Evangelizing the Whole Gospel
Just what is “The Gospel”? Many Christians today earnestly believe that the Gospel is simply “the good news” or “the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ”. That indeed is part of the Gospel. But the Gospel of the Bible is much more than the “good news”. Easton’s Bible Dictionary defines the Gospel as (emphasis added):
“A word of Anglo-Saxon origin, and meaning ‘God’s spell’, i.e., word of God…The term is often used to express collectively the gospel doctrines; and ‘preaching the gospel’ is often used to include not only the proclaiming of the good tidings, but the teaching men how to avail themselves of the offer of salvation, the declaring of all the truths, precepts, promises, and threatenings of Christianity.
Other Bible dictionaries and commentaries equate “gospel” with “truth”. Hence the real, true and whole gospel would be “all truth” – or as said above, “all the truths, precepts, promises and threatenings of Christianity.”
In the King James Version* of the New Testament there are 98 references to “gospel”. Let’s just look at a few of them:
- Matthew 4
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom…
- Matthew 9
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom…
- Matthew 24
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
- Mark 1
14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God…
*Note in the above four verses that Christ preached “gospel of the kingdom of God”. Even a quick study of Christ’s teachings in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John show that His gospel message wasn’t just the “good news” of salvation through Him, but “the whole package”. This is evidenced by one of His gospel teachings in Matthew 4:4 (emphasis added), “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Note: These four verses are in King James Version; the balance of these Scriptures are in New King James Version).
- Romans 10
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel.
- 2 Thessalonians 1
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…
- 1 Peter 4
17 For the time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Note the reference in the above three verses to “obeying” the gospel. These verses would make little sense if the gospel referred only to the one doctrine of “salvation through Christ by simply believing on Him and accepting Him as Saviour”. However, they make perfect sense when one takes the “gospel” to mean “all the truths, precepts, promises and threatenings of Christianity.”
- Romans 15
19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
A quick study of all of Paul’s writings clearly shows he preached many things about Christ – not just the doctrine of “salvation through Christ by simply believing on Him and accepting Him as Saviour”. Paul’s teachings – and his statement in Romans 15:19 – also show that “the gospel of Christ” that he preached was “all the truths, precepts, promises and threatenings of Christianity.”
- Revelation 14
6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth – to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people –
7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”
Here’s another Bible perspective on the “gospel”. The whole gospel – the “everlasting” gospel – includes not only “the good news” of “salvation through Christ by simply believing on Him and accepting Him as Saviour”, but also “the bad news” – that ‘the hour of His judgement is come”.
Some might say, “It doesn’t matter about all the other stuff – all that matters is the basic gospel of salvation through Christ…just believe in Jesus and be saved.” That may sound good, but does it line up with the “Gospel” of the Bible? Let’s look at a few more verses that could be used to show “what the gospel really is”:
- Deuteronomy 4
1 “Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers is giving you.
2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.”
The obvious implication here would be that any “gospel” preached would neither “add to” nor “take away” from the Word of God.
- Matthew 5
17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
- Matthew 22
35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying.
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
37 Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
In the above two verses are an important part of Christ’s preaching of “the gospel of the kingdom of God” – that the Law was not to be done away with.
- Matthew 19
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
- John 14
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.”
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the which you here us not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.”
- John 15
10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
14 You are My friends if y0u do whatever I command you.”
In the above verses, Christ links obedience to Him with salvation. Hence any evangelism of the gospel of salvation must also include the gospel of obedience.
- Acts 28
23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.
Note that when Paul preached “the gospel”, he didn’t consider the Law of Moses and the Prophets to “be done away with” – on the contrary, he used them in his evangelism to persuade people about Christ!
- Romans 2
13 (for not the hearers of the law are justified in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;
- Romans 3
31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
Note how Paul here makes no suggestion that the law is done away with for New Testament believers or that all that’s required is to “believe”. On the contrary, Paul admonishes us to “obey the truth” and “be doers of the law”. Again, obedience to Christ must be part of a complete gospel message.
- Romans 10
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteous of God.
Could the same thing be said about “the gospel” that some churches are preaching today? Certainly they are preaching their gospel with “zeal”. But is the gospel they’re preaching “according to knowledge” (knowledge of the Word of God)? The Jews of Paul’s day were ignorant of what God deemed to be right and holy – and they went about defining their own standards of propriety, laws of living, righteousness, etc. – which were not according to God’s laws and righteousness. Neither were God’s people of that day willing to submit themselves to His righteousness, truth and laws. Has history repeated itself? Have many Christians of today set up their own standards of righteousness and what God’s Law is? Have they even gone so far as to redefine what the Gospel really includes?
- Romans 10
16 But they have not all obeyed the Gospel. For Isaiah saith, “Lord, who hath believed our report?”
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
Again, note the reference Paul made to “obeying” the gospel. Verses 16 through 21 of Romans 10 portray a distinct parallel between many of the Jews in the Old Testament (and at the time of Christ and the Apostles) and with many modern Christians. Paul says that not all God’s people of his time and before (the Jews) “obeyed the Gospel”. He goes on to describe how God, Moses and Isaiah strove to teach them and to bring them into belief and obedience – but they stubbornly refused. Is the same thing happening with many of God’s people of today (Christians)? Do they hear the Word of God (or have ample opportunity to do so), but stubbornly refuse to obey it? Or rather, do they stubbornly refuse to obey “all” of it? Do they choose instead to embrace and preach a “gospel” from select portions of God’s Word that are comfortable, convenient, politically correct and in harmony with their traditions? Do they thereby err, both continuing to do things God expressly forbids and neglecting to do things God or Christ expressly commands us to do?
- 1 Corinthians 7
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.
Christians who are most vocal on the incomplete gospel of “just believe in Jesus” frequently quote from Paul’s writings. But note, however, Paul preached a gospel that included his statement in 1 Corinthians 7:19 (above).
- James 2
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend on one point, he is guilty of al
This text is widely accepted to at least apply to an individual believer. But could it not also apply to a church – and to the doctrines and the “gospel” it would preach?
- Revelation 22
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
Many Evangelical churches preach a gospel of “eternal life through Jesus Christ”. But how many include the above verse in their gospel message? Does this verse mean that those who stubbornly refuse to do His commandments will be cursed and will not be so blessed with the right to the Tree of Life? Certainly most churches preach “some” of the gospel truth. However, a partial truth or partial gospel can be a dangerous, even fatal gospel.
Summarizing the above, the greatest purpose of Mark of God Communications Inc. is “To more fully execute Christ’s Great Commission to evangelize the whole Gospel.”
For more information on Mark of God Communications Inc., please contact Braden Caldwell
(416) 804-6213 or email: bradencaldwell777@gmail.com
Mailing address: 777 Butterworth Drive, Edmonton, Alberta T6R2P6
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Copyright 2011, Last modified May 4, 2021.
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