Editors’ note:
TGC Africa creates faithful Christian content to strengthen African believers. Through this process ministry friendships develop with like-minded churches and parachurch organisations across Africa. We long to amplify the presence of gospel centered ministries in their home countries, pointing local Christians to trustworthy, edifying resources available on their doorstep.
Check out the first episode of The Tabaaza Podcast created by Veracity Fount, a parachurch organisation operating in the city of Kampala, Uganda. To find out more about Veracity Fount please visit their website or visit their offices at Plot 2, Musuubire Henry Close, Bukoto Kampala, Uganda.
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The gospel is known to many of us as ‘the good news.’ But if you were put on the spot and asked what that good news is, would you be able to explain it? The good news of the gospel is often misunderstood or even muddled up with other Christian ideas. What makes the gospel good news is that it’s what God has done to rescue and free us from sin and Satan. As Paul writes, “Jesus has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13).
The good news of the gospel is often muddled up with other Christian ideas.
In this short video, Joseph Byamukama outlines what the gospel is and what it is not; as African Christians it is crucial we understand the difference.
What is the Gospel?
“The gospel is not what you do, it is what Christ has done,” says Joseph. “And so,” he continues, “while the gospel demands repentance, and righteousness, and goodness, and patience, and kindness, and long-suffering, and all those fruits, these are not the gospel. The gospel is what God has done in history, in Christ for us and for our salvation.”
Just because you heard it in a church that doesn’t make it good news.
We can’t overstate the significance of having clarity on this for Christians. Without it we won’t only collapse our obedience and godliness into the good news, we’ll ultimately end up forfeiting the assurance that the saving grace of God provides. So, as Joseph asks towards the end of this video: what gospel do you believe? For, make no mistake, just because you heard it in a church that doesn’t make it God’s good news (Galatians 1:6). And that’s what you need to hear; to believe; and to find great security in.
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Transcript
What is the Gospel?
If someone met you in the street and asked you, “What is the gospel?” What would be your answer? What would you say to them? The gospel is the good news about what God has done in history, in Christ for us and for our salvation.
The gospel is the good news. It’s an announcement that the maker of heaven and earth has entered time in the person of Jesus and he has redeemed us. He has saved us from sin, from Satan, from death and from darkness. The gospel is the news we receive – it’s not something that we do, it’s the news that is announced to us – that God has welcomed us into his family because of what God has done, because of what Christ has done.
The Gospel for Africans
Now, for us as Africans, there are things that we feared. I mean, think about that cat that crosses the road in the morning and your whole day’s plans are thwarted. Or, think about the night owl that makes that noise at night and you just are afraid in your bedroom because it is a death omen. You see, we fear death, we fear demons. But also, we are a divided people. I’m thinking about that Auntie who told you we do not eat in that family, and please do not marry from that tribe or from that clan. We live as a divided people.
The Gospel Unites
The gospel comes to us as Africans and tells us Christ has reconciled each one of you to one another in his body at the cross. I mean, I’m thinking about Ephesians 2:14, how he has broken down the walls of separation and has made those who were once enemies into one family. God delivers us from demons, and from principalities, and power of darkness.
The Gospel Conquers Demons, Darkness and Death
I mean, think about Colossians 2:15, where he displays the demons and the powers of darkness and principalities as a public spectacle triumphing over them in the cross. How about death? Think of Hebrews 2:14, how the Son of God does become like us, he becomes human that through his death he might defeat the powers of darkness the devil and death. You see, Christ does bring us together. He reconciles us and makes us children of God. But he also brings us together as a family of those who used to hate each other and then he defeats our enemies; death, darkness, Satan and the devil. And he brings us home. The gospel is that good news of what God has done for us in history, in Christ.
What the Gospel is Not
Now, there is what the gospel is not because sometimes we mistake the gospel with the effects or the results of the gospel. I mean, talk about your holiness, your righteous living, your transformation, your good works, these are good things indeed the Bible does command them but they are not the gospel. The gospel is not what you, do the gospel is what Christ has done. And so, while the gospel demands repentance, and righteousness, and goodness, and patience, and kindness, and longsuffering, and all those fruits – these are not the gospel. The gospel is what God has done in history, in Christ for us and for our salvation. Do you believe the gospel? That’s the question that I leave with you.
