By Staff
Gospel means “Good News.”
The Advent is the coming of Jesus Christ in human form as a result of the incarnation. The incarnation is the immaculate conception of the Christ child in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is not that God walks among us, nor that Jesus did many wonderful works. The gospel is that Jesus Christ is Savior, Lord, and King! When the angel appeared to the shepherds the night Jesus was born, the message was, “There is born to you . . . in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
The gospel is appealing because we have a longing to be delivered, to be lifted up above ourselves.
Every person looks to something on the horizon to give hope. It may be a vacation, a new venture, or even retirement. None of these things satisfy because they do not change us, but the gospel of Christ can deliver us from ourselves.
The gospel brings such hope that it can motivate us for a lifetime. The message of the gospel does little to shine up this world; it promises a better world to come.
Jesus Christ came as the Christ; He would become Savior, and He will be King.
It took the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for Him to become Savior. The only way we have redemption from our sin is because Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for sin and paid our sin debt with His blood. The righteousness of God was satisfied by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Jesus died and was buried. God raised Him from the dead. The resurrection of Christ is the only disputed fact about Him. Nobody doubts He lived, nobody doubts the miracles, but many doubt the resurrection.
The gospel is meaningless without the resurrection. The Apostle Paul declared in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, verse 17, “If Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” Jesus Christ is risen; He is Savior.
Another section of the advent message was delivered by the wise men from the East. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they asked, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?”
Jesus was the Christ, He would become Savior, and He will be King.
King Herod felt threatened without cause. The Kingdom of Christ is not of this world. The throne of Christ will be established after this world system passes away. Jesus Christ will be the absolute monarch (Revelation 12:5).
The message of the gospel is the message of Christ's kingdom. The kingdom of Christ these days is in the hearts of believers (Luke 17:21). Jesus taught the rules of the kingdom in the book of Matthew, chapters 5, 6, and 7, and repeated them in Luke, chapter 6, verses 20-49. Followers of Christ are to live by the rules of the kingdom of Christ now. The practice of the teachings of Jesus Christ is what sets the Christian apart from the average citizen of the world.
Following Jesus now brings derision, abuse, and persecution. The Christian perseveres because of the Blessed Hope that, one day soon, Jesus Christ will return, and He will establish His Kingdom on this earth. The ones who are faithful to practice Christ's kingdom law now will rule and reign with Him then (Revelation 20:4).
It makes a lot of practical sense to align with the One who has written the last chapter and will bring it to pass. It is all about the permanent over the temporary.
Pause to hear the essence of the Christmas story. Jesus Christ came as the Christ, He would become Savior and Lord, and He will be King.