At a time when the world is experiencing so much anger, chaos, lawlessness, frustration and such a bleak future, God’s overarching plan for humanity is more vital and critical for us to understand and apply individually than ever before.
The Gospel is a message of hope and encouragement that highlights God’s love and mercy for everything He has created. It emphasizes His desire for the creation, the earth and all its inhabitants to dwell in peace and harmony with Him. It also highlights that God is actively working out His plan to add children to His family. His plan is fulfilled yet in the future when His Kingdom is once again established over all the creation and all beings who are willingly led by Him.
The Gospel can be equated to the Kingdom of God which represents the fullness and totality of what God is in the process of accomplishing with mankind. Jesus Christ made this clear as He began His ministry. Immediately following the temptation in the wilderness and John’s imprisonment, Jesus “came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God” (Mark 1:14). After John had preached the baptism of repentance, Jesus Christ came to proclaim, or announce, the arrival of the Kingdom of God, by stating “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Jesus Christ both announced and personified the Gospel, as the perfect human representation of the Father and a direct representative of the Kingdom of God on the earth.
The Gospel message begins at a time in the past when the whole creation existed in a state of peace and harmony. When the earth was created, the angels shouted for joy. There was no hint of conflict (Job 38:7). This was a time when strife, envy, war, and violence simply did not exist. The creation was a unified whole under God’s and the Word’s (John 1:1-3,14) loving rule and authority, exhibiting the very nature of the God family.
This state of peace and harmony was broken. Heylel (also known as Lucifer), a being created perfect, rebelled against the authority and rule of God: “Thus says the Lord God: You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you” (Ezekiel 28:12–15 (NKJV).
When he rebelled, he attempted to raise himself above God and take over rulership of all that existed: “For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars (angels) of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High’” (Isaiah 14:13-14). Heylel became known as Satan, the adversary of God. From that time froward the creation existed in a state of captivity and darkness. See also Ezekiel 28:11-19.
But God’s creation has a purpose. All that we see, and the things that we do not see, were created for a purpose. The plan for the creation, including all of humanity, has not changed. But when Satan rebelled, the creation became “captive “under his power. At the present time, the creation is waiting eagerly to be released from the enslavement in which it finds itself, so that it can be returned to its original purpose once again (Romans 8:19-21).
While the Gospel is comprised of many aspects, the core truth conveyed by that message is that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are engaged in a process of reconciliation and the restoration of all things to the state of peace and harmony, which existed before Satan’s rebellion. When the creation is restored, it will once again be aligned with the purpose for which it was created. Central to this plan is for every person to have a direct and personal relationship with God the Father (Colossians 1:19-20), in their appointed time (1 Corinthians 15:22-23), with the express intent of expanding the God Family.
Paul notes in Romans 8 that God is creating heirs and children: “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, …” (Romans 8:12-17).
All human beings were created with the potential to become members of His family. However, for most of humanity, this purpose remains a mystery. For now, only those called into a relationship with the Father, through Jesus Christ, can understand this mystery.
God’s plan and purpose are based on His desire that all people be transformed through this relationship into a new creation and ultimately born into the divine family of God: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, . . .” (Romans 8:15-17).
The foundation, or the chief cornerstone, of the Gospel is Jesus Christ. It is only through His sacrifice that humanity can be reconciled, and the separation be healed that exists between God and mankind (Colossians 1:22-23). Christ’s sacrifice provides the only way for all peoples to be restored to a relationship with God the Father (John 14:6).
But the Gospel does carry with it personal responsibility and accountability. It is not sufficient to intellectually embrace and support the preaching of the Gospel. It requires action and deep commitment to a walk, or way of life that reflects God, the source of the light. God’s people must repent and believe the Gospel. It is not a passive endeavor. The Apostle James points out that hearing alone is not enough – for those called action is required: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).
A fuller understanding of the Gospel makes it clear that there is personal accountability needed from everyone who hears and heeds the message. The Gospel is intended to begin at the individual level and expand outward to eventually encompass the entire creation. This is clearly conveyed by the parable of the mustard seed as a metaphor for the Kingdom of God. Just as a tiny mustard seed grows into a large tree that covers what is around it. This parable teaches that God begins by reconciling a few now, but eventually all things will be reconciled and covered by His Kingdom and loving authority.
Those called to be reconciled now, have a responsibility. That responsibility is to change and reflect God’s way of life in this world as an example. When we are individually accountable and unified with the message so that the Church reflects God the Father’s nature, then the body of Christ will be lifted as an example to our Father’s glory. When this occurs, the Gospel will be preached in a way that only He can accomplish – bringing glory and honor to His name. This spiritual health and unity of the Church is the foundation of the end time preaching of the Gospel.
The Gospel message will be ultimately fulfilled when the Father dwells on earth in the New Jerusalem with His family: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:1-4).