But what must one believe? What is Yehoshua's- Jesus’ gospel? What is it to “believe in the Son of God”?
First, consider Hebrews 11:6: “Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he who comes to God - Yehovah must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Yehoshua- Jesus, addressing his Father, says, “This is life eternal, that they might know You, the only true God, and Yehoshua- Jesus the Messiah, whom You sent” (John 17:3; cf. 1 John 5:20). Note that one must believe in the lord Messiah Yehoshua- Jesus, who was sent by his Father Yehovah. To believe in the Son is to believe that he is the lord Messiah, the Son of the living God (John 20:31; 8:24; Matthew 16:16).
Then note also that according to John 3:36, to “believe in the Son” is to “have eternal life.” The words Yehoshu- Jesus spoke were the words that God - Yehovah gave him to preach to the world; therefore, not to believe his words is to reject the words that God gave him to give to the world (John 3:34; 8:26, 46, 47; 12:44-49; 14:10, 23, 24; 17:8; Mark 8:38). God- Yehovah who spoke through the prophets has spoken also thrugh His Son (Hebrews 1:1, 2). Moses prophetically and Peter by application stated that the one who does not hear the words of Jesus-Yehoshua, a prophet like Moses, “will be destroyed” (Deuteronomy 18:18, 19; Acts 3:22, 23). On the other hand, to believe his words is to have the assured prospect of “everlasting life” (life in the age to come) salvation, for his words are dynamic and vital (John 5:24; 6:47, 63, 68; 1 Timothy 6:3, 4; 2 Timothy 1:10; Hebrews 2:3; Romans 1:16). Not only must one hear the words of Jesus- Yehoshua, he must “keep” or continue in them obediently (John 8:30-32, 51; 14:23; Luke 6:46-49; Mark 16:15, 16).
What then was the message that Jesus-Yehoshua taught? Let the record testify: “Jesus-Yehoshua came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the Gospel’” (Mark 1:14, 15). “And Yeoshua- Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom” (Matthew 4:23). “He went throughout every city and village, proclaiming and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God” (Luke 8:1). Luke later refers to his first record as being “all that Yehoshua- Jesus began both to do and teach” before his ascension (Acts 1:1). He then says that Yehoshua- Jesus appeared to the apostles. He “showed himself alive after his resurrection by many infallible proofs, being seen by them forty days, and speaking of the things about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). Jesus-Yehoshua, throughout his ministry, taught the “gospel [good news] of the kingdom of God.”
When Jesus-Yehoshua speaks by parable of these things, as he often did, he describes a sower going out to sow seed. The seed fell on various types of soil and produced accordingly: some was destroyed by birds; some flourished only a short time in stony soil; some was choked out by thorns; some bore fruit in different amounts. By comparing the accounts in Matthew 13:3-23 and Luke 8:1-15, we read the following: The seed represents the “word of God” or “word of the Kingdom.” The soil represents the hearts of men. The birds represent the Devil, who is determined to destroy “the word sown in their hearts, to prevent them from believing and being saved.” In the stony soil, the plant could not put down roots sufficient to sustain it. A shallow faith does not have the strength to bear up under tribulation or persecution and so falls away. The thorns that choke out the young plants represent the cares and pleasures of this life and the deceitfulness of riches, which destroy faith. The various levels of productivity in the good ground represent what takes place “in an honest and good heart” — hearing the word of the Kingdom, understanding it, keeping it, and producing enduring fruit according to their measure of faith. This “word of the Kingdom” is none other than the “Gospel of the Kingdom.” Believing the Gospel leads to righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)
Luke equates hearing and believing the word of God/word of the Kingdom with being saved. Salvation is to be fully realized in the age to come, in the Kingdom of God (Mark 10:30; Acts 3:19-21). This point is confirmed by analyzing the terms used in Matthew 19:13-30. In this text, the expressions having “eternal life” (v. 16), entering into “life” (v. 17), entering into “the Kingdom of heaven/Kingdom of God” (vv. 23, 24), being “saved” (v. 25), and inheriting “everlasting life” (v. 29) are equivalent in meaning.
The Gospel which Yehoshua- Jesus taught was the same Gospel which he commissioned his disciples to teach throughout the world (Mark 16:15, 16; Matthew 28:19, 20). He states that there would be a time when “this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations” (Matt. 24:14). And so the Gospel was indeed to be disseminated everywhere (Romans 10:8-18; Colossians 1:5, 6, 23). And this must continue “to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
At the time of Yehoshua's- Jesus’ birth, note that Joseph was informed that the child Mary was carrying in her womb was conceived by the holy spirit. She was to “bring forth a Son, and call his name YEHOSHUA- JESUS [which means YEHOVAH IS SALVATION]; for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:18-21). Mary was informed that the child she was to bear originated in the power of God's- Yehovah's holy spirit and would therefore be called the Son of God. “You will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and you will call his name YEHOSHUA- JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of God- Yehovah; and the Lord God- Yehovah will give him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:31-35). Amen
In this way, they learned the object of both his first coming and his second coming. These things constitute the Gospel as we see in the angelic announcement to the shepherds outside Bethlehem: “Fear not; I bring you good tidings of great joy for all people. To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the lord Messiah” (Luke 2:10, 11). Or as Peter declared, when God- Yehovah raised up His Son and exalted him to His right hand, the Messiah was “as Leader and Savior to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:30, 31).
The New Testament record relates the content of the apostolic message as to “the things concerning the Kingdom of God and Yehoshua- Jesus the Messiah."
The Gospel which Yehoshua- Jesus taught was the same Gospel which he commissioned his disciples to teach throughout the world (Mark 16:15, 16; Matthew 28:19, 20). He states that there would be a time when “this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations” (Matt. 24:14). And so the Gospel was indeed to be disseminated everywhere (Romans 10:8-18; Colossians 1:5, 6, 23). And this must continue “to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
At the time of Yehoshua's- Jesus’ birth, note that Joseph was informed that the child Mary was carrying in her womb was conceived by the holy spirit. She was to “bring forth a Son, and call his name YEHOSHUA- JESUS [which means YEHOVAH IS SALVATION]; for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:18-21). Mary was informed that the child she was to bear originated in the power of God's- Yehovah's holy spirit and would therefore be called the Son of God. “You will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and you will call his name YEHOSHUA- JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of God- Yehovah; and the Lord God- Yehovah will give him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:31-35). Amen
In this way, they learned the object of both his first coming and his second coming. These things constitute the Gospel as we see in the angelic announcement to the shepherds outside Bethlehem: “Fear not; I bring you good tidings of great joy for all people. To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the lord Messiah” (Luke 2:10, 11). Or as Peter declared, when God- Yehovah raised up His Son and exalted him to His right hand, the Messiah was “as Leader and Savior to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:30, 31).
The New Testament record relates the content of the apostolic message as to “the things concerning the Kingdom of God and Yehoshua- Jesus the Messiah."
When Philip went into Samaria and “proclaiming the Messiah to them,” what they heard and believed is stated in this way: “But when they believed Philip proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Yehoshua- Jesus the Messiah, both men and women were being baptized." (Acts 8:5, 12).
Paul said, “And we proclaim the good news to you: that the promise that was made to the fathers, this promise God- Yehovah has fulfilled to our children by[c] raising Yehoshua-Jesus, as it is also written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son; today I have fathered you.” (Acts 13:32, 33). This coincides with what Peter relates in Acts 3:25, 26 concerning the blessing of Abraham, including the resurrection of Yehoshua- Jesus (Acts 13:34) and forgiveness in him (cf. Galatians 8:6-9, 13, 14, 26-29; Rom. 4:3-8,13-16). In context, the discourse at Antioch (Acts 13) included a Savior for Israel of the lineage of David (vv. 22, 23; 2 Timothy 2:8; Luke 1:68-75). Not only do the Davidic covenant promises include the Messiah’s birth and resurrection, they specify his ruling in the restored Davidic Kingdom on David’s throne at Zion as well (cf. Isaiah 55:3; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Psalm 89:19-37; 16:8-11; Acts 2:22-36; 5:30, 31; 13:34-37; Luke 1:30-33; 2:10, 11). Paul links his message with the patriarchal promises and the hope of Israel (Acts 26:6, 7; Galatians 3:6-9, 13, 14, 26-29; Romans 15:8). Isaiah’s revelation of the “good tidings,” which were the basis for the “hope of Israel,” includes both the reign of God- Yehovah through the Messiah (52:7; 40:9, 10) and the salvation of God- Yehovah through the suffering one (53:1-12). The hope of Israel is the hope of all by faith in the Messiah Yehoshua- Jesus (Ephesians 2:11-3:6).
In writing to the Ephesians, Paul testifies about “repentance towards God- Yehovah, and faith in the lord Messiah Yehoshua- Jesus.” This is a testimony of “the Gospel of the grace of God” and “preaching the Kingdom of God.” These things amount to “all the counsel of God- Yehovah” (Acts 20:20-27). The grace of God- Yehovah, which brings salvation, has appeared in the gift of His Son (Ephesians 1:7; 2:4-8, 13-16; Titus 2:11; John 3:15, 16) and will yet be seen in its “exceeding richness” in the ages to come (Eph. 2:7; 1:10; 1 Pet. 1:13).
Writing to the Corinthians, he says, “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the Gospel which I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand; by which also you are being saved, if you keep in memory what I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all [i.e., among things of first importance] what I also received, that the Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:1-4). He then continues by describing the proof and necessity of the resurrection both of the Messiah and of those who are his at his return (vv. 5-23). Without any break in his thinking, he then speaks of the reign of the lord Messiah Yehoshua- Jesus and the final turning of the Kingdom of God over to his Father, “that God- Yehovah may be all in all” (vv. 24-28). So his Gospel to them included both what Yehoshua- Jesus accomplished at his first coming and the cross where he gave himself up as a sin-offering sacrifice to his God and his Father Yehovah, and what he will accomplish at his second coming to establish the Kingdom. This is that “salvation” about which the prophets wrote when they “testified beforehand about the sufferings of the Messiah and the glory to follow” (1 Peter 1:9-11).
At the close of his ministry, Paul was under house arrest in Rome. He shared the Gospel with many in his lodging. He “expounded and testified the Kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Yehoshua- Jesus, both from the law of Moses, and from the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed what he said, but some did not believe” (Acts 28:23, 24). In verse 28, after referring to the general Jewish rejection of his words, he says, “Be it known therefore to you, that this salvation of God- Yehovah is sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it.” He thus equated the things of Yehoshua- Jesus and the Kingdom with the message of salvation (Acts 20:46; Matt. 21:43). Then we are told, “Paul stayed two whole years in his own hired house, and received all who came to him, preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the lord Messaih Yehoshua- Jesus, with all confidence, unhindered” (vv. 30, 31).
Hebrews 9:24-28 says that Yehoshua- Jesus has appeared to put away sin by the sin-offering sacrifice of himself (v. 26); he now appears in the presence of God- Yehovah for us (v. 24); and will appear on earth the second time completing our salvation (v. 28). Thus we have the first coming and the second coming; the suffering and the glory; the name and the Kingdom; the cross and the crown in the Gospel message.
The angels, Yehoshua- Jesus, and the Apostles delivered the same Gospel message, which would bring faith for salvation to all who believed and continued in it. There is only one Gospel (Galatians 1:6-9) and only one faith and hope leading to salvation (Ephesians 4:4, 5; Jude 3). The Called-out Assembly of God must deliver the same complete Gospel message to the world.
Written by Arlen F. Rankin and edited by Bruce Lyon
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