In Mark 1:14-15, we read that after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of God, saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
The Gospel of God
As soon as John the Baptist had finished his testimony, Jesus began His in Galilee, His home district. John’s enemies had sought to silence Him, but the gospel cannot be silenced.
What is the Gospel of God that Jesus came to preach? The word “gospel” literally means “good news.”
When a king had good news to deliver to his subjects he sent messengers or heralds throughout the land to make a public announcement. For instance, the birth of a newborn king or the victory over an invading army or occupied force.
God sent His prophets to announce the coming of God’s anointed King and Messiah.
After Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan and anointed by the Spirit He begins His ministry of preaching the Gospel. This is the good news that the kingdom of God was now at hand for all who were ready to receive it.
The Kingdom of God
Jesus proclaimed that the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Jesus takes up John’s message of repentance and calls His disciples to believe in the gospel – the good news He has come to deliver.
What is the good news?
It is the good news of peace (restoration of relationship with God as Ephesians 6:15 says), of hope (the hope of heaven and everlasting life – Colossians 1:23), and of truth (God’s word is true and reliable – Colossians 1:5). The good news is also a promise of reward (He rewards those who seek Him – Ephesians 3:6) and immortality (God gives everlasting life – 2 Timothy 1:10).
Finally, it is the good news of salvation (liberty from sin and freedom to live as sons and daughters of God – Ephesians 1:13).
God sent us His Son not to establish an earthly kingdom but to bring us into His heavenly kingdom – a kingdom ruled by truth, justice, peace, and holiness. The kingdom of God is the central theme of Jesus’ mission. It’s the core of His gospel message.
God Rules Over All
What is the kingdom of God? The word “kingdom” means something more than a territory or an area of land. It literally means “sovereignty” or “reign” and the power to “rule” and exercise authority.
The prophets announced that God would establish a kingdom not just for one nation or people but for the whole world. The Scriptures tell us that God’s throne is in heaven and His rule is over all (Psalm 103:19).
God’s kingdom is bigger and more powerful than anything we can imagine because it is universal and everlasting (Daniel 4:3). His kingdom is full of glory, power, and splendor or glory (Psalm 145:11-13).
In the Book of Daniel, we read that this kingdom is given to the Son of Man (Daniel 7:14, 18, 22, 27). The Son of Man is a Messianic title for God’s anointed King. The New Testament word for “Messiah” is “Christ” which literally means the “Anointed One” or the “Anointed King.”
Conditions for Entering the Kingdom of God
How does one enter the kingdom of God? In announcing the good news, Jesus gave two explicit things each of us must do in order to enter the kingdom of God: repent and believe.
A. Repent
Repentance is the first step. Repentance means to change – to change our way of thinking and our attitude, disposition, and life choices so that Christ can be the Lord and Master of our hearts rather than sin, selfishness, and greed.
If we are only sorry for the consequences of our sins, we will very likely keep repeating the sin that is mastering us.
True repentance requires a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17) and sorrow for sin and a firm resolution to avoid it in the future. The Lord Jesus gives us the grace to see sin for what it really is – a rejection of His love and wisdom for our lives and a refusal to do what is good and in accord with His will.
God’s grace brings pardon and helps us turn away from everything that would keep us from His love and truth.
B. Believe
To believe is to take Jesus at His word and to recognize that God loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to free us from the bondage of sin and harmful desires. God made the supreme sacrifice of His Son on the cross to bring us back to a relationship of peace and friendship with Himself. He is our Father and He wants us to live as His sons and daughters. God loved us first (1 John 4:19) and He invites us in love to surrender our lives to Him.
When we submit to Christ’s rule in our lives and believe the gospel message, the Lord Jesus gives us the grace and power to live a new way of life as citizens of His kingdom. He gives us the grace to renounce the kingdom of darkness ruled by sin and Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44) and the ruler of this present world (John 12:31).
Do you believe that the gospel – the good news of Jesus – has the power to free you from the bondage of sin and fear?
Becoming Fishers of Men
Like fishermen, we are called to gather in people for the kingdom of God. When Jesus preached the gospel message, He called others to follow as His disciples and He gave them a mission “to catch people for the kingdom of God” (Mark 1:16-20).
What kinds of disciples did Jesus choose? Smelly fishermen! In the choice of the first apostles, we see a characteristic feature of Jesus’ work: He chose very ordinary people. They were non-professionals and had no wealth or position. They were chosen from the common people who did ordinary things, had no special education, and had no social advantages.
Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do it extraordinarily well. He chose these individuals, not for what they were, but for what they would be capable of becoming under His direction and power.
God Chooses Ordinary People to Catch People
When the Lord calls us to serve, we must not think that we have nothing to offer. The Lord takes what ordinary people, like you and me, can offer and uses it for greatness in His kingdom.
Do you believe that God wants to work in and through you for His glory?
Jesus speaks the same message to us today: we will “catch people” for the kingdom of God if we allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine through us. God wants others to see the light of Christ in us in the way we live, speak, and witness the joy of the gospel.
Do you witness to those around you the joy of the Gospel? Do you pray for your neighbor, co-workers, and relatives that they may come to know the Lord Jesus Christ and grow in the knowledge of His love?
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Recommended Resource:
Simply Good News: Why the Gospel Is News and What Makes It Good by N. T. Wright
The bishop, Bible scholar, modern heir to C. S. Lewis, and revered author of Simply Christian and Simply Jesus offers a fresh look at the Gospel, explaining why Jesus’ message is “good news” and why it is more timely and transforming today than we know.
The Gospel means good news. But if the message has been around for 2,000 years, what makes it significant today? What’s so “good” about stories involving damnation, violence, and a God who sacrifices His only Son?
Noted Bible scholar N.T. Wright shows us how Christians today have lost sight of what the “good news” of the gospel really is.
In Simply Good News, he takes us back in time to reveal how the people of the first century—the gospel’s original audience—would have received Jesus’ message. He offers a clear and thoughtful analysis of what the “good news” really is, and applies it to our lives today, revealing its power to transform us.
By understanding these few facts below, hopefully it will lead to a better understanding of a number of questions that the reader may have.
John 6:44 clearly states that nobody can come to JESUS unless the Spirit of God draws them to JESUS. We did not come to JESUS on our own. We only came to JESUS because God’s Spirit drew us to JESUS.
There are billions of people who God’s Spirit never drew them to JESUS. God is not going to sentence billions of people to eternal torment and damnation who never even had the Spirit of God draw them to JESUS.
Even though God created multitude upon multitude of angels, GOD’S DEEP DESIRE WAS TO CREATE A SPECIAL CREATION (THE TRUE CHURCH) THAT WOULD BECOME HIS BRIDE. The past 6,000 years has been for the purpose of preparing a Bride (THE TRUE CHURCH) for CHRIST.
At some point and time in the future, after JESUS and His Bride begin to rule and reign on the Earth, God’s Spirit will fall upon the rest of humanity who has ever lived from the beginning of creation, and will begin His transforming work in them which will restore them back to God (like Adam and Eve in the beginning of creation), and they will live in the Kingdom of God for eternity.
Once we have a good understanding of this part of God’s plan, much of what did not make much sense to us before, begins to cause the pieces of the puzzles to come together and solve what was once so difficult for us to understand.
I have spent several years in putting together a 33 page document on this subject. If anyone would like a copy, email me at: (candy33alan@aol.com) and I will email you a copy.
Hi Alan,
I appreciate the insights you shared.
You’re right; we need a proper understanding of God’s redemptive plan for mankind which can only come from reading and meditating His written Word.
God bless you more in your ministry.
I am so enlightened and blessed by your publication. God richly bless you and Grant you much grace to keep on with this good work.
Shalom
Thank you, Pastor Ebenezer. I appreciate your words of encouragement.
God bless you more!
Thanks much for sharing. I, too, would like a copy of your book.
I believe this is addressed to Alan Finch ☺.
My name is Alan Finch. JESUS became my Lord and Saviour in April of 1976.
I spent several years diligently searching the Scriptures to uncover what really made Biblical sense in regards to God’s true message to us of what really is the Good News of the Gospel of Christ, which I did not properly understand for most of my many years as a Christian.
In my 1st 38 years as a Christian, I believed the unscriptural teaching that there is going to be eternal torment for multitudes and multitudes of people. I then began to seriously question that teaching. I then decided to do an in-depth study of the Bible concerning this issue, and the Scriptures revealed to me that I had believed a horrible lie for all those years.
The Lake of Fire is not a physical Lake of Fire, but a Spiritual Lake of Fire from God’s Spirit for the purpose of “RESTORATION.” God is a God of “RESTORATION,” not a God of destruction.
In Acts 3:21 God promises that there shall be a “RESTORATION” of ALL things! What is there not to understand about this wonderful promise that God has made to us?
The overall theme of the Bible is that God’s ultimate plan for ALL mankind is to restore, not destroy in an eternal Lake of Fire or eternal annihilation!
In John 12:32 JESUS clearly states that He is going to draw ALL people to Himself! Not a portion of mankind, but ALL of mankind.
In John 6:44 JESUS clearly states that nobody can come to Him except the Father draws that person to Him. For those who are true Christians, WE MUST NOT KID OURSELVES IN THE FACT THAT WE ONLY CAME TO JESUS BECAUSE GOD’S SPIRIT DREW US TO JESUS!
In the present, and in the future, God has His own timing when He will draw each individual to Himself.
Addressing the issue of the belief in eternal annihilation, the Lord clearly tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:11 that He has planted eternity in our hearts. God has made us living Spirits. It is impossible for our Spirit to be destroyed.
GOD HAS NOT FAILED IN HIS ORIGINAL PLAN FOR ALL OF MANKIND WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE ETERNAL TORMENT OR ETERNAL ANNIHILATION. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO FAIL IN ANYTHING!
God worked out His plan in past Ages, God is working out His plan in the present Age that we are now living in, and God will work out His plan in future Ages to come.
I have spent the last several years Biblically expounding in a 32-page document that I have put together on the truth of there being no eternal suffering in a Lake of Fire for anyone. I have just explained the real LOVE of God that today’s Church just simply does not seem to grasp.
After spending several years diving deep into the Scriptures to uncover the Biblical truth on this subject, I would like to share these Biblical truths with others so that they can experience the same joy that I experienced which set me free from what I had previously believed for most of my life.
If anyone would be interested in a copy of my document, email me at: (candy33alan@aol.com), and I will email you a copy.
Thanks, Alan.
I have already replied to your comment in the article, “What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
You made the exact same comment there.
Shalom!
Hi Alan Finch,
I am glad that you believe that Jesus is your Savior. That is great!
However, I believe you are mistaken in your belief that God will not punish anyone, even those who refuse to obey and worship Him.
Let’s take a look at Acts 3:21.
21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since [e]the world began.
(Acts 3:21 NKJV)
In Acts 3:21, where it says “until the times of restoration of all things, Peter and John were not claiming that everyone will be restored or saved. The passage clearly states that the restoration will be “of all things,” not all people.
“The time for restoring all things” (ESV) looks forward to when Christ will return and his kingdom will be established on earth, and the earth itself will be renewed even beyond the more abundant and productive state it had before Adam and Eve’s fall. – ESV Study Bible, Acts 3:21 commentary.
When Adam sinned, the created world was also “subjected to futility” (ESV) (Romans 8:20).
One thinks of the thorns and thistles that were to accompany work in Genesis 3:17-19, the pain in childbirth for the woman (Genesis 3:16), and the repeated refrain that all is vanity in Ecclesiastes.
The original creation (Genesis 1-2) did not have these things, and on the last day it also will be transformed and freed from the effects of sin and will instantly become far more beautiful, productive, and easy to live than one can ever imagine. – ESV Study Bible, Romans 8:20-21 commentary.
The restoration referred to in this passage (Acts 3:21) deals with restoring blessings and Jesus’ coming earthly reign. That is why the Apostle Peter and the Apostle John admonished the listeners to repent (Acts 3:19).
Why would the apostles here tell the listeners to repent if it didn’t matter when one believes in Jesus during this present life or not?
Your stated:
“GOD HAS NOT FAILED IN HIS ORIGINAL PLAN FOR ALL OF MANKIND WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE ETERNAL TORMENT OR ETERNAL ANNIHILATION. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO FAIL IN ANYTHING!”
God’s original plan was (and still is) for everyone to love, obey and worship Him (Matthew 22:37 quoting Deuteronomy 6:5). Yes, it is true that God’s plan will not fail. After Adam and Eve sinned, God’s plan was that:
And I [God] will put enmity Between you [the serpent] and the woman [Eve], And between your [the serpent’s] seed and her [Eve’s] Seed; He [Jesus] shall bruise your [serpent’s] head, And you [the serpent] shall bruise His [Jesus’] heel.”
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV)
Who would bruise the serpent’s head? It was Jesus, who is the One who would overcome Satan (Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8; Matthew 12:28-29; Luke 10:18; John 12:31; 16:11; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Colossians 2:15). The serpent is the devil, Satan:
9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
(Revelation 12:9 NKJV)
The phrase “I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” mentioned in Genesis 3:15 is referring to the struggle and its outcome between “your seed” (Satan and unbelievers, who are called the Devil’s children in John 8:44) and her seed (Christ, a descendant of Eve, and those in Him), which began in the garden.
In the midst of the curse passage, a message of hope shone forth – the woman’s offspring (seed) called “He” is Christ, who will one day defeat the Serpent.
Satan could only “bruise” Christ’s heel (cause Him to suffer), while Christ will bruise Satan’s head (destroy him with a fatal blow). Paul, in a passage strongly reminiscent of Genesis 3, encouraged the believers in Rome, “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.” (Romans 16:20).
Believers should recognize that they participate in the crushing of Satan because of His finished work on the cross [Romans 3:25; 5:8-9; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7], they also are of the woman’s seed. – The MacArthur Study Bible, Genesis 3:15 commentary.
Yes, it is true that God does not want anyone to perish:
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
(2 Peter 3:9 NKJV)
According to the passage above (2 Peter 3:9), God does not want anyone to perish (that is, spend eternity without God), “but that all should come to repentance.”
However, not everyone will accept God’s conditions that one must repent and believe that Jesus’ blood was shed as an atonement (payment) for their sins. Those who have not been clothed with Christ’s righteousness, will be condemned (Matthew 22:11-13; Philippians 3:9).
Those who attempt to obtain their own righteousness will be condemned (Romans 10:3; Philippians 3:8). Why does everyone need to repent? It is because if one does not repent, they fill face an eternity without God.
There are multiple passages that make it clear that those who do not repent of their sins and believe that Jesus died for their sins will face an eternity without God.
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out …
(Acts 3:19a NKJV)
The Apostle John wrote:
15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God….
36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
(John 3:15-18, 36 NKJV)
In the Book of Matthew, it was written:
46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
(Matthew 25:46 NKJV)
Who are the righteous? It is those whom God has declared to be so, those who believe God, and have faith in Him.
2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted [footnote: imputed, credited, reckoned, counted] to him for righteousness….
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.”
(Romans 4:2-3, 23-25 NKJV)
God declared Abraham because “Abraham believed God” (Romans 4:3).
The Apostle Paul wrote:
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
(Philippians 3:9 NKJV)
The following was written in the Book of Mark:
44 where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’ 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 46 where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’
47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire— 48 where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’ [quoting Isaiah 66:24]
(Mark 9:44-48 NKJV)
If you believe the passage above is only an allegory, you are mistaken.
Isaiah wrote:
The sinners in Zion are afraid; Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?”
(Isaiah 33:14 NKJV)
In writing to believers (those who believe that Jesus died for their sins), the Apostle Peter wrote:
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
(1 Peter 1:18-19 NKJV)
For those who do not believe that Jesus died for your sins (Romans 5:8) and that the blood of Jesus has atoned (paid) for their sins and being a propitiation for our sins (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10) will not enter into God’s kingdom (eternal life).
If one’s sins have not been forgiven, God will not allow them to enter into His kingdom. Sure, Jesus paid for everyone’s sins,
however, if one does not accept the payment that God offers, their sins will not be forgiven. Read the passages above again.
The writer of the book of Hebrews, it was written:
27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
(Hebrews 9:27-28 NKJV)
Biblically, if one does not accept God’s atonement (payment) for their sins, God will judge them and they will spend an eternity without God.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.
(2 Thessalonians 1:8-10 NKJV)
According to the passage above, only the saints (those who believe that Jesus died for their sins and therefore have had their sins redeemed) will be with God for eternity.
In the Book of Revelation it is written:
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
(Revelation 20:11-15 NKJV)
For those whose sins have not been atoned (paid) for, they will face the Great White Throne judgment and will be “cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15)
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
(Romans 8:1-4 NKJV)
If you are a child of God, that is, if you believe that Jesus died for your sins, you will not face a judgment whereby you will be condemned for eternity, although all believers will be judged on how they lived their lives.
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
(2 Corinthians 5:9-11 NKJV)
However, those who believe that Jesus died for their sins will not be eternally condemned, as unbelievers will. The believers will be judged on what they did for God while they lived but will not be condemned to an eternity without God.
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
(1 Corinthians 3:9-15 NKJV)
Yes, all believers will be saved, however, they will receive no rewards, whatever they may be. If you are a believer, are you living for God?
Don’t fall for the lie of the Devil who would want everyone to believe that one does not need to repent and believe that Jesus died for their sins and that one does not need to live for God to enter into His kingdom.
Al DeBenedictis
Thank you so much, Albert. I appreciate your insightful comment. God bless you more!
Good devotion. Thank you for your love of God’s Word and desire to share it with the world. By your salutation, I assume you are a Messianic Jew. I am grateful that the “good news of the Kingdom of God” is for everyone, even a gentile like me.
For Him,
Eddis
Hi Eddis,
Thanks for dropping by.
I’m not a Messianic Jew. I’m a Gentile believer just like you and I am so blessed to have been grafted in.
Let us continue to share the love of God to the lost. At the same time, provoke the Jews into jealousy (Romans 11:11-14) so that they too will come to the saving knowledge of Christ.
Shalom!
Very timely Biblical message of Good News and hope for the day and hour we live in.
Thank you.
Hey Robert,
In times like this when everything seems to be chaotic and hopeless, all we can rely on are the promises of God contained in His Word.
Shalom!