Thrust Statement: The Gospel preached to Abraham involved God’s methodology of Justification—“God would justify the Gentiles by faith.”

Scripture Reading: Galatians 3:8

            What is the Gospel of Christ? Within many of the twenty-five or more divisions within the Churches of Christ, one discovers that the basic definition of Gospel is associated with the twenty-seven books called the New Testament. Just recently, this author listened to an editor of a very well known Christian journal advance the concept that the Gospel is the New Testament. As a young preacher, this author also taught that the Gospel consisted of twenty-seven books. As a result of this mindset, this writer castigated every believer that did not agree with the particular faction of which he was identified. Ultimately, this meaning of the word Gospel boils down to the fact that many associate their understanding of the New Testament on par with the Gospel.

            One of the first Scriptures that I memorized as a young Christian came from Galatians 1:6-9. Twice in this short pericope, the apostle pronounces a curse upon anyone who preaches another gospel other than the Gospel he preaches. Paul went so far as to even mention angels. Even if an angel preached any other gospel, one should let the angel be anathema. Thus, one can understand why so much emphasis is placed upon this section of Scripture.

            Many interpreters find meanings in the text that is really not there, but rather the meaning found in one’s own mind. If one is to understand correctly the meaning of the word Gospel as utilized by Paul, one must consult the context. In order for one to get the feel, as it were, for this particular word, then one must read the entire book in one sitting. One must endeavor to understand the text’s theological meaning within the book itself. Many Christians jump into the text without any thought of what the author intended to convey with his use of the word Gospel.

            Paul defines the word Gospel in verse four of chapter one of Galatians—“Who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age (1:4, NIV). Paul opposed Peter when he failed to set forth the nature of the Gospel when he withdrew from the Gentiles. Some of the brethren insisted upon obedience to circumcision as prerequisite to salvation, other than faith alone in Jesus (2:1-21). In the course of this conversation, Paul draws attention to the fact that the Gospel is about how one is put in a right relationship with God. For instance, he stresses that the Gospel is about justification by faith (2:15-17), not justification by law.

            Paul sought to solidify his arguments by reflecting upon Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (3:6). Then Paul drops the bombshell, as it were, in calling attention to the very heart of the Gospel: “The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you’” (3:8). How did this blessing occur? Paul says, “The Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ meaning one person, who is Christ” (3:16).

            Two thousand years prior to Paul’s writing the Book of Galatians, God announced the Gospel to Abraham. If one assigns the traditional definition to the word Gospel, one must naturally conclude, according to many Christians within the Churches of Christ, that God spoke to Moses about a cappella singing versus instrumental music, the so-called sinfulness of Sunday school, the use of grape juice versus wine in the Lord’s Supper, the organization of the church, the so-called church treasury, order of worship—five acts (rituals) to be performed in a prescribed manner—and so on. No! The Gospel preached to Abraham set forth the justification of sinful humanity through faith in God’s Son. The Gospel is “good news” about what Christ accomplished for sinful humanity. When Jesus died upon the cross, He achieved for man what man could not complete for himself. The Gospel preached to Abraham involved God’s methodology of justification—“God would justify the Gentiles by faith.”