The Revelation of the Gospel (part 2)
4. His Earthly Ministry
Jesus’ 33 years of life on earth are part of the Gospel. The fact that He was born of a virgin, grew up in the home of a carpenter, physically matured into a man and developed an earthly ministry that changed the world is a part of the Gospel.
He was a real man. He was a courageous man. He was a compassionate man. He dared to challenge a flawed political world, a sinful culture and organized religion. He revealed the true and real nature of His Heavenly Father. He was tempted in all the ways we are tempted yet He never sinned. He could have sinned but He did not.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Heb. 4:15
This is part of the Gospel.
5. His Substitutionary Death by Crucifixion.
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Phil. 2:8
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. Col. 1:20
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Col. 2:14
The Cross is central to the Gospel. The Cross of Calvary is Center Stage for all creation and the entire human race. What happened there is the pivotal point of all history and the foundation for all eternity. The Cross is more than the death of Jesus at the hands of His enemies. The Cross is more than the suffering and the horror of such inhumanity and torture.
The Cross involves God.
The Cross involves Jesus.
The Cross involves man.
The Cross involves Satan.
At the Cross Jesus became what man is in order that man might become what Jesus is. What a deal!
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2Cor. 5:21
The 22nd Psalm gives us a picture of the physical suffering of Jesus. This was written approximately a thousand years before Calvary. Jesus actually quoted portions of this Psalm as He hung on the Cross.
Psalm 22:
1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.
11 ¶ Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
Isaiah 53 gives us a picture of the Spiritual Suffering of Jesus.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isa. 53:3
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Isa. 53:4
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isa. 53:5
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isa. 53:6
“Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise Him and to make Him sick. He was filled with grief and sickness…” (Isa. 53:10) Another translation reads: “He was covered with disease as from a plague…” There is no escaping the fact that sin and disease are one. They have a common origin. But they have two different ways of manifesting themselves, one in the physical body the other in the spiritual.
On the Cross, His Spirit became totally impregnated with the sin nature of the world and He sank to the lowest depths of Hell according to the 88th Psalm. “Him who knew no sin, God made to become sin…”
The Crucifixion is part of the Gospel.
6. The three days and three nights He spent in hell are part of the Gospel.
Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? Eph. 4:9
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) Eph. 4:10
However, the Work of Redemption was not completed at the Cross. The Cross is a vital and strategic part of Total Redemption, but there is more. Colossians 2:15 gives a description of a battle that took place in Hell before Jesus rose from the dead.
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Col. 2:15
Luke says that Jesus went into the strong man’s house and bound him. Jesus, by His victory over Death, Hell and the Grave, became Satan’s Master. According to the Word He spoiled principalities and powers and made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it… (Col 2:15). “He put to naught the hosts of darkness…” He paralyzed their death dealing power.
When He met John, Jesus said: “I am he that was dead and behold, I am alive forever more, and I have the keys of death and of Hell…” Jesus conquered Satan and stripped him of his authority and power. However, Jesus did not conquer Satan for Himself… He conquered Satan for you and me. It is as though we personally met Satan and conquered him and stripped him of his authority and stood as master over him. Think about that.
During the three days and nights His body was in the tomb, Jesus not only descended into hell and disarmed and defeated the devil, He also ascended into Heaven to make a deposit of His Blood on the Heavenly Altar.
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. John 20:17
This is a part of the Gospel.
7. His Resurrection and Ascension is a part of the Gospel.
Redemption was not fully completed until Jesus arose from the dead and carried His Blood into the Heavenly Holy of Holies, and sprinkled It upon the Mercy Seat (John 20:17). This accomplished Heaven’s Greatest Miracle.
At this precise point in time, everyone (the entire human race) had Righteousness set to their account. This gave us (the entire human race) a Legal Right to Eternal Life in the Family of God. However, this Righteousness does not and will not become appropriated until the individual concerned personally accepts Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Eternal Life was put in the bank for every man and Jesus filled out the check and signed it with His Blood. But each person must individually cash the check. This is done by and through accepting Jesus personally as Lord and Master.
- His 40-day Post-resurrection ministry is a part of the Gospel.
He was “seen alive” by more than five hundred people on one occasion after He arose from the grave.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 1Cor. 15:3
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1Cor. 15:4
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 1Cor. 15:5
After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 1Cor. 15:6
After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 1Cor. 15:7
And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 1Cor. 15:8
Jesus ministry during the forty days after His Resurrection is a part of the Gospel… right up until the time He was “taken up” from earth into heaven.
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. Acts 1:9
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Acts 1:10
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1:11 8. His Present-Day Ministry is a part of the Gospel.
According to the scriptures He “ever liveth to make intercession” for those who come to Him in faith.
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Heb. 7:25
Jesus is presently fulfilling His ministry as High Priest in heaven. He represents
the believer before God the Father and officiates as our High Priest.
Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; Heb. 8:1
8. His Future Ministry is a part of the Gospel.
Jesus IS coming again. He will return in the clouds to meet the redeemed (both living and dead) in the air. This is called the Rapture of the Church. And this is the very next prophetic event to take place. There are many scriptures that verify this:
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:3
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1Ths. 4:16
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1Ths. 4:17
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1:11
Jesus will lead the armies of heaven in the end-time Battle of Armageddon which will overcome the powers of darkness, defeat the devil and establish the Millennial Reign of Christ.
And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. Rev. 14:14
And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. Rev. 14:15
And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. Rev. 14:16
And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. Rev. 14:17
And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. Rev. 14:18
And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. Rev. 14:19
And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. Rev. 14:20
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, Rev. 20:2
And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. Rev. 20:3
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. Rev. 20:4
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Rev. 20:5
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Rev. 20:6
Following the Millennial Reign of Jesus, and the ultimate defeat of Satan, God will permanently establish His Headquarters on earth in the New Jerusalem. From there Jesus will rule as King of Kings and Lord of Lords throughout eternity.
Revelation chapter 21:
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
The future ministry of Jesus is a part of the Gospel.
The sum total of the redeeming work that God wrought through Jesus Christ in behalf of man and creation… past, present and future is the GOSPEL.
This Gospel is THE POWER OF GOD to those who believe.
dickbraswell 
Leave a Reply