What is the Gospel (the Good News)? Some would say that it is the Birth, Death and Resurrection of Christ which is true; but is it more? Is it the hope of Salvation?, The hope of heaven? , or the promises of God for healing and provision? What is the greatest gift that God can give you? If you had a moment to sit and wonder about it, what is the most beautiful and precious thing that you most desire? Would your answer be money, prestige, a good job, security, a child, your family, love, beauty, freedom, or all of these? Do you seek after God to merely obtain these, to feel release from guilt, or to escape eternal damnation? I daresay that the promises of God are tremendously comforting; but are they not merely the byproduct of obtaining the greatest gift and not in themselves the gift at all? Certainly Christ’s death on the cross to pay the price for my sin (His baring the full wrath of a Just and Holy God) so as to provide for my Justification is what was needed to make a way that I might obtain the greatest gift; but, I daresay, though that in itself was a marvelous gift—the greatest gift is even more. The greatest gift that God desires to give us is Himself. The greatest gift of the Gospel is that God wants to give me His presence, His joy, His love, and His light to shine in the darkness of the world and my heart so that the darkness be dispelled by the light. The same God who in Genesis spoke the light into being; wants to shine into the dark crevices of my heart to fill it with “THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST”
And even more than that, go back to 3:18, Once that light shines into our hearts that we might see the Glory of the Lord (however dimly at first) we are changed step by step into his image (glory to glory) and all that by His own Hand. He wishes to share His full love (the same depth as He as for His Son who is worthy beyond measure) with me. He desires to cover me with His righteousness and His Glory, though I so undeserving. That my dear friend is the Gospel.
That love constrains me, pulls me ever closer to Him. A love so encompassing that my greatest desire is Him. How could any other earthly pleasure compare? I only want to do His work, wherever he might send me. I only want to seek His pleasure, His desires to become mine.
2 Corinthians 3:17-4:7
King James Version (KJV)
17Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 4
1Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 KJV