THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people” (Luke 2:10 NKJV).

The message that the angel gave to the shepherds about the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ was the gospel message. Thus, it a good message, a glad message, and a global message.

Good message - “I bring you good tidings.” The four English words “I bring” and “good tidings” come from one Greek word euangelizō (εὐαγγελίζω = yoo-ang-ghel-id'-zo). We get such English words as evangel, evangelize, evangelical, and evangelistic from this word. To evangelize means to bring good tidings. And no tidings are better than the news that the Lord Jesus Christ has come to earth to be the Savior of mankind. This was the angel’s message to the shepherds. It is the best message ever given to mankind. Man is a sinner and as such has come under the judgment of God. But the good news is that the Lord Jesus Christ has come to save sinners from the judgment of their sins.

Glad message - “I bring you good tidings of great joy.” The Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest source of joy for mankind. Through salvation, He brings men their greatest joy not only for time, but for eternity. Therefore, the apostle Paul could say, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4). And this was said when he was in prison. This means that the Lord Jesus Christ can bring us joy no matter how dark our circumstances. The joy we get from the Lord Jesus Christ is not dependent on our circumstances, but is dependent upon our having received Him as our Savior and Lord.

Global message - “Which will be to all people.” The Gospel message is not limited to a particular place, people, or to a certain locality. It is for all mankind on the earth. The Bible says, “God so loved the world” (John 3:16). His love is global and so the Gospel message is global. Therefore, “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13). We do not need a different Gospel for different races and nationalities. There is only one Gospel, and it is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is good for all who call upon Him to be saved. Wherever we go, this message is applicable to all people.

(Adapted from Butler's Daily Bible Reading 2)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“The gospel is open to all; the most respectable sinner has no more claim on it than the worst!”

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899 - 1981)

Welsh Congregationalist Minister and Medical Doctor

Word Study

Expecting

In Luke 6:35 we read, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men" (NASB).

“Expecting” is the Greek word elpízō (ἐλπίζω = el-pid'-zo). The word means to look forward with confidence to that which is good and beneficial. It is to express desire for some good with the expectation of obtaining it. In a religious sense, it means to hope, to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence.

“Fear Nots” Found in the Bible

“But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak” (Matt. 10:19 KJV).

Did You Know…

Manasseh and Ephraim, two of the tribes of Israel were descended from an Egyptian woman (cf. Gen. 41:50-52).

Bible Quiz

According to the Book of Acts, who brought a message to Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian regiment?”

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: Who said, “I did not come to bring peace but a sword?” The Lord Jesus (Matt. 10:34).

Names For the Lord Jesus in the Bible

“POWER OF GOD”

"But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24 NKJV).

1. Meaning – POWER OF GOD speaks of the Lord Jesus as the One has who the power to rescue sinners (Jews and Gentiles) from the dominion of sin and from divine judgment.

2. Insights – The Lord Jesus Christ is “the power of God.” The word for “power” is dunamis, and it speaks of might, ability, force. It suggests unhindered and unequaled power. Here, the apostle Paul relates the word “power” not to the Lord Jesus’ work of creation (John 1:3; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:2) but to His work of recreation (Rom. 1:4, 16). The preaching of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ has great effect. It changes people – it calls them to faith and unites and crosses all man-made boundaries. The gospel, which speaks so eloquently of the Lord Jesus Christ, reveals God and demonstrates His power to every generation.

Did You Know – Christian History

Ambrose of Milan was born around 339 in Augusta Treverorum, a Roman city on the Moselle River. He was an Italian theologian and statesman.

Ambrose was born into a wealthy and powerful Roman family. He received a good Roman education and at the age of 34 became the governor of Northern Italy. In 374, the Archbishop of Milan died. The people at that time elected the bishops, but there was a great division between rival religious factions - orthodox Catholics and Arians - as to who the new bishop should be. The crowd became disorderly, and it appeared riots were about to break out. Governor Ambrose came to encourage the people to conduct themselves in an orderly and Christian manner. Being well respected by both sides of the conflict, they demanded he become their bishop.

Ambrose protested. This was the furthest thing from his mind, especially since he was not even baptized! But his protests were of no use. The people wanted him. When Emperor Valentinian approved the selection and threatened severe penalties against anyone who helped hide the lawyer, Ambrose gave in and was baptized. Eight days later, on December 7, 374, he was consecrated bishop of Milan. He took his new responsibilities seriously. He gave all his possessions to the poor and improved up on his theology. His oratorical skills as a lawyer proved helpful when he took the pulpit. He spoke ad lib, not writing out his sermons. These were so good that the great Augustine of Hippo was won to Christ through listening to him. .

Throughout his life, Ambrose was known for his charity, justice, and humanity. When a man left a large legacy to the church while leaving his sister poor and penniless, Ambrose gave the legacy to the poor woman. Ambrose knew the Church had a spiritual mission and it was not to be tied down by the things of this world. With his legal skills and Greek learning, he defended the church and its people.

Ambrose died on Good Friday in 397. His death made such an impression on the public that five bishops could hardly cope with all the people who requested to be baptized the next day. Because of Ambrose’s writings, long after his death, he would be named a “doctor of the church” in the Catholic Church, classed with Jerome, Augustine and Gregory the Great as one of the four Latin Church fathers.

A Little Humor

A boy came late to Sunday school. Knowing he was usually very prompt, his teacher asked, “Johnny, is anything wrong?” “No, ma’am, not really,” he said. “I was going to go fishing, but my dad told me that I needed to get on up and go to church.” The teacher was very impressed and asked Johnny if his father had explained why going to church was more important than fishing. “Yes, ma’am, he did,” Johnny said. “My daddy said he didn’t have enough bait for both of us.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Conversion to Christ makes useful saints out of useless sinners!”