Finding the Gospel in all of Scripture
It is common for Christians to isolate and rank certain Bible passages and judge them for their “Gospel value.” For example, one might pit John 3:16 against 1 Corinthians 15:3–4. The error here is to limit one’s Gospel understanding to preferred verses without developing a proper understanding of the whole Bible as Gospel, filled with Gospel.
In one sense, when a believer claims a certain verse to be their “life verse” they are highlighting a true Gospel effect upon them. They are detecting Gospel. This, however, should never be limited to one life verse. Our task is to find the Gospel in all of Scripture.
God is the Gospel. Christ is the Gospel, and the whole Bible is God’s special revelation (the Gospel!) about the Trinitarian Godhead. Christ is our life (Col 3:4); therefore, when Christians fix their eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2), the result includes looking at one’s own self. Far from puffing up one’s pride, the actual result is utterly humbling. Jesus Christ is beautiful, and each of us is a wretch.
For this reason, the Gospel preacher must be true to His calling to proclaim Christ (1 Cor 1:18; 2:2, 4). “Behold the Man” must be the preacher’s priority statement when the congregation gathers with their burning desire expressed, “Sir, we would see Jesus.” It is the preparatory task of the minister of God’s Word to set his heart to study the Scriptures (Ezra 7:10), in order to find the Gospel in whatever text or context he is meditating on. Next, he helps others to see the Gospel in whichever book of the Bible they are learning from at present.
The Bible is a well-known gold mine that never disappoints the one led by the Spirit to find the vast riches of God’s grace and truth. The litmus test of “good news” is easily detected, but one must know what he or she is looking at and disciplined to ask, “Now, where is the Gospel in this passage?” Let us consider a few examples.
First, “For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18).” Can you see the Gospel in this verse? God knows that in the world His disciples will have trouble (Jn 16:33). There are diverse sufferings appointed by God (Acts 9:16) and turned by Him for good (Rom 8:28). The good news, revealed in the text of this first example is that surpassing glory is coming and will be manifest to Christ’s church.
Second, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).” Can you see the Gospel in this verse? People look for some false version of salvation to satisfy their spiritual emptiness. The Bible reveals the one place authorized by God where fullness is realized, that is, in Christ. The one name under heaven that proves to be the name above every other name is Jesus Christ, our Savior (Phil 2:9; Titus 1:4; 2:13; 3:6). He is good news revealed in this second sample verse.
Third, “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Cor 4:11).” People build their future on a myriad of shifting sand dunes. This foolish practice is legion. The Gospel in this passage is that God has provided one firm foundation for an assured future for His chosen people. Jesus Christ is the solid rock foundation upon which wise men build their houses (Mt 7:26; 16:18). That is Gospel gold that will preach!
Finally, “And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances (Ezek 36:27).” Clearly, obeying the commandments of God is difficult for the flesh of men. Compliance is demanded, but human will and ability are simply lacking. God resolves the chronic disobedience of those He causes to be born again (1 Pet 1:3). The Gospel, here, is that He has given His adopted children His very own Spirit to be our Teacher, our Comforter, and our Guide. Good news from the Old Testament, indeed!
The reader of the Bible is encouraged to look for Gospel pieces that fit perfectly into the big picture Gospel. Individual text passages, as we have considered here, may contain vivid statements that illumine Gospel truth. Some are famous and familiar like John 3:16 or 1 Corinthians 15:3–4. Other passages, being more obscure, may hold less light by themselves, but when passages in context are added, the proverbial dimmer switch is raised for more light…more Gospel.
Christians must pray to see the Gospel in whatever passage they are encountering. They may consult with pastors, theologians, professors, commentaries, and other tools for help in seeing all the treasure to be mined there. One can only imagine the delight when a gold miner discovers a profitable vein. In this, the Bible student has much greater joy because of the witness of other “miners.” There is much Gospel gold in God’s book, and one must believe that in order to go find it for himself.
The work of finding rich deposits of truth becomes a labor of love for the faithful disciple, who is living off the promises already found. There is no end to the infinite reserve of God’s riches prepared beforehand for His children to discover through earnest searches in holy Writ.
Microwaving the Gospel into pithy statements or limited to rote Scripture references is simply a bad diet that must be replaced with the savoring of the whole Bible. We must never be content with the Gospel collected to date. There is much more to discover. Also, to whom much is given, much is required. God has given you His whole counsel, in that He has given you all of Scripture.
In the Gospel landscape, each overturned rock, added to the grand panorama will reveal something of God’s glory. To look into the face of Jesus, one must be given the grace to find Gospel…and then more Gospel in the diverse places of the Bible. My prayer for myself and for my dear readers is for God to delight us every time we open our Bibles — to one or any number of verses that are there to be precious nuggets to be collected and treasured all the days of our lives and forevermore.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
April 17, 2022
