This Is My Gospel

Bible Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8

“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel.” (2 Timothy 2:8)

The word “gospel” means “good news.” It’s what the Christian Church is all about: The gospel!

Sadly, there are a lot of different “gospels” floating around the Christian Church. There’s the “prosperity” gospel. Have you heard of that? “If you believe hard enough in Jesus, you will be wealthy and prosperous!” Sound good? Sure! Then there’s the “social” gospel. Heard of that? It’s the idea that the Christian Church exists to end problems in society. If we do the right things, we will end poverty and inequality and violence. Sound good? You bet! There’s the “love” gospel. “All you need is love. Love everyone. Love everything. Don’t judge. Just love.” Sound good? Yes!

But none of those is really the “gospel”—the good news—of the Bible. What’s the gospel? It’s this: “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.”

The gospel isn’t about what we do. All truly good news comes from remembering Jesus Christ. His name tells us his purpose. Do you know what “Jesus” means? “Savior.” Jesus came to save his people from their sins (see Matthew 1:21). The name “Christ” is really a title. Jesus is the “Anointed One”—the “Messiah.” He’s the promised Redeemer who came to rescue God’s people. That’s the gospel! Jesus Christ came to die on the cross to save us from our sins.

He didn’t stop there, however. As you remember Jesus, remember that he was “raised from the dead.” Death wasn’t the end for Jesus. He died for our sins, but he rose for our salvation. Because Jesus rose from the dead, we can be confident that we too have life after death—eternal life by faith in him.

Finally, our Savior Jesus is “descended from David.” Why include that? Because the good news of the Bible is that God always keeps his promises. About 1,000 B.C.—one thousand years before Jesus was born—God promised King David that one of his descendants would rule forever (see 2 Samuel 7). Does God keep his promises? Absolutely. Every single one. Jesus proves that we can take God at his Word.

In a world starving for good news, with Christian churches confused about their purpose, here’s the true gospel: “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel.”

Dear Jesus, the best good news is that you came to die and rise to save me from my sins. In a world filled with false “gospels,” may the good news of what you have done always be my gospel. Amen.

Pastor Nathan