Every Christian has heard the gospel, but what exactly is it? What’s the good news?
Last week I asked my pastor, “What’s so good about the gospel?”
I’ve been mulling the question, and now I’m asking you too.
I propose something different… something more.
The gospel can be summed up in two words… NEW COVENANT
Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic (Law) covenant and replaced it with a covenant that can’t be broken.
Do you know why it can’t be broken? Because the covenant is between the Father (God) and Jesus (God-
man).
For Bible Nerds Only
(skip this section and go directly to the next section if you don’t love nerdy exegesis Bible study)
The following section is a very brief overview of the covenants in the Bible…
The covenant God made with Abraham and David were one-sided. God initiated, and sustained the covenant which he made.
Genesis 12:2-3
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
1 Chronicles 17:11-14
When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.
The Mosaic (Law) covenant was different than the previous covenants. It was a conditional agreement between the Israelites and God.
Exodus 19:5-6
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
God didn’t want that type of covenant… he wanted worshippers who were comfortable in his Presence (see Exodus 3:12) but the people were afraid and wanted distance from God.
He gave them what they wanted. Unfortunately, it was a burden and they could not keep their end up the agreement.
They became like every other nation… subjugated under the oppression of pleasing a distant deity. Eventually, they wanted to look like other nations as well, and asked for a king.
But that’s not what God wanted. He isn’t like other gods. He didn’t want to be at an arm’s length so he made a way to come close… so close in fact, his life is our life.
The New Covenant is Central to the Gospel
The gospel, aka Good News is waaayyyy more than the forgiveness of sins. It’s more than some future eternal utopia.
The gospel is about new life… made possible by the New Covenant, which Jesus signed with his blood. A covenant must have blood.
When you enter into a covenant, in effect, you agree to be defined by the other. For example, in a marriage covenant the wife is defined by her husband and the husband is defined by his wife.
Likewise, under the New Covenant, we are defined by God and he is defined by us.
Wait… what?! How can that be?
He is perfect, but we are not… or are we?
According to the act of the entering the covenant, Jesus made one sacrifice making us perfect forever (Hebrews 10:14).
Thus, our life in Christ, and his life in us… which means… the “supernatural” life isn’t supernatural any longer… it’s just normal life.
And that… my friends, is good news.
Don’t Just Say It, Declare the Gospel in Your Worship
I’m passionate that worshippers, like you, testify about the gospel, which is why Covenant worship flags were created. The flags declare the gospel message… the New Covenant.
Kim, one of our Fire Catchers “gets” it. Here’s what she said about Covenant worship flags:
There’s something special about them. They remind me of the richness of the new covenant we have in Christ.
If you don’t have Covenant worship flags in your flag bag yet, now is the time as we are close to celebrating Resurrection Sunday.
