Just where and what is the gospel of Christ? Have you ever heard such a question? Is it something that floats around in the air? Is it something locked up in box which is hid somewhere? Well, we could go on and on with any number of questions like these but more than likely you have never even asked such a question in the first place. But, it is a question worth asking!
In looking for the gospel and by implication, where is the “gospel of Christ?” We have twenty-seven books in the New Testament, is “the gospel of Christ” in one of these or in all twenty-seven books, or in parts of these books? Some believe that only the first four books of the New Testament are “the gospel of Christ,” but is this true? Others say that the first four books of the New Testament plus the words which are written about Jesus in the other twenty-three books are “the gospel of Christ.” Still others claim that only the words and sentences written about Jesus is “the gospel of Christ.”
One thing we can pin down is that Paul wrote: “… the gospel of Christ: … is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth …” (Rom. 1:16). In our search for just what is “the gospel of Christ,” let us know for sure it is God’s power “unto salvation to every one that believeth.” In other words, which of you, who may not have thought of it, we do not need books or page upon page which are not “the gospel of Christ” and we do not need any of the words of the New Testament that are not “the gospel of Christ.” Why should we spend our time in studying books and page upon page which are written but have nothing to do with “the gospel of Christ” as “the gospel of Christ” is “unto salvation!” While you are thinking on this, a God who does not do unnecessary things, why would he give us books and page upon page, that have nothing to do with “the gospel of Christ?” Then, “the gospel of Christ” being the only thing that we need for our salvation, for it is God’s power unto salvation, why did God give us all the books, and page upon page that are not “the gospel of Christ?” Did God just give us all the books and all the pages that are not “the gospel of Christ” just to make us search through them, that at last we could say, “I have finally found “the gospel of Christ?” We know that God does not work in this way! For as Peter wrote: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). Notice that it is “the Lord” who is “longsuffering to us-ward” not being “willing that any should perish!” On the other hand, if “the gospel of Christ” is hid somewhere within the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, then it is man that must be “longsuffering” until he can finally say, “I have found ‘the gospel of Christ!” Looking at it this way, just how many would die before finding “the gospel of Christ?”
This is not the God revealed to us upon the pages of the New Testament! The God who is not “willing” that anyone should be lost but that all would come to salvation.Hear Paul as he wrote: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:11-12). Did you get it? The “grace of God that bringeth salvation” was made known to “all men.” Why was this done? It was done so “the “gospel of Christ,” (Rom. 16), the “grace of God,” (Titus 2:11-12), “the word of the grace” (Acts 20:32) may teach us; in that it teaches all men, to “live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Why does it teach these things? That we might be saved!
Now, give thought to this; why did God, in his wisdom, give mankind the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? Then, deal with this question: “Why did God give us the last twenty-three books of the New Testament, do they have anything to do with our salvation?” Wait, I thought it was “the gospel of Christ” that was unto salvation! Just what part of the New Testament, that is “the grace of God,” in that it “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” and is this part of “the gospel of Christ” which is “unto salvation?”
In conclusion, may I draw your attention to the fact, that “the gospel of Christ,” (Rom. 1:16) “the grace of God,” (Titus 2:11) “the word of God’s grace” (Acts 20:32 and “the word of the Lord endureth for ever” (1 Pet. 1:25), is “unto salvation!” Let us know this: all those who “obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” will be “punished!” (2 Thess. 1:9). When Paul wrote, those who “obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” will perish, was he teaching that, people only have to obey a little part of the New Testament? Finally, does “the word of the grace of God,” while “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world,” have anything to do with “the gospel of Christ;” thus, our salvation?
Frank R. Williams