What’s the Good News? For Us—and Creation

Nine evangelical leaders define the gospel.

Intro | Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

For Us—and Creation

The gospel is about far more than heaven.

The gospel as a message of promise and hope defines God’s only way to salvation (1 Peter 1:3-12; Acts 4:12). It is the good news of God’s powerful deliverance from sin and oppression for the Creation, coming through Christ’s liberating work (2 Timothy 2:8-10; Romans 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; Luke 4:16-18).

This power entails forgiveness and eternal life (also called reconciliation or peace with God), sonship, and enablement (Acts 10:36; Romans 6-8; 2 Corinthians 5:11-21). Its power will extend into complete, unending redemption for us and the Creation (Romans 8:18-25).

The gospel communicates how God permanently fixes his relationship to us, to one another, and to the Creation through the cross and Jesus’ resurrection-ascension (Acts 3:17-26; Ephesians 2:11-22; 3:6). The gospel becomes effective by our turning (Acts 14:15), repentance (Mark 1:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38), faith (Acts 15:7; Romans 3:22; Hebrews 4:2-6), or reception (John 1:12), which leads to sonship. Any of these responses summarizes saving faith. One day our response to the gospel will be the basis of judgment (Romans 2:16; 10:16; 11:28; Galatians 1:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; 1 Peter 4:17). Those who fail to respond face everlasting judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).

John the Baptist, associating the gospel with the kingdom, said it arrives when the Christ baptizes with the Spirit and fire (Luke 3:15-18; cf. Acts 2:30-36). Jesus preached it as release and tied it to the kingdom, focusing it on the world and the poor (Luke 4:16-18; Mark 1:15; Matthew 11:5, 24:14). Paul defined it as the power of God, and not merely as salvation (Romans 1:16). This is because to save, God exercises his power through Christ to overtake the power of sin in humans and the Creation, giving us the Spirit (Romans 1-8; Ephesians 1:3-14). Two images in John’s gospel express God’s powerful enablement through the Spirit as part of the gospel: being born anew and receiving water that leaves one never thirsting again, what Jesus later called “the Paraclete” (John 3:3; 4:10; 7:37-39; chaps. 14-16). Luke calls the same Spirit-enablement “power from on high” (Luke 24:49).

So the gospel is about the Father’s gift of his ongoing, powerful redeeming work mediated through the Son by the Spirit. It is about far more than heaven; it is about God’s grace restoring us into a permanently healthy relationship with him and others (Titus 2:11-14).

Darrell Bock is research professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary.

Next: The Gift: David S. Dockery

Send us email!
Send us email!

Copyright © 2000 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

Have We Become Too Busy With Death?' As AIDS kills 4,900 Africans daily, Christians there struggle not only against the killer virus, but against spiritual exhaustion.

Cover Story

What's the Good News?

Cover Story

Have We Become Too Busy With Death?

What's the Good News? A Mystery Revealed

Your World:Psalm 23 and All That

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from February 07, 2000

Popular Culture:Take a Little Time Out

An Elder Statesman’s Plea

First Pages:Dad's New Prayer Hobby

In Summary:Biblical Studies

The Back Page | Philip Yancey:Would Jesus Worship Here?

What's the Good News? Reconciling Love

T.D. Jakes Feels Your Pain

What's the Good News? The Gift

What's the Good News? Wonderful News

Did Jesus Really Descend to Hell?

What's the Good News? The Truest Story

What's the Good News? Divine Fellowship

What's the Good News? Mighty to Save

What's the Good News? Good News of Jesus

The Gospel Statement Revisited

Apologetics Journal Criticizes Jakes

Walking Where Lewis Walked

A Peacemaker in Provo

Mere Mormonism

Might for Right?

The Back Page | Philip Yancey:Would Jesus Worship Here?

Southern Baptists: Evangelism in Chicago stirs debate

Wire Story

Indonesia:2,000 Die in Muslim-Christian Conflict

Videos of Hate

States Discuss Marriage Laws

Bioethics:New Stem-Cell Research Guidelines Criticized

Updates

Business:Thomas Nelson Buys 60 Percent of New Life Treatment Centers

People:North America

Comics:The End of the Peanuts Parables

House Chaplaincy Stirs Catholic Controversy

Law:Do Computers Cross the Church-State Divide?

Wire Story

Orthodox Leaders Closer to Unity

'Sexual Revolution,' AIDS, and the African Church

Nigeria:Churches Challenge Islamic Law

Arrests of Pastor Signal Religious Freedom Setback

Sweden:Lutheran Church, State Divide

Jubilee 2000:Poor Nations Get Debt Relief

Briefs:The World

20 Copts Die as Village Tensions Flare

Church Leaders Confront AIDS

Letters

God vs. God

View issue

Our Latest

Review

New & Noteworthy Books

Chosen by Matt Reynolds, CT senior books editor.

News

Recovery Ministries Help Portland Get Clean

After an attempt to decriminalize drugs made the addiction crisis in Oregon even worse, local Christians are pleading with the sick—and the state—to let them help.

News

When a Stanford Bible Study Led to an AI Startup

Two young Christians made a college counseling tool, saying AI should serve those on the margins—not just the rich and powerful.

A Solution for Seasonal Overwhelm

Focusing on the few in front of us makes a tangible difference in our local communities.

News

Finding Sobriety—and Jesus—in Vietnam’s Christian Drug Rehabs

The country’s church-run addiction centers are so effective that communist officials are taking notice.

Review

The Black Church Has Five Theological Anchors

Walter Strickland’s sweeping narrative of African American Christianity portrays a big God who is strong to deliver.

Review

Tending and Keeping the Christian Past in an ‘Ahistoric Age’

Why the work of historical stewardship isn’t just for historians.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube