The last message of the conference was given by Dr. R.C. Sproul. He began by announcing a pop quiz. We were each to privately answer the question: What is the Gospel? [That happened to also be the title of Dr. Sproul's message.] He read to us from Romans 1, culminating in verses 16-17. Then R.C. took us over to Galatians 1:6ff. Paul was "set apart" (vs. 15) unto the gospel of God. The gospel is a message that is authored and owned by God.
THREE USES OF THE WORD GOSPEL
How should we understand the word "gospel". There are three uses:
1. The word "gospel" is used to describe a literary genre. (As in the "four Gospels" in the New Testament.)
2. A word to describe the kingdom of God in its present state. "The gospel (the good news" of the kingdom of God." The kingdom of God has come in the first Advent of Christ. This is what John the Baptist announced, necessitating that the Jews of that day repent and be baptized. John noted that the kingdom of God is "at hand." The "ax is laid at the root of the tree." One more chop and it is going down. Then he saw Jesus coming to be baptized and identified Him: "He must increase, and I must decrease." Jesus tells people about the characteristics of the kingdom of God. (Even though in another sense, God has been King since eternity past.)
We sometimes pay little attention to the Ascension. But that was a kingly coronation. It was good for the disciples that Jesus left. Jesus is reigning right now. He bears invisible witness in the lives of His people.
But we see in the New Testament that this "gospel of the kingdom" is now the "gospel of Jesus Christ."
The gospel has an objective content at its inner core with a subjective element around that inner core.
3. The gospel is the good news of the person and work of Jesus Christ. We do not want to denigrate personal testimony, but our personal testimony is not the gospel. The gospel includes the affirmation that Jesus is the Christ. Part of the gospel is the good news of a mediator who has come on our behalf. But not only are we excited about this God-man who has come, we recognize that He was declared to be the Son of God with power by his resurrection from the dead (Rom. 1:4). No gospel without resurrection. The gospel is about who Jesus is and what Jesus did. We have to tell people who Jesus is (in His person) and what Jesus did (in His work).
THE POWER OF GOD IS IN THE GOSPEL OF GOD
Sadly, we often look for power everywhere but where God has placed it. We look for it in elaborate programs. But we are powerless to bring others to faith. We can generate professions of faith, but these do not guarantee the possession of faith. Only God can generate conversions.
And the good news is that in spite of the fact that although we are unable to live up to God's standards, we can receive the righteousness of Christ by faith. This simple, clear message, unfortunately, has been altered and "enhance" in every generation over the last few hundred years. It went totally into eclipse in the Middle Ages.
CONCLUSION
Paul is rightly consternated over the fact that the Galatians were wandering away from the path God has delineated. Paul was not seeking to please man. If he was, he would not be a servant of Christ. Don't ever turn the good news into bad news, because it is God's gospel.
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