The Gospel in Brief
The good news, or glad tidings, of the Kingdom of God — the same gospel preached to Abraham and proclaimed by Jesus Christ and the apostles.
There are two aspects to the gospel message. Both are named together when the people “believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ,” and “were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12). Depending on the circumstances, one or the other aspect is emphasised.
Preached first to Abraham
The Apostle Paul wrote that “the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed” (Galatians 3:8). This points back to God’s promise to Abram — to make of him a great nation, to bless him, and that “in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:2–3). Note the blessings and cursings: the blessing is available to all who seek it.
God confirmed an eternal inheritance, telling Abram to look in every direction, “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever” (Genesis 13:14–16), and again He “made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates” (Genesis 15:18). These promises are binding upon Almighty God, because He cannot lie and cannot die. When Jesus Christ became “the messenger of the covenant,” this is the covenant he proclaimed as the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God
The gospel preached by Christ and the apostles concerned the Kingdom of God — a divine government to be established on the earth, upon the ruins of all existing governments, to bring the world into subjection to God so that it might receive His blessing. It will be the ancient Kingdom of Israel restored, with Christ as King, in fulfilment of the promises made to King David and in accord with the covenant made with Abraham. This Kingdom will be established when Jesus Christ returns from heaven and visibly appears to take up residence on the earth a second time, to bring all these things to pass.
The name of Jesus Christ
There is but one God, whose Holy Spirit came upon Mary so that she conceived and brought forth a son, Jesus — the Son of God (Luke 1:35), and, being born of Mary, also the Son of Man. He preached the gospel of the Kingdom. His death at the hands of men expressed the love of the Father in a necessary sacrifice for sin, that the law of sin and death which came by the first Adam might be nullified in him. In harmony with his obedience, God raised Jesus from the dead and exalted him to a glorified, incorruptible, immortal existence. He now acts as a priestly mediator between the Father and those who come to God by him, awaiting his return as King.
Those who are “in Christ” by baptism can have their sins forgiven through the risen Lord Jesus Christ. When he returns to the earth he will grant immortality to those who have been faithful to him and to his requirements. As immortal saints, free from sin and death, they will reign with Christ upon the earth as kings and priests, assisting in the work of bringing the whole world into subjection to God.