Using Cultural Stories to Illustrate Gospel Truth Universally

The term "Gospel" originates from the Old English "godspell," meaning "good message" or "good news," which is a translation of the Greek euaggelion ^[3]. This "good news" centers on the belief that a Savior has entered the world ^[1]. The earliest Christian preachers who proclaimed this message were known as evangelistai, or evangelists ^[1]. The New Testament contains four inspired historical accounts of Jesus Christ's life and teachings, traditionally attributed to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, all composed in the latter half of the first century ^[3].

The core message of the Gospel is often understood as the universal sinfulness of humanity and God's provision of salvation through Christ ^[9]. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, emphasizes that both Gentiles and Jews are "under sin's power" and cannot achieve favor with God through their own actions ^[9]. Sin is not merely an act but a state of being, with all human beings born into sin ^[4]. This includes "vanity" or sinful acts ^[5], and deliberate sins are committed with an "insolent or arrogant attitude," representing rebellion against God ^[8]. The first sin, as described in Genesis, involved a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude, and disobedience ^[7]. Even after conversion, individuals may still commit "actual sins," and denying this makes one a liar ^[10]. The Apostle John states that "He that committeth sin is of the devil," contrasting this with those who practice righteousness ^[6]. However, John clarifies that this does not mean being "born of the devil," but rather imitating the devil ^[6].

The Gospel message is intended for "the whole world" ^{[12, 13]}. The doctrine of the Gospel is depicted as a traveler, beginning in Judea and extending through Syria, Asia Minor, and eventually throughout the Roman dominion, proclaiming "glad tidings of great joy to all people" ^[12]. This universal reach is underscored by Jesus's own words, recorded in Mark, that "wheresoever this Gospel... shall be preached throughout the whole world" ^[13]. Paul himself testified to having "fully preached the Good News of Christ" from Jerusalem as far as Illyricum, "in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit" ^[2].

To communicate this universal message, cultural stories can serve as illustrative tools, drawing analogies between common aspects of life and spiritual truths ^[14]. Jesus frequently employed parables, which are stories designed to convey spiritual truths through relatable scenarios ^[14]. Understanding a parable requires identifying its central analogy, considering its historical context, and interpreting it within the broader Gospel narrative ^[14]. This approach avoids speculative allegorical meanings not intended by the original message ^[14].

The purpose of such communication is not merely to inform but to elicit a response that glorifies God ^[15]. When people receive the Gospel and demonstrate "professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ," they glorify God ^[15]. This subjection implies that believers are claimed by Christ, and ultimately by God ^[11]. The Gospel, therefore, is not just a historical account but a transformative message that calls for a response from all people, regardless of their cultural background, and aims to bring them into a relationship with God through Christ ^{[11, 15]}.

Sources

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”
Romans “in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ; -- Romans 15:19”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The name Gospel (from god and spell, Ang. Sax. good message or news, which is a translation of the Greek euaggelion) is applied to the four inspired histories of the life and teaching of Christ contained in the New Testament, of which separate accounts are given in their place. They were all composed during the latter half of the first century: those of St. Matthew and St. Mark some years before the destruction of Jerusalem; that of St. Luke probably about A.D. 64; and that of St. John towards the close of the century. Before the end of the second century, t”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 3:23: 3:23 Just as they may now claim everything as their own, so Christ has claimed them for himself (see Rom 14:7-9), and in Christ they are ultimately claimed by God (see 1 Cor 6:19-20; 7:23).”
Colossians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Colossians 1:6: Which is come unto you - The doctrine of the Gospel is represented as a traveler, whose object it is to visit the whole habitable earth; and, having commenced his journey in Judea, had proceeded through Syria and through different parts of Asia Minor, and had lately arrived at their city, every where proclaiming glad tidings of great joy to all people. As it is in all the world - So rapid is this traveler in his course, that he had already gone nearly through the whole of the countries under the Roman dominion; and will travel on till he has proclaimed his messag”
Mark (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Mark 14:9: Verily I say unto you,.... And you may assure yourselves of the truth of it: wheresoever this Gospel, of the death and resurrection of Christ, shall be preached throughout the whole world, as it shall be, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her; in remembrance of her, and her work, and in commendation of her faith, love, and duty; See Gill on Mat 26:13.”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 13:3: 13:3-9 This parable (interpreted in 13:18-23) addresses the mostly negative responses of the Jewish nation to Jesus and his message. • Parables (Greek parabolē) are stories that usually express an analogy between a common aspect of life and a spiritual truth. To understand a parable, it is necessary to locate the central analogy and understand it in its historical context and in the context of the Gospel text; then the central message can be understood. Speculative allegorical meanings that were not intended should not be found in every element of a parable.”
2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:13: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration,.... That is, the poor saints at Jerusalem having a specimen, a proof, an experience of the liberality of the Gentile churches ministered to them by the apostles, first, they glorify God; by giving thanks unto him, acknowledging him to be the author of all the grace and goodness which they, and others, were partakers of; particularly for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the doctrine of grace, life, and salvation by Christ, of which he is the author, as God, the subject m”

Ask Your Own Question