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When God reads the news that man creates, do you think He calls it good? There is some news that He has said is good, and in the Bible, it is called the gospel. The word “gospel” simply means “good news,” but what is the actual news and who is calling it good?

The gospel is called good by the same true and living God who authored it. This does not mean it is good news for every single person, however, but rather that God has deemed the message to be good in His sight. It is important to understand God’s warning that every soul that does not obey the gospel will be everlastingly punished in tormenting flames.

In 2 Thessalonians 1:8 we are taught that Jesus will come “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

There are many popular ideas shared about Jesus that you may have heard. Maybe you’ve heard that Jesus died for you or that God loves you and has a wonderful purpose for your life. These messages are partial truths at best but are not the gospel. “As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9).

So then, what is the gospel?

The gospel is the message, or the record, of what God has said is true about Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the One whom the gospel message is about. This message is not about mankind, but is sent from God to men. The Scriptures teach us that we are responsible to God for how we respond to this news. If we disagree with God about Jesus, we attempt to make God a liar and thus condemn ourselves. “He that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son” (1 John 5:10b).

The Bible teaches that if we do not agree with God about Jesus Christ, then there is no hope of eternal life. “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).

God has given us witness that Jesus Christ is His eternal Son who came in the flesh, meaning that He is eternal in His person and possesses all the divine glories and attributes of God. Without a proper understanding of who Jesus is, you cannot rightly understand the message about Him. It is because Jesus is God in the flesh that His life, death, burial, and resurrection have such significance. It is because He is God that His Word is to be received as God’s own authoritative testimony and teaching. Until a person believes this fundamental confession of truth, they have the wrath of God abiding on them. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).

It is God’s own witness about His son that gives us reason to accept the testimony that Jesus has spoken to us. We are not called to be gullible or credulous in this matter, but to examine the witnesses God has given. The things written in Scripture are to bear witness to Jesus as the Son of God. “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name” (John 20:31).

The gospel record further tells us that God the Father has given dominion over heaven and earth to Jesus, and that with this authority the Father has given Him, He reigns as Lord over all things. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:1-2).

The death, burial, resurrection, miracles, baptism, and transfiguration of Jesus are just a few of the witnesses that God has given to affirm that Jesus is His divine Son with all authority in heaven and earth. The gospel message communicates those aspects of His work to bear witness to the truth of who He is. The most succinct form of the gospel message ever given, was given by God the Father in Luke 9:35, “And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son: hear Him.”

“This is My beloved Son,” says the Father. This is His testimony to men. The testimony of God is always accompanied by a command—in this case, to “Hear Him.” For what purpose? To examine the hearts of His creatures. The command to hear Him proves whether or not we truly believe that Jesus is God’s eternal beloved Son. The Father has given all things in heaven and on earth to His Son, Jesus Christ, and has commanded all of creation to acknowledge His will in this matter. He has chosen His son to reign on His throne. Have you believed the message? Are you obeying Jesus as this news has communicated the will of God the Father to you? “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

The gospel of Jesus Christ promises that those who believe in Him and obey Him will be delivered from the wrath of God. “And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9).

The same gospel promises great torment and everlasting destruction for those who refuse Jesus as He is presented in the gospel message. “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness”
(2 Thessalonians 2:11–12).

These promises were given by Jesus Himself. “But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me” (Luke 19:27).

The question is...

“Do you believe Jesus has the power to make good on His word?” The only reason to listen to the teachings and warnings of Jesus is firstly, if you believe He is alive today and secondly, that He has the power to make good on His word. The only reason to live in disobedience to Him is if you believe He either will not or cannot make good on it. One thing is obvious, if you aren’t serving Jesus Christ, it can only be because you haven’t believed the message God has authored about Him. “He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

This is not a cunning fable or a tall tale. This is not fake news. This is a sure word from God. This is a perfect, truthful report, not just of days gone by, but of a future that is certain. That’s what makes this news so exceedingly good.

“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (2 Peter 1:16).

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