But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Romans 15:29

Imagine someone shows up at your door, with a message in their hand. You can tell they have a message because you are watching them from an upstairs window. Considering the look on their face, you suspect they have some good news to share. It also helps that the package they’ve brought with them has “GOOD NEWS” stamped right on the top.

Trouble is: you are very busy. Things to do, people to see, etc. Perhaps the news isn’t worth your time anyway; perhaps it’s just a scam. You could ignore them until they go away.

So, what do you do? Step out onto the porch; give them five minutes – and a stern warning not to waste your time? Encourage them to get to the point? Or, do you invite them in, ask them to sit down and offer them some tea?

It would help to know the nature of the good news; right? But how will you know, if you don’t take the time?

What if you knew the good news was from the king; and it was news that dramatically affected your life? How much time and consideration would you give for that good news? Would you, perhaps, invite the messenger to stay for dinner?

I believe you would.

So let me ask you: What is the “good news” of the Bible to you? What is the gospel? Is it “Jesus died for me, so I could go to heaven”? If so, what have you made of His burial and resurrection?

Jesus ascended, to sit at the Father’s right hand; and to send the Holy Spirit. Does your gospel include His ascension? What about Pentecost? At least one denomination takes its name from this conviction (i.e., Full Gospel Fellowship).

Have I got you thinking more about that good news yet?

Those more versed in Scripture may describe the gospel with words like rebirth, reconciliation and redemption. Certainly these help in our understanding; as do justification, sanctification and glorification.

Perhaps these are meat, for a milk-fed church. Who really understands them as the gospel?

Most consider the gospel to be a product of the New Testament. But, did you know that the gospel was preached almost two thousand years before Jesus was born?

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” Galatians 3:8

The gospel has been a part of God’s story at least as far back as His covenant with Abraham.

More recently, Jesus came preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15). Is the gospel everything He preached? What about the Sermon on the Mount; or all of His parables?

Perhaps the most important question of all: What does “the kingdom” have to do with the gospel? When was the last time you heard someone preach on the gospel of the kingdom of God – the good news that Jesus came to preach?

The letter to the Galatians is a passionate defense of the gospel.

Even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:8-9

This begs the question: What is this gospel that Paul was so passionate about? Shouldn’t we have a good idea – particularly those of us called to defend it (i.e., every Christian)?

Perhaps you are thinking that there is much good news in the Bible, but it is not all “The Gospel”. This makes sense, but who would define the boundaries of “The Gospel”? We have so many perspectives and opinions. Does this not invite sectarianism and division?

Is the gospel such a small thing that any person or denomination can fully understand or explain it?

It seems to me that while boundaries are not necessarily wrong, they may have become unprofitable – even harmful – to the followers of Jesus Christ.

I believe the Lord’s objective in this lesson is to do something more than establish new boundaries for “The Gospel”. I am convinced that He wants to remove the boundaries of doctrine and dogma – at least for a safe moment – to bless us with more understanding and belief; that the life of the gospel would be more fully ours.

Therefore, let me suggest a different approach; an approach that removes our potentially limited perspectives. Rather than attempt to narrow down the gospel into a ten minute sound bite – and risk missing some part of its fullness – let us begin with the broadest of perspectives.

Let us begin by looking at the gospel from the perspective of the One who wrote the story.

Click here if you desire the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

Humbly yours and forever His,