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I am a little god! Critics, be gone!
-- Paul Crouch, Praise The Lord, July 7, 1986
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Is The Gospel for Today?
Posted on Tuesday, May 02 @ 06:12:32 PDT by Jared Coleman |
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psychohmike submitted: "As I asked Jeff this question, a look came over his face that left me wondering. Did he hear what I said? From the screwed up look upon his face though I can only assume that it was more a look of uncertainty leading to consternation as to why I would even ask this question.
In the last 14 months since I've come to the understanding of the preterist interpretation of the scriptures, I've had to re-examine most everything that I had previously understood about the Bible. The resurrection, the second coming, salvation, etc. I'm sure we can all make a list a mile long. And, well I've now come to the gospel. The good news that the kingdom was near in the opening pages of the new testament.
For the sake of time and bandwidth I won't be exhausting all the verses that speak of the gospel. What I will do is present a cross section for the sake of...well...making a point. Oh...I guess I should also point out that the word gospel in Greek is euaggelion, which simply means "good news" or "good message." Kind of like when you used to get that envelope from Publishers Clearing House. "You've just won $1,456,864," is always good news. Even if you do have to buy a bunch of magazines that you will never read.
The first occurrence I came across (and I'm open to correction) was in Matthew 4:23 Then he (Jesus) went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every illness among the people.
The very next occurrence is in Matthew 9:35 and it helps us better understand exactly what the "good news" was.
Matthew 9:35 Then Jesus began traveling through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every illness.
We can see from this verse and others (Matt 4:23, Matt 24:14, Mark 1:14,15) that the gospel (good news) was that the kingdom of God was near. And so as preterists we understand that this kingdom that was being offered back in the first century was intrinsically tied to the new covenant. Which is what caused me to start questioning whether or not the gospel/good news that was being preached back then is or should be the same today.
As early as Jeremiah 31:31 we see that God said that He would make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. This is also affirmed in Hebrews 8. Hebrews 12 also states that Jesus was the mediator of the new covenant but even more so Isaiah 49:8 speaks of Jesus Himself being that new covenant.
Now...seeing how much we preterists love talking about the importance of timing of events in the new testament I want to address something that Jesus Himself said about the gospel of the kingdom. In Matthew 24:14, which is of course a pivotal verse when it comes to proving a first century fulfillment of the gospel having been preached to every nation and creature under heaven. Jesus said that it was going to happen...Paul confirms in at least five places in his letters that it had happened. Which in simplest terms means that the end had come in the first century. And for those of you who are not preterists, I/we affirm that this is not speaking of the end of the world/universe/physical creation but the end of their old covenant world.
So if the preaching of the gospel/good news recorded in our Bible was the preaching of a coming kingdom that was promised to a specific group/groups of people(The houses of Israel and Judah) and that kingdom/covenant was something that was fully consummated in the first century, then we need to also acknowledge that it is not a message that is directly relevant to us or for us today. Now, if I were Virgil, I would end this article right here and let the sparks and accusations of...........fly. But...I'm not him. Although I do like watching the fireworks from the comfort of my Lazy-Boy here in California.
Also for further clarification, I also want to suggest that the term gospel had a more generic sense to it as well. Paul uses this term quite a bit in his letters. In some cases he is speaking about the kingdom in the same sense as is discussed above, but also for a number of other things. In the book of Acts chapter 20, Paul uses the term gospel/good news in speaking of God's grace. In Ephesians 1, Paul would seem to be using it in a more generic sense in that he had heard the gospel/good news of their salvation. Now does this mean that there is more than one gospel? In the sense of good news...Yes. But regarding the coming kingdom...No. Matter of fact Paul went out of his way in his letters to the Corinthians and Galatians, to point out that there is only one Gospel(with a BIG G) message. So if there were only one message of good news/one gospel and it were about the coming kingdom that was fully consummated in the first century, then once again I suggest that it is not a message for today.
The kingdom has come and it came exactly when scripture said it would and it came to the exact people that God said it would. It was a message of reconciliation between God and man. To restore that face to face relationship with man that Adam had in the garden. That relationship that we now have today.
So what is our job today?
Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let everyone who hears this say, “Come!” Let everyone who is thirsty come! Let anyone who wants the water of life take it as a gift!
Assuming of course that God elect that they be thirsty. 8)
Is this the gospel of the kingdom? No.
Can we still preach of a coming kingdom to the houses of Israel and Judah? No.
Are we still waiting for the reconciliation of God and man? No.
It's done...finished...completed in Christ. We now have what they were then looking forward to. What they had positionally, we now have face to face.
So is the gospel that Jesus, John the Baptist, Peter, Paul, and John preached for today?
I ask this because I want to know what you all think.
8) Mike"
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Re: Is The Gospel for Today? (Score: 1)
 by Ransom on Tuesday, May 02 @ 07:45:48 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | Well, Mike, the kerygma (Gk. "proclamation") as identified by C.H. Dodd, the earliest form of the Christian message as seen in the speeches in Acts, includes these points:
1. The Age of Fulfillment has dawned, the "latter days" foretold by the prophets.
2. This has taken place through the birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
3. By virtue of the resurrection, Jesus has been exalted at the right hand of God as Messianic head of the new Israel.
4. The Holy Spirit in the church is the sign of Christ's present power and glory.
5. The Messianic Age will reach its consummation in the return of Christ.
6. An appeal is made for repentance with the offer of forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, and salvation.
I don't see how any of those points (except, perhaps, number 4) can be disputed by preterists as valid support for modern Christians proclaming number 6. |
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- by psychohmike on Tuesday, May 02 @ 14:40:54 PDT
Re: Is The Gospel for Today? (Score: 1)
 by parousia70 on Wednesday, May 03 @ 12:22:46 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | Good post Mike.
I have thought about this off and on. Should the message today be that we preach the presence of God's kingdom and therefore men and women do not have to remain outside the gates of the kingdom. I still see that we have to preach that men who are outside the gates of the kingdom are still in their sins and enemies of God. The Spirit and the Bride do say come! We have to point out their thirst and the cause for it, I believe, therefore still proclaiming a Good News.
Look forward to your repsonse.
Phillip |
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- by psychohmike on Wednesday, May 03 @ 14:44:37 PDT
Re: Is The Gospel for Today? (Score: 1)
 by davo on Wednesday, May 03 @ 22:50:10 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) |
psychohmike: So if the preaching of the gospel/good news recorded in our Bible was the preaching of a coming kingdom that was promised to a specific group/groups of people(The houses of Israel and Judah) and that kingdom/covenant was something that was fully consummated in the first century, then we need to also acknowledge that it is not a message that is directly relevant to us or for us today.
G'day Mike,
I might challenge your use of "relevant" and maybe suggest "addressed" as in that which was written was not written "to" us YET STILL can and does have "relevance for us" e.g., the same principle that we of the fulfilled framework find at work in 1Cor 10:11.
psychohmike: The kingdom has come and it came exactly when scripture said it would and it came to the exact people that God said it would. It was a message of reconciliation between God and man. To restore that face to face relationship with man that Adam had in the garden. That relationship that we now have today.
So what is our job today?
Well for one, this is an endless truth: He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you? But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Mic 6:8. I think sharing the fulfilled message that God is no longer angry with man but at peace with us is a good place to start, and that I believe is demonstrated better in the actions of love thy neighbour more than clanging words.
psychohmike: It seems that now my actions are speaking much louder than my words. Kind of like...Instead of trying to get rid of darkness by some 7 steps, or a Romans Road...Just be a light. I have plenty of friends that are running around like a flashlight shining in peoples eyes. I'm just trying to be a lamp on a stand.
That IMO is where the rubber meets the road – I like it :)
davo |
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Yes, the gospel is for today (Score: 1)
 by Kyle Peterson (peterson.kyle@gmail.com) on Thursday, May 04 @ 06:46:56 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | I've been studying this as well. The feeling I get from futurists is that the gospel stops at Christ being raised from the dead but Preterism contents that it is much more than this. 1 Corinthians 15 does a pretty good job outlining the gospel:
"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand"
- Christ died for our sins
- Was buried
- Raised on the third day
- Appeared to the apostles
- Millenial Reign
- Resurrection of the dead
- Abolishing of all enemies
- Handing over the kingdom to God
When you couple this with passages such as:
Luke 4:18, Galatians 3:8, 2 Timothy 1:8-10 it becomes evident that the gospel is quite simply the redemption of mankind. God saving a broken relationship.
Sure, the events of the gospel took place in our past, but Revelation paints a picture of an ever-growing and eternal, spiritual kingdom. A kingdom where man is welcomed back into God's bosom. In chapter 14 John describes the gospel as eternal.
Granted, I do believe some of the events surrounding the gospel did end in the first century. The Holy Spirit, who was witness to the gospel, was removed once Christ's presence came. The suffering and mission to which the apostles were entrusted; Phill 2, 1 Thess 2&3, 1 Tim 1 was fulfilled in the first century.
But let's also keep in mind that it not just about the gospel - its about partaking of it. This involves turning away from vain worldly things and making God the focus of our lives (Acts 14:15). This, I believe is what is meant by an eternal gospel. I don't believe this to have ended and still applicable today. |
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Re: Is The Gospel for Today? (Score: 1)
by paul (freebird@comcast.net) on Sunday, May 07 @ 05:28:16 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | | What about the "Everlasting Gospel"? |
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- by psychohmike on Tuesday, May 09 @ 01:45:08 PDT
- by paul on Tuesday, May 09 @ 07:00:55 PDT
Re: Is The Gospel for Today? (Score: 1)
 by Seeker (connections@bellsouth.net) on Monday, May 08 @ 20:35:30 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | The Gospel is much more than the DBR (death, burial, and resurrection). It is the Gospel of the Kingdom.
As a matter of fact when Jesus sends out the 70 to preach they didn't even yet understand he was going to have to suffer and die. What Gospel were they preaching then? The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Seeker |
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