The word “gospel” means, “the announcement of good news.” It is derived from the word “message” with a prefix indicating good. It is a word commonly used for announcing a military victory or the birth of an heir to the throne. This word found its way into English indirectly, through scholars translating the concept, not simply the word. Thus, they took the constituent parts of the Latin bona annuntiatio (good news) and rendered it into native Old English components “gōd (good)” and “spel (news or message).” Over time, gōd was shortened, dropping the “d”, resulting in the modern-day pronunciation and spelling of “gospel.” In modern English, “gospel” has become associated, and thus restricted in use, with the Church and the message of Christ.
In Matthew 4:23, Matthew writes Jesus went through all of Galilee, teaching the gospel of the Kingdom in their synagogues. This is the good news of the fulfillment of the promises God gave David and Israel (Psalm 132:11; Deuteronomy 18:15–a prophet like me). During the Tribulation Period, this gospel will be preached throughout the entire earth (Matthew 24:14).
The gospel of the Kingdom of God relates to the good news concerning salvation and eternity. When Israel rejected the gospel of the Kingdom of the Heavens, Jesus began to present the gospel of the Kingdom of God to all those who accepted Him (Mark 1:14).
Paul was separated unto the gospel from God concerning His Son (Romans 1:1). This is the gospel of the Christ (Romans 1:16). Unlike the gospel of the Kingdom of the Heavens, the gospel of the Christ has an inherent ability to save (Matthew 13:19–the malignantly evil one snatches away what was sown in the heart). This gospel relates to salvation (1 Corinthians 15:3–4), along with the life of the believer (Romans 16:25). Because the gospel for salvation today has an inherent ability to save, the god of this age—Satan—blinds the minds of the unbelievers from the gospel of the proper opinion of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:3–4).
The gospel for salvation today (1 Corinthians 15:3–4) is not a gospel concerning immersion by water (1 Corinthians 1:17). Water baptism does not save from sin (the filth of the flesh) but is for a good conscience before God (1 Peter 3:21). The message Paul and the other apostles presented is a good news of faith through grace (Ephesians 2:8). This is a gospel that does not come by word only, but also by inherent ability, for it impacts the life of the believer (1 Thessalonians 1:5).
Israel did not obey the gospel of Christ (Romans 10:16). Concerning the gospel of Christ, they are enemies for our sake, but concerning election, they are beloved by the Father (Romans 11:28). Thus, through their disobedience, we have obtained mercy (Romans 11:31), for God is using the Gentiles to bring Israel to be zealous for her God (Romans 10:19).
False teachers promote different gospels that alters the gospels of the Christ and salvation (Galatians 1:6–7). Unfortunately, just as the Corinthian assembly did, many assembles today put up with those who teach a different gospel and bring another spirit (2 Corinthians 11:4). Paul’s gospel is the death for sins and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the seed of David (2 Timothy 2:8). It is a good message that stabilizes the believer in truth (Romans 16:25–27). It is by this gospel God will judge the secrets of men (Romans 2:16). Therefore, let us hold on to the truth of the gospel, and not permit someone to persuade us from the truth into another gospel, which is not a message of the same kind, but one meant to bring bondage to the hearer for the benefit of the one proclaiming it (Galatians 1:6–7).
