R C Sproul, What is the Gospel?
In the process of his sermon to define the gospel message, R C identifies about 10 false ways of proclaiming the gospel that have been used by modern evangelists since the 20th century. Furthermore, he explains the problem of all the modern versions of the gospel as having to do with an improper attitude towards it, which dishonors its owner, God.
Sproul also contradicts some widespread ideas about the time frame of the Kingdom of God.
If you cannot come up with a clear definition of the gospel for your own edification and witnessing of it to others, then knowing the contents of this sermon is essential for you.
The highlights are recount a lot of points he made, but cannot compare to hearing him speak.
Highlights for Sproul’s 44-minute sermon [bracketed statements, underscoring and emboldening are mine; NKJV used below]:
- R C opened with the question, what is the gospel? [the audience was to define it in their own minds before his presentation]
- He read Romans 1:1-6; and verses16 and 17; then Galatians 1:6-10. Scriptures will be inserted when he deals with them below
- Romans 1:1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God
- Paul was a slave of Christ; called, or endowed to be an agent of Christ
- He was separated, or set apart, ordained, consecrated to the gospel of God
- Paul introduced the idea of the gospel; whose gospel is it? God’s gospel
- The gospel is not a message about God, but an announcement that belongs to God; it was authored by God and it is owned by God
- Those who play with the gospel message are playing with something that does not belong to them, but God
- The word ‘gospel’ is used in three different ways in the New Testament
- His definitions were from a lexicon, I pasted them in below the video, from Word Study Dictionary, Thayer’s Dictionary and Strong’s [I have these on the free PC Bible download e-Sword, which costs $2.99 at the app store; Word Study was a $40 add on, but it much more thoroughly covers a given word]
- Here is about a third of the definition, significant parts underscored:
- 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. … to euaggelízō (G2097), to announce good news. Also from euággelos (n.f.): euaggelízō (G2097), to evangelize, proclaim the good news.
- (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)
- The gospel is a ‘word’ that comes from the throne of God
- First way ‘gospel’ is used in the New Testament: to describe a particular ‘genre’
- The four gospels are called that because they have to do with the teachings and work of Jesus Christ
- Secondly: with respect to an announcement of a kingdom
- The early stags of the use of the term gospel was a reference to the good news of the advent, breakthrough, intrusion of the coming kingdom of God
- R C stated he was fabled that there is a widespread theology out there that sees the Kingdom of God (KOG) as something that is completely and utterly in the future, NO
- There is a future dimension to the KOG, its consummation
- Let us not miss the central point of the New Testament (NT), that the KOG, in a real sense, has come
- John the Baptist came with a call Jews to repentance and baptism
- That was scandalous because formerly, ritual cleansing was only for Gentiles who wished to worship with Jews
- Why did John B do that? A crisis had occurred
- Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
- John’s words indicated ‘a radical nearness’ of the KOG
- Mat 3:10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees
- Mat 3:12 His winnowing fan is in His hand
- This was a moment of crisis and the timeframe was ‘immediate’
- The Jews were to prepare by repentance and baptism
- John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
- John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease
- Jesus began His public ministry as John B had ministered
- Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
- The Jews had been looking for the coming of their King who would initiate and inaugurate His kingdom on earth
- When Jesus came, John B called Him that: John 1:23 He said: “I am ‘THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS: “MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,” ‘ as the prophet Isaiah said”
- John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight…
- R C noted that Jesus gave many parables wherein He said, “The Kingdom of God is like”
- In the gospel of Matthew heaven because Matthew wrote to the Jews and he used the common circumlocution paraphrases’ rather than pronounce the sacred name of ‘God’
- R C briefly discussed the death of Jesus, His resurrection and ascension, emphasizing that the ascension is largely ignored these days…
- As the disciples witnessed the ascension, the Shekinah cloud taking Him to His coronation, they realized what was happening and returned to Jerusalem rejoicing (to await the Spirit’s coming)
- John Calvin stated that the single purpose of the church is to bear witness here and now to the invisible KOG
- R C explained how the good news of the KOG, became the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ by the time of the epistles
- Regarding the opening question, “what is the gospel?” How did you define it?
- You might have said one of the following things: ‘that God loves us and has a wonderful plan for our lives;’ ‘that Jesus can give purpose to our seemingly chaotic personal existence;’ ‘that we can have a personal relationship with Jesus;’ ‘that we can have our sins forgiven…’
- All of those things may be true, but not one of them individually or collectively is the gospel
- The gospel has a specific content, which has objective and subjective elements
- What the gospel is, in biblical terms, is the good news of the person and work of Jesus
- After R C was converted, he attempted to witness by giving his personal testimony; he is not denigrating the value of sharing personal testimonies – there is some value in that others may be able to relate to aspects of yours
- But one’s testimony is NOT the gospel message
- The gospel is a message about the incarnation of God which was “promised beforehand by the prophets”
- R C used the following underscored portions of scripture to explain further
- Romans 1:1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
- Rom 1:3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
- The gospel includes the affirmation that Jesus is the Christ, the long awaited Messiah of Israel
- Without ‘lordship’ [verse 3] you have a truncated gospel
- Part of the good news is about the mediator who has come as the God-Man
- Romans 1:4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead
- [R C referred to 1 Corinthians 15 regarding the resurrection, but that is too lengthy to insert]
- There is no gospel without the resurrection
- There is no gospel without atonement
- The gospel is about who Jesus is and what Jesus did
- The above points are the ‘objective’ aspect of the gospel message
- The gospel message itself is endowed by God with the power of the Holy Ghost
- The 21st century church sins by trying to find sources of power everywhere except where God put it
- The power of God is NOT found in programs; liturgies
- Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
- R C told a story about after he was converted, going to see a ‘revivalist’ speak at a ‘planned revival meeting’ near his college
- He did not then know that God did revivals, that they cannot be planned by men
- He explained that the popular evangelist bragged about being able to ‘get a decision for Christ’ from anyone in 15 minutes; R C then explained what was wrong with that mentality [at the 30 minute mark]
- R C emphasized that we are powerless to convert anyone; we can encourage a profession, not bring about a conversion
- R C noted some 20th century practices of evangelists: alter calls; bowing the head; raising the hands; reciting the ‘sinner’s prayer;’ ‘signing a card’ with the sinner’s prayer…
- He was not opposed to alter calls, as, one is ‘justified’ [made righteous by God] when he possesses faith; and if one has faith, he should profess it
- Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven
- Mat 15:9 AND IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.’ “
- Critical to evangelism, is how the objective benefits of the atoning death and resurrected life of Jesus Christ CAN be appropriated by one, personally in the life
- The NT teaches the good news that one receives the benefits of Jesus Christ, the full measure of His perfect merit, NOT by any work one might perform
- Galatians 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ
- [The following post in this blog explains in detail the difference between the way of law and the way of grace from Galatians: https://sheeplywolves.com/just-like-abraham-pastor-patrick-ramsey/ ]
- Rom 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”
- R C noted that when Martin Luther was preparing a lecture on the above text, he came across marginal notes of Augustine that explained the righteousness of the above verse to be an alien righteousness, not the righteousness like God possessed, but one obtained via trusting Christ
- Such a righteousness can have no mixture of your works
- That is the gospel in its simplicity
- The gospel message has been altered, distorted, ‘improved,’ in every generation of Christian history
- It was eclipsed in the middle ages and replaced with an entirely different system of salvation by the church
- In the 16th century, the church condemned the gospel of justification by faith alone
- The apostle Paul’s writings in most of his epistles reveal that he had a pastor’s heart of compassion… but in Galatians, his words reveal ‘apostolic astonishment’ at their turning to another gospel…
- Galatians 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ
- Paul emphasized that there is NO Other gospel to turn to
- Gal 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed
- R C mentioned a controversy wherein he, MacArthur and a few other pastors stood up for the gospel and lost a lot of friends
- Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ
- The single most frequent reason for compromising the gospel today is also to please men
- R C noted that he would like to be liked by others too
- But, to be a steward of the Lord Jesus Christ, one must please Him
- Woe to those who negotiate God’s gospel!
Ligonier Ministries video-page link: https://www.youtube.com/@LigonierMinistries/videos
From the Complete Word Study Dictionary:
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 Dictionary:
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
From Strong’s:
εὐαγγέλιον
euaggelion
yoo-ang-ghel’-ee-on
From the same as G2097; a good message, that is, the gospel: – gospel.
Total KJV occurrences: 77