3 ways we use the term "gospel"

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God… -- Romans 1:1

The depths of the Gospel of God are so significant that while we can understand the most elemental facts or “parts” of the Gospel, we could spend a lifetime exploring and living its implications.  What makes matters a bit confusing is that we sometimes use or hear the term “gospel” used in different ways.  It might be helpful to clarify the ways this term is used.

First, we use the term gospel as a designation for a type of literature in the Bible.  Specifically, the New Testament has four writings called Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  When we refer to these writings as “gospels”, what we are saying is that each writing is an account of THE Gospel’s fulfillment in the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ.

As such, while each of these gospel writings tells of the Gospel’s fulfillment…each of the gospel writings are also called “a gospel” in the sense that they are a type of biblical literature.  That doesn’t mean that the writing is the complete telling of the Gospel…but rather using the term "gospel" serves as short-hand for being an account of Jesus being the fulfillment of the Gospel.

The second way gospel is used in the Bible is found primarily in the teachings of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  The “Gospel of the Kingdom of God” (or Kingdom of Heaven, in Matthew) is said to be “at hand”.  What does this mean? 

While there is much more that could be said, the main thing that must be understood is that Jesus was saying that in His earthly visit, redemptive history was reaching its climax and that his physical presence was unique in that it brought God’s rule and reign closer to people than at any other point in history. 

Jesus Himself implied this when addressing the “specialness” of his incarnation in saying his disciples had no reason to fast while he was present on this earth (Matthew 2:18-22).  Yet Jesus follows up this statement with an admission that a time is coming when fasting will be appropriate because of His departure.  And like Jesus’ First Advent, the Second Advent, will not be a time of fasting…for His presence will be fully “at hand” again...but forever!

This does not mean the Kingdom of God is unimportant to Christians at all.  It just means the most “at hand” experience of God’s rule and favor can only be lived by way of the Holy Spirit making Jesus present in Christians…but cannot be brought upon the earth in any sutained or lasting way except by Christ’s presence at the Second Advent.  At the end of the day, the Gospel of the Kingdom of God is about the Messiah…which brings us to the final way we see “gospel” used.

For most of the rest of the New Testament (the epistles especially), the term gospel is used in relationship to the actual multi-faceted work of Jesus on the cross and the implications of that work.  The actual work at the cross is considered the primary content of the Gospel and is taught as such (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) by Paul, Peter and others.  This is probably the most familiar way in which many people understand the Gospel…yet it is also the one which we most often forget! 

This is why we teach the Gospel according to the finished work of Christ on the cross so much!  This is also why we speak to its implication for both our lives internally and our actions externally.  In a sense, we can live out all three uses of the term gospel.  Not only do we believe and appropriate the Gospel’s message of Christ’s finished work to our heart…but by living out that appropriated message, we give a picture of a life under God’s rule and favor (being Kingdom of God people) while effectively letting our lives write a “gospel account” for others to see!