What do Christadelphians believe about the Gospel?

The Christadelphian belief about the gospel, which can be translated as ‘good news’ is one that we are told to preach about. The gospel when it is found in the New Testament is often associated with the Kingdom of God and the importance that this message is being preached.

For something to be preached, it means an important message must be delivered far and wide and the Kingdom of God is this very important message in the Bible. The message is to be preached to make everyone aware off what the Lord Jesus Christ enabled us to be a part off. This is the Kingdom of God, and Jesus did the greatest act of love by laying down His life for us all. 

The Lord Jesus when He was here on earth around 2000 years ago was sent for the following reason by God.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son (John 3:16-18).

God does not want us to be condemned and thus Jesus during his ministry went about with his disciples proclaiming the gospel message, with the writings recorded for us in the New Testament books of the Bible; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 

These writings enable us to see the large emphasis that Jesus placed on his ministry and the reason, why he was here. The ongoing theme by Jesus was to go and preach throughout his ministry. The aim was to make more disciples, to spread the Good news of the Kingdom of God and helping all people, to have the chance to be in the Kingdom. This is one of the many reasons miracles were completed by Jesus and the disciples, as they were empowered to then give all people the opportunity to believe and be baptised. Jesus and the disciples were given the power to cast out demons, lay hands on the sick and heal every disease and affliction.

The disciples were again reminded of this following Jesus’ resurrection:
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; “they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18 (NKJV))

Jesus had disciples for a few reasons, one of which was because He was a rabbi…a teacher. Jesus taught and led His disciples not just like a teacher in a school does with his or her students but also like a captain of a ship setting sail with a crew together. Jesus chose his disciples and spent time with them. The disciples saw how He lived, what He did, what He said, how he said it and they learned from Him because he was the perfect example. He was preparing them for the time when He would leave this earth and they would carry on His work.

Another reason Jesus had disciples was because He commanded them to make more disciples. Over the time Jesus was with them, He led them, so they could follow His perfect example. Jesus wanted them to do what He had done for three years, which was to teach, lead others and tell them about God, including His plan and purpose and future. 

We too can be doing likewise because Jesus made disciples to finish the work that He started here on earth, to take the good news…the gospel message of salvation to the world! We must do likewise having once believed and been baptised. 

The gospel message about the Kingdom of God, is a time to truly look forward to, as unlike the world today, God will no longer allow pain, crying or suffering but everlasting life as death, famines and pestilences will be no more. 

As part of this blog series, the Kingdom of God will be covered in more detail, thanks for reading.

Article by Matthew; Image Andrea Piacquadio pexels.com