Did you know that the Gospel contains pretty much every truth taught in the Bible? It’s true. Since the Gospel is about Jesus, and since Jesus is the focus of the Bible and all Scripture points to Him, then this means that the entire Bible is “Gospel truth.”
But here’s the problem with that fact:
If the entire Bible is Gospel truth, then what are you supposed to share with others when you present the gospel to them?
Can you really tell them to just “read the Bible”? Can you tell them that they have not believed in the Gospel until they believe the entire Bible?
If so, we might as well just give up evangelizing right now. You will rarely, if ever, get a non-believer to read the entire Bible, and even then, no one ever actually believes the entire Bible (not even you).
Stop Telling People to “Believe the Gospel”
This is why I never invite people to “believe the gospel to become a Christian.” Such a statement is just too vague and too vast.
Saying, “Believe the Gospel” is akin to saying, “Believe the Bible to become a Christian.”
Besides, when someone starts reading the Bible, they quickly come across statements that are hard to believe, such as the idea that Methulselah lived to be 969 years old (Gen 5:27), that Joshua got the sun to stand still for a day (Joshua 10:13), or that Elisha got an ax head to float (2 Kings 6:6).
If they think they have to believe the entire Bible to become a Christian and they read those hard to believe ideas and think, “Well, I just cannot believe that!” they will then think, “I guess I cannot be a Christian.”
But they can become a Christian, even if they don’t (yet) believe these things! The problem is not with their lack of faith, but with our failure to clearly present the gospel.
We need to present the gospel like Jesus
People don’t need to believe the entire Bible, or the entire Gospel, in order to become a Christian. They just need to believe in Jesus.
Though the entire Bible is gospel truth, there are some gospel truths which consistently appear whenever someone is inviting others to become a Christian.
Jesus is the best guide and example of this. In the Gospel of John (which is the only book of the Bible written with the express purpose that those who read it will believe and have life–John 20:31), Jesus shows us over and over and over how to simply, clearly, and succinctly invite people to gain eternal life.
While the entire Bible contains Gospel truths, there are some central gospel truths which I call the gospel invitation. This gospel invitation is what Jesus consistently used (as did Peter, Paul, and the other apostles) to invite non-believers to receive eternal life from Jesus.
Here is what they said:
Believe in Jesus for eternal life.
That’s it.
Jesus used versions of this statement over and over and over in the Gospel of John (cf. John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47). In my course, The Gospel According to Scripture, I include a resource which shows where this gospel invitation is used 185 times in the New Testament. It is used consistently by Peter, Paul, and the other apostles.
Best of all, this gospel invitation is used consistently by Jesus. If this gospel invitation was good enough for Jesus, it is good enough for me.
So the next time you are talking with someone about the gospel or how to receive eternal life, don’t use unclear and muddled statements. Instead, follow the example of Jesus and Scripture, and simply invite people to believe in Jesus for eternal life. This is the best, clearest, and most biblical way of inviting people to receive eternal life.
so stop telling people to believe the gospel. This is like telling people to believe the Bible. This is not wrong, it is just not helpful. Such an invitation is too vast and too vague. Instead, let us follow the example of Jesus and use His gospel invitation.
Invite people to believe in Jesus for eternal life.
Want to learn more about the gospel? Take my new course, "The Gospel According to Scripture."
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Well said. Straight, simple
Praise God
For years I always thought that the good news ( gospel ) is about believing on Jesus so that we can ” go to Heaven when you die ” the old ” pie in the sky when you die ” . Presentations of the “gospel ” that I hear, seem to still carry that message. Leaving this life to exist in a fanciful place in the sky.
Are we really telling the good news if we give that message. It sounds more like bad news of eternal death.
This idea has been robbed of it’s force by the silly caricatures like Peter as comical gatekeeper and people floating on clouds holding harps, and God as an old bearded fellow sitting on a big chair. . I think people imagine that evangelists are actually presenting that and of course they take no notice. It is clearly the stuff of fairy stories I reckon they would think.
I have read carefully in the Book of Acts, the accounts of the apostles’ presentations of the good news, especially Paul, who was said to preach to the Athenians ” Christ ….and the resurrection “. Is that Jesus resurrection ? The context seems to suggest not only Christ’s resurrection but the believers’ resurrection.
Is our presentation of the “gospel” coming up short because we don’t tell the message of God’s plan to redeem our physique and the planet itself and how God would have us live again in the new heaven and new earth. Jesus resurrection is the proof of this; the bible says so. Could we say that to believe on Jesus is to look forward to rising, just as He rose.
I could be wrong but I think people would find this a startling message and it might just catch their attention.
Neville there is so much more to what Jesus did for us on the cross we only focus on a few areas like eternal life and the forgivenness of sins the truth is that Jesus has the power to change the worst of sinners like myself through the power of his holy spirit our comforter our advocate our empowerer.He is the one who raises us to life as a new believer and carries us through so that we can become like Christ by his mighty power and one day will raise us to life in Christ for eternity.That to me is what the gospel of Jesus Christ is about.I had been a christian for over twenty five years and i never new the power of God to change my life i changed some superficial outward things and i was on all accounts a good person i didnt do anything bad to anyone but my heart was corrupt.I came to a place where i felt that the gospel had no power at all to change my inner life i felt powerless to change my old sinful nature i would always do the things i didnt want to do like paul preached .The truth was i was trying to do it in my strength when i admitted that i was powerless to change who i was and that i needed God to do it he empowered me to change since then my life has been very different he transformed my heart and changed who i am.The old me is dead the new me is alive to Christ and i desire to follow him with all my heart and that is the power of Jesus Christ he is the giver of life.brentnz
With respect Brent, you seem to be correcting me on something that is not in my comment.
Along the line of essential truths of the gospel; the theme of this blog, I am not discounting anything. I was pointing out what I take to be an essential truth that seems to get left out of the gospel presentation in evangelical efforts.
Sorry Neville didnt mean to imply that you meant the other things in fact i am agreeing with what you said in fact and pretty much with your point of view on most of your comments we have discussed.I was adding my own thoughts that that there is so much more to what Jesus did for us on the cross. then just the eternal life or forgiveness of sins My apologys for the confusion didnt explain myself well .regards brent
No apology needed Brent. It’s good to sort out understandings.
Question: Are Elijah and John the Baptist one in the same (Matthew 17:9-13)?
also,
Would like a definitive idea please. Where in the Bible does it indicate that the 12,000 tribes of Joseph are not all Jews? Was Joseph’s wife a gentile?
The 144,000 in Revelation 7 and 14 may have included Gentiles, since they represent the martyrs of the 1st century Church. What is your understanding? I have made the case from the description of the 144,000 that they represented the Jews who made up the Church for a decade before the conversion of Cornelius (first Gentile). Would love to get your opinions here. Thank you, and stay blessed!
There is no mention of a 12,000 tribes of Joseph in the Bible, however Revelation 7 does mention the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribes of Ephraim and Dan went off into idolatry, and thus they are not listed in Revelation 7 as tribes that are sealed. Dan has been replaced by Manasses, one of the sons of Joseph and Joseph replaces his other son Ephraim.
While Gentiles did intermarry with Jews (i.e. Rahab and Ruth) these are predominantly tribes of Israel. The church is not part of this group.
John And Elijah are two individuals. Luke 1:17 does tell us that John will precede the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah.
Craig well answered brent
The beauty and the power of the gospel is in its simplicity. You have presented it so well Jeremy.
it is specifically “the gospel of Jesus Christ” that we are to preach, that,
those who hear and believe might be saved. we are saved by grace
thru faith, and faith comes by hearing the word of God. many “believe in Jesus”, and have not obtained eternal life. and there are many so called gospels. Jesus’ message began with repentance, He is the Word of God. the apostles preached “the forgiveness of sins”, thru faith in Jesus Christ. the command is to “preach the gospel”, for it is the power of God to save… better to say, believe in Jesus for the remission of sins, that you may receive the gift of Holy Spirit, i.e. everlasting life. while Jesus walked on earth, he told the people who believed his words, that they have crossed from death to life. yet,
after his death and resurrection, and pentecost, they would be saved thru believing “the gospel” preached by the apostles.
behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world;
who is risen, and ever lives, seated at the right hand of the Father.
God has commanded all men to repent, acts 17:30,31, for He has
appointed a day on which all will be judged by the man whom he
has appointed, proven by His resurrection.
Jesus came to save us from our sins. those who look to Jesus to
save them from their sins, will be born again unto everlasting life,
i.e. Christ in you. let’s not tickle ears. the wages of sin is death.
God, the devil, sin, repentance, the blood of Jesus, life eternal.
the just shall live by faith, in the Son of God. you must be born again. by the way, Jesus said that to one of the pharisee’s who
were rejecting the baptism of john.<(repentance) therefore, preach
"the gospel of Jesus Christ", to believe, and receive the promise.
"everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins".
titus 2:11-15 the offense of the gospel. matt. 9:13 turning sinners
to repentance. "i am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ……"
Many years ago I read a small series of books on the subject of old testament miracles. And it helped me understand the reality of God’s kingdom. The supernatural in the natural so to speak. When the sun stood still on the sky for Joshua, s battle the scientific explanation for this is that there was around that time a 1 degree change in the earth’s axis. This was a natural occurrence but had supernatural consequences in Joshua, s battle. But truth be really told. Everything is absolutely supernatural. Then there was the red sea parting for the israelites safe passage. Again the scientific e plaination is that there was an earthquake in the area somewhere. Out at sea for example. With a resulting consequence of a tsunami. Before a tsunami there is the factual withdrawal of tidal waters before the catastrophic in rush of the tide. The withdrawal of the tide gave safe passage to the israelites. The tumultuous incoming of the tide toke out the Egyptians. Now this is NOT!!! me trying to explain away miracles. More to the point trying to explain the miracle of life itself. Everything is supernatural about the natural. With regards to Methusala and his 900plus years of life. Before the flood the earth was a different place. Indeed. Science has it allegedly that the oxygen content of air was 23/24% compared to our 21% at present. Now in those early days there was much larger life force animals and vegetation. So could a man have lived 900plus years. Maybe. And in my reckoning probably. But as we are told in genesis after the flood in the conversion between God and noah. Man’s lifespan has now been reduced to 120 years. So 120 years is now our lot. And this bears out in our here and now reality. The 3 score and ten was a different conversation between God and David. And sorta set up a medium standard. But 120 is the real limit. So I am now 56. Not even half way to the limit. But in saying that. I have a few self destruct tendancies unfortunately. Most of us have. Which tend to throw us in to the King David bracket. But let’s try to focus folks. Let 120 be our aim. It should be. Life ain, t bad. In fact if we belueve in the supernatural God that is! Then we should also belueve in his good creation. And enjoy it. But 1 day at a time. “This is the day the Lord has made. Rejoice! Be glad in it.”. 1 day at a time though. Any more and your pushing it! Stress not! Lol. And quit trying to create the created.