Apparently, today, many who consider themselves Christian do not know what is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The documentaries “American Gospel: Christ Alone” (2018) and “American Gospel: Christ Crucified” (2019) by Brandon Kimber are right to speak out against the false gospels of prosperity and progressive Christianity (ref. 1), ideas that are widespread in America.
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Matthew 21:12-13
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines…
Hebrews 13:8-9
Still, these documentaries leave in the minds of viewers that the true gospel of Christ is entirely about individuals being redeemed from sin, especially the original sin.
Yes, it is correct that ever since the transgression of Eve, humans have been cursed (ref. Genesis 3:16-19) to live in a corruptible and a mortal body. And, yes, one day those who have lived faithfully to Jesus Christ (ref. Ephesians 2:8-10) and have kept his commandments (ref. Revelation 22:14, 14:12) will be “born again” (ref. 1 Peter 1:23-25), and thus will receive an incorruptible and an immortal body. But the gospel of Christ is much more than that.
I realise many people focus on passages such as Isaiah 53:5 – that “he was bruised for our iniquities” and “with his stripes we are healed”. And likewise 1 John 1:7 – that “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”. For this reason, many think that the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ some two thousand years ago in and of itself has already saved them. As one of the documentaries put it, what happened is done and so there is nothing else to do.
Actually, Jesus Christ was resurrected so that the world might believe in the resurrection of the dead at his second coming, and those who do believe are Christian and those who do not are not.
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
1 Corinthians 15:12-14
Never forget, the world today is evil and under the control of Satan (ref. Matthew 4:8-10, Ephesians 2:2).
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
John 15:18-20
Throughout history, this evil has been the cause of tremendous suffering.
And I don’t just mean demon possessed serial killers. I also mean entire nations and armies controlled by Satan. Of course, this evil must be stopped.
In due time, this evil will come to an end because of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God. I tell you, this is the gospel, “the good news”.
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father…
John 5:22-23
His eyes were as a flame of fire… and his name is called The Word of God… And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Revelation 19:12-15
Why Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God? Why not Jesus Christ alone on the day of the LORD?
Though much of the work will be completed by that day, it might take years or decades or more to win over the entire world.
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh… Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron… Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth…
Psalms 2:1-12
After the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ, when all enemies have been put under his feet, the kingdom of God will continue.
Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1 Corinthians 15:24-25
At that time, God the Father will come and live there, and the world will come to know him through the battle of Gog of Magog (ref. Revelation 20:7-9, Ezekiel 38-39).
Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 38:23
And the people of the world who are alive then will look up to the Jew, the remaining population of the kingdom of God (ref. Zechariah 8:22-23, Isaiah 49:23).
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
Zechariah 8:23
… Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.
Joel 3:20-21
This is why the gospel of Christianity is properly the gospel of the kingdom of God (ref. Mark 1:14-15), a kingdom or “world without end” (ref. Isaiah 45:17, Ephesians 3:21).
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mark 1:14-15
References:
1. Brandon Kimber, http://www.americangospelfilm.com