The Blessings in the Gospel
The very first thing that Jesus did when he began his ministry was preaching the gospel. “Gospel” means good news because the new of the salvation in the kingdom of heaven is contained in the gospel. Therefore, this gospel has utmost importance in the providence of God for salvation.
Let us first understand what kind of blessings are contained in the gospel. The gospel has the promise of God in it.
Ephesians 3:6 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.
Paul specifies three blessings promised in the gospel. Through the gospel, first, we, who are once called Gentiles who do not know God, can become heirs or the children of God. And second, through the gospel, we can be the members of one body together in Christ. Lastly, through the gospel we can be under the promise God gave to his people for the salvation.
These are the blessings God promised in the gospel. In short, all the blessings we need for salvation is contained in the gospel. Gospel allows us to be one body in Christ as head and to be the children of God who can inherit the kingdom of heaven, and also to participate in the promise of God.
What is the True Gospel?
Therefore, we have to know what the gospel is. Sadly, however, even though there are many churches in this world which claim that they preach the gospel, we cannot find the truth in them. All of these churches teaches different doctrines from one another. It is hard to find the true gospel. Since God warned us that we have to know and follow the true gospel and, if not, we will be cursed rather than be blessed by God. (Galatians 1:6)
Then what is the true gospel? What is the truth that we should obey to participate in the true gospel? The bible teaches the Passover is the core of the gospel. Then let us see how the Passover can be the essential element of the gospel.
Gospel and the Passover
First Blessing of the Gospel and the Passover
The Passover makes us eligible for the first blessing of the gospel that the Gentiles becomes heirs together with Israel. As we can see in this world, who can become an heir in the family? It is the children, right? In the same way, we can become the heirs of God? It is God’s children.
Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Then how can we be the children of God? It is through the Passover. If we look at the family system in this world, the children receive the same flesh and blood of the parents. In the same way, to be the children of God, we have to receive the flesh and blood of God. When we have the flesh and blood of God in us, we become the children of God, which make us the heirs of God. Then how can we receive the flesh and blood of God?
Matthew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
While keeping the Passover (Matthew 26:17), Jesus sealed his words of promise on the bread and wine of the Passover. By participating in the bread and wine of the Passover, we can participate in the flesh and blood of Jesus and we can become the children of God as Jesus, who was called the Son of God. We can become sons and daughters of God.
Second Blessing of the Gospel and the Passover
What about the second blessing that we can be members together in one body? Now let me explain how we can be members together in one body through the Passover. The Passover is the ceremony through which we can eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ. Since all of us participate in the same flesh and blood of Christ, we become one body in Christ.
I Corinthians 10:16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
Paul clearly teaches that, since we participate in the body and blood of Christ through the bread and wine of the Passover, we can become one body in Christ. Even though we are given different talents as the members of body, still we are working together as one in Christ.
Romans 12:4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.
Third Blessing of the Gospel and the Passover
Third, we can receive the promise of God through the Passover. First, what is the promise of God for the children? It is eternal life. (1 John 2:25) Then how can we receive eternal life? Again, it is through the Passover.
John 6:53 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. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
Jesus teaches that we can participate in the promise of eternal life when we eat his flesh and drink his blood. The only way we can eat and drink the flesh and blood of Jesus is through the Passover. By eating the Passover, we can receive the promise God gave to the children: eternal life.
Passover, the Fulfillment of the Gospel
In this sense, the Passover is the fulfillment of all the blessings promised in the gospel. And the Passover is the completion of the salvation God planned for the children. Therefore, the true gospel we have to obey is the Passover.
Even though there are many churches in this world, there is only one church which keeps the Passover. That is World Mission Society Church of God, or WMSCOG, established by the second coming Christ Ahnsahnghong. The Passover is drawing near. Come to the Church of God and keep the festival. And you will understand and know the mystery that was hidden since the creation of the world, which God prepared for the salvation of the children.