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The gospel is holistic, serving as a change agent for social justice and penetrating the realm of body, mind, and soul or spirit.

The gospel is the message of redemption revealed in the Bible, depicting humans as sinful and offering grace through the vicarious suffering of Christ as God's eternal antidote. The transmission of the gospel occurs when the inspired text of the written word is rightly interpreted, the medium of the spoken word is engaged, and the person of the revealed Word, Jesus Christ, is present in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus, in the communication of the gospel the Word that was becomes the Word that is, mighty to save!

The gospel is the work of the Holy Trinity. It is indissolubly held together by the primary truths of the ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, exaltation, and Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In response to repentance and faith, the Holy Spirit is given to believers, enabling them to hear the voice of the Father as it is proclaimed by anointed messengers of God. The result is a life of trust and obedience, all to the glory of God!

The gospel is holistic, serving as a change agent for social justice and penetrating the realm of body, mind, and soul or spirit. It entails a marriage between evangelism and social ministry that exists to redeem the lost and wayward spirit of humanity and to rectify dehumanizing social conditions. The gospel is not parochial; its activity is not confined to the local church, as it takes on global dimensions. "And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together" (Isaiah 40:5, RSV).

Robert Smith Jr. is associate professor of preaching at Beeson Divinity School of Samford University and is a minister of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.

Next: Good News of Jesus: Steven Voth

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February 7 2000, Vol. 44, No. 2