrines, declarations, precepts, promises (Rom_2:16, “according to the gospel which I preach” [a.t.]; Rom_11:28; Rom_16:25; 1Co_9:14, 1Co_9:18; 1Co_15:1; 2Co_4:3-4; 2Co_9:13; 2Co_10:14; Gal_1:11, “the gospel which was preached by me” [a.t.]; Gal_2:2, Gal_2:5, Gal_2:14; Eph_1:13; Eph_3:6; Eph_6:19; Php_1:5, Php_1:7, Php_1:17, Php_1:27; Php_2:22; Col_1:5, Col_1:23; 1Th_1:5; 1Th_2:4; 2Ti_1:10; 2Ti_2:8). The gospel of Christ made known by Him as its founder and chief cornerstone (Rom_15:19, Rom_15:29; 1Co_9:12, 1Co_9:18; Gal_1:7; 1Th_3:2; 2Th_1:8). The gospel of God, of which God is the Author through Christ (Rom_15:16; 2Co_11:7; 1Th_2:2, 1Th_2:8-9; 1Ti_1:11). By antithesis, héteron (G2087), another but different gospel, including other precepts (2Co_11:4; Gal_1:6).

(B) By metonymy, the gospel work, i.e., the preaching of the gospel, labor in the gospel (Rom_1:1, Rom_1:9, Rom_1:16; 1Co_4:15; 1Co_9:14, 1Co_9:23; 2Co_2:12; 2Co_8:18; Gal_2:2, Gal_2:7, “I was entrusted to preach the gospel to the Gentiles” [a.t.]; Eph_6:15; Php_1:12; Php_4:3, Php_4:15; 2Th_2:14; 2Ti_1:8; Phm_1:13, “in bonds on account of labors in the gospel” [a.t.]). In Rom_10:16, “all have not obeyed the preaching of the gospel” (a.t.), i.e., the gospel as preached.

From Thayer’s Greek Definitions [free with e-Sword]:

G2098

εὐαγγέλιον

euaggelion

Thayer Definition:

1) a reward for good tidings

2) good tidings

2a) the glad tidings of the kingdom of God soon to be set up, and subsequently also of Jesus the Messiah, the founder of this kingdom. After the death of Christ, the term comprises also the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ as having suffered death on the cross to procure eternal salvation for the men in the kingdom of God, but as restored to life and exalted to the right hand of God in heaven, thence to return in majesty to consummate the kingdom of God

2b) the glad tidings of salvation through Christ

2c) the proclamation of the grace of God manifest and pledged in Christ

2d) the gospel

2e) as the messianic rank of Jesus was proved by his words, his deeds, and his death, the narrative of the sayings, deeds, and death of Jesus Christ came to be called the gospel or glad tidings

Part of Speech: noun neuter

A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from the same as G2097

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