The Basis for Proclaiming the Gospel

The basis for proclaiming the gospel is the work the Father did in the body of Jesus as the Son of Man, in the days of His flesh. The fullness of the Godhead came to dwell in Him bodily. “Lo, I have come to do thy will, O God, as it is written of me in the roll of the book.” Hebrews 10:7.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1. And in the 14th verse we read, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory which the only begotten has from the Father—full of grace and truth.”

“The life was made manifest, and we say it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us.” 1 John 1:1-4. Here we see that the disciples had seen the eternal life which was with the Father. And yet we know that not everyone had seen this life in Jesus. “But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glorification. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians 2:7-8.

Actually, Jesus should not have died because only those who live according to the flesh shall die. “But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. “. . . and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” Colossians 1:20. The proof that His spirit had not been defiled by the flesh was the second part of the gospel: God raised Him from the dead. Romans 1:3-4.

“Therefore he says also in another psalm, ‘Thou wilt not let thy Holy One see corruption.’ For David, after he had served the counsel of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption; but he whom God raised up saw no corruption. Let it be known to you therefore, brethren, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him every one that believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.” Acts 13:35-39.

The forgiveness of sins was obtainable by the law, but they could not attain to the righteousness of God based on faith in Christ. For that, they would have had to be able to say with Paul, “. . . that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” Philippians 3:9-10. That is the way of faith. The knowledge of Jesus gives us the basis upon which to preach the gospel. This was the knowledge that Paul was so enthusiastic about the knowledge for which he counted all things as dung. And he says, “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it.” 1 Corinthians 3:10.

As a rule, people preach only about Jesus’ sufferings for us and about His death on Calvary. Consequently, they only have a foundation for the same thing they received under the law: the forgiveness of sins, which is now being preached through Jesus. But we read further that everything we could not be freed from under the law of Moses, we can now be freed from by Jesus. And just what is this? Yes, we have read much about it. “For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh.” Romans 8:3. This was the basis for faith in what follows: “. . . in order that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Jesus has been laid as the foundation for our faith. The law could only deal with what came forth from the body; but it was powerless to do anything about what dwelt within the body. Now, by virtue of what God did in the body of Jesus, we have a basis for believing that the same thing can take place in our body. And by believing it, we come to this: “For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3.

If we read on, we see that we have a basis for putting to death our lusts and desires and putting off all sin. Further, we read how the apostles laid Jesus as the foundation for our faith. And they set no limits to what we can attain in Christ Jesus. What was once impossible, God did by sending His Son. In other words, we can be transformed and thus partake of the same life that the Son lived. If you preach the gospel you will invariably meet those who say, “Impossible!” Perhaps they have never heard the gospel, or perhaps they have never come to faith in it.