What does it mean when we refer to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how is this related to being born of the water and the Spirit?
The word we interpret for gospel means a telling of good news. it’s the same root as evangelize. But what exactly is it, really? What does it mean?
When we refer to the Gospel we are referring to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and how we are meant to fulfill each point of these things. But why do we need to do these things?
God is a holy and perfect Spirit who created Humans to commune with Him in a perfect environment. When mankind sinned, God could not allow them to be in His presence any longer. As time went on He sent the Mosaic Law which was a way to know and understand what their sins were and provide a way for their sins to be rolled ahead for a year and allow them to come into His presence and worship. The sacrifice of animals was not enough to pay for the sins of man, however. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Heb 10:4
God, who is an invisible, untouchable and holy Spirit, had a plan. A plan that was a very part of Him since before the creation of time. Since by one man’s sin, sin and death entered into the world, one perfect man could bring redemption from sin and bring eternal life. But who? But how? “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Rom 3:23
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,” Gal 4:4 How could this come to pass? There is only one God, which will be studied in greater detail in a later page, but it is written, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1Tim 2:5,6
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isa 7:14
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isa 9:6,7
We hear these scriptures at Christmas time of course, but our eternal destiny rests on them as well. What happened? How was the son also the everlasting Father and what does this mean to us? These scriptures are literal and were fulfilled by a young virgin woman named Mary. We eavesdrop on her conversation with the angel, Gabriel, “Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:34,35
Instead of the seed of sinful Adam, it was the Spirit of the Almighty God with the humanity of Mary. When you see Jesus at any given time he is 100% God and 100% Man.