The Gospel as a Divine Solution to Spiritual Problems
The gospel, derived from the Greek evangelion meaning "good message" or "good news," is understood as God's divine solution to humanity's spiritual problems [3]. This "good news" centers on the person and mission of Jesus Christ, bringing salvation to humanity [2, 3]. The Anglo-Saxon origin of the word "gospel" also points to "God's spell" or "good spell," reinforcing its meaning as a divine message of hope [3].
The core of the gospel is the welcome intelligence of salvation preached by Jesus and his followers [3]. It is described as good tidings of great joy for all people, foretold in the Old Testament and brought to light through Jesus Christ [1, 5]. The gospel reveals the grace of God and the knowledge of God's glory [1]. It is not merely a human invention but is considered "the counsel of God, the most excellent contrivance of the infinitely wise Jehovah" for saving sinners [10].
One of the primary spiritual problems the gospel addresses is sin, which caused separation between humanity and God [12, 13]. Ever since humanity sinned in Genesis 3, this separation has been humanity's greatest problem [13]. The gospel offers healing for the "disease of sin," encompassing both physical and spiritual ailments [12]. It is through the gospel that God's people can finally experience ultimate and everlasting fellowship with Him [13].
The apostle Paul emphasizes the power of the gospel, stating, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek" (Romans 1:16) [4]. This power is not merely persuasive but is God's own power at work, leading to salvation [1, 9]. The message of the cross, central to the gospel, is considered by the unbelieving world as foolish and weak, yet it is wiser and stronger than anything the world offers, solving the problem of sin and overcoming evil [8].
The gospel brings life and immortality to light through Jesus [1]. It is an everlasting message [1]. Ministers are given the stewardship to preach this gospel [1]. The message of the gospel is to be received with joy [5]. This joy is a fruit of the Spirit and is promised to saints [5]. The glory of the gospel is said to exceed that of the law [6].
The central figure of the gospel is Jesus Christ, the Son of God [14]. His name, Jesus, means "savior" or "deliverer" [7]. He is the one appointed to give joy [5]. The gospel is not a "cunningly devised fable" but an undoubted truth of vast concern [10]. It is the means by which God heals, as He "sent his word, and healed them" [11]. The gospel is a divine solution because it addresses the fundamental brokenness caused by sin, offering reconciliation, healing, and eternal life through the power of God [12, 13].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Gospel, The — Is good tidings of great joy for all people -- Lu 2:10,11,31,32. Foretold -- Isa 41:27; 52:7; 61:1-3; Mr 1:15. Preached under the old testament -- Heb 4:2. Exhibits the grace of God -- Ac 14:3; 20:32. The knowledge of the glory of God is by -- 2Co 4:4,6. Life and immortality are brought to light by Jesus through -- 2Ti 1:10. Is the power of God to salvation -- Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:18; 1Th 1:5. Is glorious -- 2Co 4:4. Is everlasting -- 1Pe 1:25; Re 14:6. Preached by Christ -- Mt 4:23; Mr 1:14. Ministers have a stewardship to preach -- 1Co 9:17. Preached before”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The central fact of Christian preaching was the intelligence that the Saviour had come into the world (Matt. 4:23; Rom. 10:15); and the first Christian preachers who called their account of the person and mission of Christ by the term evangelion_ (= good message) were called _evangelistai (= evangelists) (Eph. 4:11; Acts 21:8). There are four historical accounts of the person and work of Christ: "the first by Matthew, announcing the Redeemer as the promised King of the kingdom of God; the second by Mark, declaring him a prophet, mighty in deed and word'; th”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gospel — A word of Anglo-Saxon origin, and meaning "God's spell", i.e., word of God, or rather, according to others, "good spell", i.e., good news. It is the rendering of the Greek evangelion, i.e., "good message." It denotes (1) "the welcome intelligence of salvation to man as preached by our Lord and his followers. (2.) It was afterwards transitively applied to each of the four histories of our Lord's life, published by those who are therefore called Evangelists', writers of the history of the gospel (the evangelion). (3.) The term is often used to express collecti”
- Romans “Romans 1:16 (BSB) — I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Joy — God gives -- Ec 2:26; Ps 4:7. Christ appointed to give -- Isa 61:3. Is a fruit of the Spirit -- Ga 5:22. The gospel, good tidings of -- Lu 2:10,11. God's word affords -- Ne 8:12; Jer 15:16. The gospel to be received with -- 1Th 1:6. Promised to saints -- Ps 132:16; Isa 35:10; 55:12; 56:7. Prepared for saints -- Ps 97:11. Enjoined to saints -- Ps 32:11; Php 3:1. Fulness of, in God's presence -- Ps 16:11. Vanity of seeking, from earthly things -- Ec 2:10,11; 11:8. Experienced by Believers. -- Lu 24:52; Ac 16:34. Peace-makers. -- Pr 12:20. The just. -- Pr 21:15. T”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Glory — God is, to his people -- Ps 3:3; Zec 2:5. Christ is, to his people -- Isa 60:1; Lu 2:32. The gospel ordained to be, to saints -- 1Co 2:7. Of the gospel, exceeds that of the law -- 2Co 3:9,10. The joy of saints is full of -- 1Pe 1:8. Spiritual Is given by God. -- Ps 84:11. Is given by Christ. -- Joh 17:22. Christ. -- Joh 17:22. Is the work of the Holy Spirit. -- 2Co 3:18. Eternal Procured by the death of Christ. -- Heb 2:10. Accompanies salvation by Christ. -- 2Ti 2:10. Inherited by saints. -- 1Sa 2:8; Ps 73:24; Pr 3:35; Col 3:4; 1Pe 5:10. Saints called to. --”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jesus — savior; deliverer”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 1:25: 1:25 What the unbelieving world considers foolish and weak—Christ and the message of the cross—is in reality wiser and stronger than anything the world has to offer. It solves the world’s greatest problem, the problem of sin, and overcomes all the powers of evil that oppose human beings.”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel--(The words, "of Christ," which follow here, are not found in the oldest and best manuscripts). This language implies that it required some courage to bring to "the mistress of the world" what "to the Jews was a stumbling-block and to the Greeks foolishness" (Co1 1:23). But its inherent glory, as God's life-giving message to a dying world, so filled his soul, that, like his blessed Master, he "despised the shame." for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth--Here and in Rom 1:17 the apostle”
- 2 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Peter 1:16: Here we have the reason of giving the foregoing exhortation, and that with so much diligence and seriousness. These things are not idle tales, or a vain thing, but of undoubted truth and vast concern. The gospel is not a cunningly devised fable. These are not the words of one who hath a devil, nor the contrivance of any number of men who by cunning craftiness endeavour to deceive. The way of salvation by Jesus Christ is eminently the counsel of God, the most excellent contrivance of the infinitely wise Jehovah; it was he that invented this way of saving sinners b”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 107:17: He sent his word, and healed them,.... It was his will and pleasure they should be healed, and accordingly they were; he issued his orders for the removal of the affliction, and it was done; diseases are his servants, which come and go at his command; so Christ, in the days of his flesh, healed by speaking a word, Mat 8:3. This is true of Christ the essential Word, who was sent in the fulness of time, and was made flesh and dwelt among men, and went about healing all manner of diseases among the people; and who is also the physician of souls who came with healing in”
- Hosea (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hosea 14:4: 14:4 Then I will heal you: Healing by God is the only solution for the disease of sin. The Lord heals all our diseases, both physical and spiritual (Ps 103:3).”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:3: 21:3 God’s home is now among his people! Old and New Testament expectations are fully and finally realized. Ever since humanity sinned (Gen 3), separation from God has been humanity’s greatest problem (Gen 3:23). God has repeatedly called his people to himself through the prophets, through Jesus his Son, and through the presence of the Spirit (see Gen 17:8; Exod 29:45-46; Pss 46:4-5; 95:7; Jer 7:23; 31:33; Ezek 34:14; 37:27; Zech 8:8; John 14:2-3; 17:24). In the new heaven and new earth, God’s people will finally experience ultimate and everlasting fellowship ”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 1:19: For the Son of God, Jesus Christ,.... The apostle having asserted that the Gospel preached by them was not yea and nay, variable and different, or what was affirmed at one time was denied at another, proceeds to point out the subject of the Gospel ministry, the Son of God, Jesus Christ; that Christ is "the Son of God": this article he began his ministry with, Act 9:20, and all the apostles affirmed the same thing; and which is of the greatest moment and importance, and ought to be abode by, insisted on, and frequently inculcated; as that he is the eternal Son”