You’ve probably heard of “the gospel.” But what is the gospel? Do you really know what the gospel is?
Does it matter? Yes, it really does matter, in the most profound way!
Why? Because Jesus Christ commanded us to believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). Jesus Christ said those who believe the gospel, which also implies obedience, would be saved, but those who reject it are subject to punishment (Mark 16:15-16; cf. Romans 1:16; 10:16; II Thessalonians 1:8; 2:13-14; I Peter 4:17-18).
But to believe the gospel you must know what it is. And there is a great deal of confusion about what the gospel actually is.
Is the law revealed in Scripture a curse, bondage, not relevant for a Christian because it’s been replaced by Christ? Are the ten commandments outmoded “Old Testament” law that can be safely ignored, as many believe? The Bible speaks of the commandments as the “law of liberty.” Which is it? The law of liberty, or of slavery?
As human beings our lives are largely consumed by those things that we think are important at any given time. In reality, however, those things we think are so important are really of fleeting significance, and will soon be forgotten. Those things that truly are important, however, and that are of lasting significance, are commonly given scant attention. Mankind’s destiny is not only a subject about which most people know almost nothing, but it’s also a subject to which most people give little thought or concern.
As Christians, however, we are instructed by our Master, Jesus Christ, to make God’s Kingdom not an afterthought, but the central focus of our lives (Matthew 6:25-34). Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50). The revealing of what is indeed a mystery, something unknown to most people today and throughout history, mankind’s destiny, the destiny God has in mind for every human being who is willing to meet his terms, and in particular the destiny he has in store for us if we remain faithful, is the subject of this article.