'What is the Gospel?' At first this seems like an odd question as the term 'Gospel' is used so frequently among Christians. To the question, 'What is the Gospel?' some would reply that the Gospel is the 'Good News that Jesus saves us from our sins.' Others would claim that the Gospel is that we are now 'justified by faith,' Scot McKnight, author of The King Jesus Gospel, contends that the Gospel fully involves Jesus saving us from our sins and justifying us by faith -and (here's the change) so much more!McKnight shows the weakness of just seeing the Gospel solely as, 'Jesus saving us from our sins.' While this is of course true, it leaves out the historical role of Jesus as Israel's Messiah. This view, taken to an extreme, can relegate Salvation -to just personal sin management. He also shows how those who see the Gospel as, 'being justified by faith' miss the emphasis of Jesus' teaching about how He is fulfilling the Old Testament prophesies.
McKnight provides his answer to the question, 'What is the Gospel?' His answer is, 'The Gospel is the Story of Israel completing itself in the Story of Jesus.' This means that Jesus is the fulfillment of the the Old Testament prophesies concerning the coming Messiah. Jesus' life, his death, burial and resurrection all show that He is the Promised One. Jesus truly brings salvation; but He also brings liberation from sin, reconciliation to humanity, and healing for those who are broken.
How about you? When you think of the term 'Gospel' what comes to your mind, and why?
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