The Gospel: The New Covenant Passover
The gospel is a common Christian term that’s often associated with Christ, the Bible and church. But what exactly does it mean?
The word “gospel” is a derivative of the Greek word euangelion (εὐαγγέλιον), which means “good news.” The first four books of the New Testament, written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, are described as the four canonical gospels. However, the gospel is much more than a title to denote a particular set of books in the Bible. The gospel is the New Covenant Passover that gives life to mankind.
The Mystery of Christ: The Gospel
First, it’s important to understand the origin of the gospel.
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
Matthew 4:23 (NKJV)
Jesus did not simply preach a general message of love and peace; He preached the gospel. His disciples did the same, following in His footsteps. There are special blessings for those who adhere to the gospel.
In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ… This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 3:4-6
Becoming an heir of God, a member of one body with God and a sharer in the promise of eternal life (1 Jn 2:25)—all this is possible through the gospel. For this reason, the gospel is expressed as “good news” in Greek.
The Gospel of the New Covenant
Apostle Paul, who was chosen through God’s grace to preach the gospel, made known the true gospel.
[I]f indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Colossians 1:23 (NKJV)
He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2 Corinthians 3:6
Apostle Paul also wrote that he was a minister of the New Covenant. Through these statements, the Bible shows that the gospel is the New Covenant. And Jesus revealed the New Covenant the night before He was crucified.
And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer… And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
Luke 22:15, 20
Jesus ate the Passover together with His disciples. Through the Passover bread and wine, He gave them His body and blood. Lifting up the Passover wine, He called it the New Covenant. Therefore, the Passover is the gospel of the New Covenant.
The Importance of the Gospel
Jesus’ entire ministry led up to Him establishing the New Covenant Passover. In essence, it is the most important teaching He left for us. We cannot receive His flesh and blood, which gives us eternal life, without it.
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
John 6:53-54
Along with receiving eternal life, we become heirs of God and one body with God through the Passover (Ro 8:17; 1 Cor 10:16-17). It is certain that this gospel will not fail because it originated from God. In fact, the whole world will hear about it.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:14
The same gospel of the kingdom that Jesus preached 2,000 years ago is now being preached all throughout the world. The World Mission Society Church of God takes the lead in proclaiming the gospel—the New Covenant Passover. Visit your local Church of God and celebrate the New Covenant Passover just as Jesus Christ celebrated it with His disciples 2,000 years ago.