The world takes notice when a beloved celebrity dies. Whether they were popular at the moment or from years past, it seems their death strikes a chord in people’s lives. For some, when their favorite celebrity dies, they take the news as if a beloved family member has passed away. Several years ago, when singer Whitney Houston died, many people were overwhelmed with grief at the loss of a music icon. So, when it came to her funeral, millions of people tuned in. To my surprise, a Christian pastor officiated the funeral. What a fantastic opportunity, I thought, for the Gospel to be proclaimed across the airwaves to millions.
Sadly, I remember the message falling short of proclaiming the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; no talk of sin or hope found in Jesus. Sadly, Many believe they are gospel preachers, but they preach around the Gospel. What does this look like, well-offering rest without clearly stating what we need rest from, our works and sin. It offers promises from God that are only for those in his kingdom. Mentions of Jesus, but never stating his death, burial, resurrection, or the promise of eternal life for those who repent of their sin and trust in him. Tacking on, “hey, just pray this prayer, and you’re saved,” after an empty message that didn’t proclaim what a person needed saving from. We desperately need a revival of Gospel preaching.
First, we must be clear on what the Gospel is. The word Gospel, Evangelion, means good news. This is what the Apostle Paul wrote to remind the Corinthians of the Good News in which they believed. He desired for them to be clear on this message and remain steadfast.
We believe the Gospel message must be clear and proclaimed to others. Many people still think you are born a Christian in the Bible Belt. Yet, this is different from what the Scripture teaches. Men and Women hear the Good News, and the Spirit of God brings them to new life; they respond to this Good news by faith and trust, repenting from their sins and being born again. It wasn’t that the Corinthians needed to be saved again; no, they needed to remain in the correct belief of the Good news and not stray into some other Gospel that would reject the finished work of Christ or the resurrection of Jesus.
The Gospel is the Good News of Jesus Christ. What does this Good News comprise? The Apostle Paul breaks it down into three categories; according to the Scriptures, Christ died, was buried, and rose again. The early church stood firm in that Jesus physically had a body, and he was 100% human, 100% divine, and guess what? He physically died.
Christ was crucified on a cross like a criminal. The one who knew no sin became sin for us. He was crushed for our iniquities, and it pleased the Father to crush him. In His body, He satisfied the wrath of God. In His body, He took on the condemnation that was due to us. His flesh was given for our sins to be forgiven. Understand, we have a high priest who became like us and knows our temptations.
But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him—23 if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the Gospel that you heard. Colossians 1:22
Christ was buried, and Jesus stated that He would be like Jonah and for what purpose so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.
or as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish, three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it” Matthew 12:40–41.
One day our bodies, too will be buried in the earth. Yet, in Christ, this is not the end. As the Scripture teaches, “So it is with the resurrection of the dead: Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power” 1 Corinthians 15:42–43.
Christ didn’t remain in the grave, but He rose as the Scripture said. See, it is not just his teaching or morality that gives evidence of who He is. His glorious resurrection is evidence and proof that God accepted his sacrifice on the cross, and those who trust in Him will have everlasting life.
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 The one who has the Son has life.” 1 Jn 5:11–12.
Jesus was raised before his body could see corruption. He was raised in all power and might, and guess what? The power of God raised the same body that was crucified and is now glorified. The Good News Christ, the Gospel is that Christ died, was buried, and rose again. The Good news is that our sins are forgiven and that we are saved by grace through faith. Jesus, in his resurrection, conquered death, hell, and sin, and we can have eternal life in Him.
So, what do we do with this good news? Well, we proclaim to everyone everywhere that God calls them to repent and trust in the Savior Jesus Christ. Yet, for Christians, the Gospel is not just a one-time event in our lives; we need to preach the Gospel to ourselves daily. When dealing with the grief of sin or shame, go back to the good news that Christ died, was buried, and rose again.
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