The Gospel is More Than Enough

The word gospel is an interesting word. It simply means good news. Is that all there is to it? Stay with us to learn more on Cell Life Church Live.

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Message

The Gospel is More Than Enough

The word gospel is an interesting word. It simply means good news. In other words, something that was true and widely believed as fact. Jesus started that. Once Jesus came and commissioned his followers to spread the gospel, the meaning of the word became more focused.

Keep that in mind as we read Mark 16:15

(15) He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Jesus says this just before he ascends into Heaven to be with God the Father. This is the great commission. It is the instructions Jesus left us with. This is a simple command with epic ramifications. When Jesus spoke these words he knew he was refocusing us and setting our purpose in life.

What is the gospel Jesus is telling us to preach? What good news is he commissioning us to share with all the world? Is that all there is to it, or is there something more?

The gospel is God’s truth revealed to us by and through Jesus. It is God’s good news. This is why the first 4 books of the New Testament are referred to as “The Gospels”. These are the 4 accounts of Jesus’ life here on earth, his teachings, and his miracles.

They are the retelling of Jesus’ story and sharing all his teaching and miracles so people can know the ways of Christ. It is so people know right from wrong. It is so people learn what real love is. It is so people know what is expected and how to live when following Jesus after joining the family of God.

But there is more to it than passing on knowledge. There are many people in the world who have knowledge of Jesus Christ but do not love or follow him. These will be the ones that Jesus referred to in Matthew 7:21-23.

(21) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ (23) Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

These are the people who have head knowledge but no heart knowledge. These are the people with religion but without a relationship with God. They will spend eternity apart from God.

To follow Jesus, we must love Jesus. We must share what he has done in our lives. That is also part of preaching the gospel. That is being a witness of the good news. Sharing what we personally have experienced in Jesus and what he has done in our lives. As we share our witness of Jesus with people, we share his gospel.

Jesus commands us to share his gospel with the world. The choice is simple. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and preach his gospel, or spend eternity separated from him and God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

The power of the gospel is what happens when we boldly, without reservation, preach the good news of Jesus Christ to others.

The power of the gospel changes lives. Jesus even declares some of the powerful things that will take place as the gospel is preached. Let’s read Mark 16:17-18.

(17)  And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;  (18)  they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

There has been much discussion by theologians over the centuries about this. Unfortunately, some people believe the gospel hasn’t been preached unless each of these signs has been presented. This is not the case.

We must remember at the time Jesus shared this, the Bible had not been put together. There was no New Testament with Jesus’ teachings and further instructions from Paul, Peter, John, and the others. Jesus said these signs would follow so people would believe. These signs were a direct result of the gospel being preached and the power of the Holy Spirit on the individual.

Do we see signs like these now when the gospel is preached? Yes, some times. Especially in places where the Bible is not widely available like it was with the early church.

We can also read in Acts in many different places where each of these miracles took place as the gospel was being preached by disciples. A great example of this is found in Acts 2:42-47

(42) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (43) Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. (44) All the believers were together and had everything in common. (45) They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. (46) Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, (47) praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

That is the power of the gospel being shared and taught and the Lord added to their number daily those who were following Jesus and asking him to be their Lord and Savior, being adopted into the family of God and securing eternity with God.

Is the gospel enough today? Is there anything more we should be teaching or doing? The gospel has the power to change lives as people believe it and begin a lifelong love for Jesus Christ.

It has the power, in the name of Jesus Christ, to heal the sick. We see that often around the world. We have personally seen people healed when prayed for in the name of Jesus.

It has the power to bind up the brokenhearted.

It has the power to set people free from addictions and other destructive things in their lives. The power of the gospel is the freedom we have in Christ to worship God wherever we are whenever we want.

The power of the gospel is life, and life more abundantly.

That gospel is more than enough.