INTRO: I was in the process of studying the doctrine of salvation in light of Calvinism, and then was asked my opinion on a certain book, and being in the process of both of those, I put together this message on the Gospel. It is most crucial to understand the Gospel right. So, I ask, just what is the Gospel? Well, the word gospel means good news. To know what the good news is one must first know what the bad news is. Nahum 1:15 says: 15 Behold, on the mountains The feet of him who brings good tidings, (which means Gospel) Who proclaims peace! O Judah, keep your appointed feasts, Perform your vows. For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; He is utterly cut off. Let me give you a picture of what it was like in the time of the OT. When Israel went out to war, children worried about their dad or friends or uncles who had gone to war. Wives worried about their husbands or sons. There was no rest in the camp. There were no phones and no way to get news other than that someone went to the battle zone or a runner was sent back home. So, the watchmen would watch from the walls and when they saw a runner coming, they knew that news was coming. And our verse says, "Behold on the mountains the feet of him who brings good tidings or good news." |