Blog of John Ortberg
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December 23, 2006
The gospel
Jesus had one consistent message, and it is His Good News¨Jesus' Gospel. The word `gospel, ` which is often misunderstood in our day, was a loaded term in Jesus' day. In Israel, when people thought about the Gospel, they recalled verses in the Old Testament like How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, ''that's `gospel`'' , who proclaim salvation, who say to Israel, `Your God reigns!` ''Isaiah 52:7''

So it is with the idea of the `good news.` The proclamation of the gospel was the news that God reigns. The expectation was that it would really come when the Romans would be overthrown, the temples would be rebuilt, and the oppressors would be defeated. It would come with an act of military strength and power. That was the good news they were waiting for. Gospel was initially a loaded word.

It was also a loaded word in the Roman world. Tom Wright has written about this:

  • Euangellian the word for `gospel` or `good news, ` is a regular, technical term referring to the announcement of a great military victory and/or the birth of or accession of an Emperor, a new ruler who is going to bring strength and good news to the Roman world.

    The following is actually an inscription found on a building in the year 9 BC. It's about Caesar Augustus. Listen to the language they used in the Roman world to describe Caesar:

  • The providence which has ordered the whole of our lives, showing concern and zeal, has ordained it the most perfect consummation for human life by giving to it Augustus, by filling him with virtue for doing the work of a benefactor among men and by sending in him, as it were, a savior for us and those who come after us to make war to cease, to create order everywhere, the birthday of the god Augustus was the beginning for the world of the Good News which have come to men through him.

    That's kind of scary language for a human being, isn't it" In the Roman world, good news is synonymous with "Caesar is lord." They used that language. Now Jesus comes and says, `I have good news.` But this is going to be different than what most people in Israel thought it would be and different than what most people in the Roman Empire thought it was going to be.

    After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. `The time has come, ` he said. `The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!` ''Mark 1:14-15''

    Good news translates gospel.


    • By: John Ortberg - December 23, 2006 - Public
    Category: The Calling of the First Disciples
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    December 23, 2006
    Jesus calls sinners
    John, a great friend of Jesus, wrote when he was an old, old man:
  • How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are! ''I John 3:1a''

    That is what we are! We didn't do anything for that one. And if any one of you here right now thinks that you're not qualified, that there's too much junk, too much brokenness, too much darkness in your life, hear Jesus' words. This is what Jesus said:

  • I have not come to call ''that word again'' the righteous, but sinners. ''Mark 2:17''

    • By: John Ortberg - December 23, 2006 - Public
    Category: Jesus with The Hated - Zacchaeus the Tax collector
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    December 23, 2006
    Calling of sinners
    John, a great friend of Jesus, wrote when he was an old, old man:
  • How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are! ''I John 3:1a''

    That is what we are! We didn't do anything for that one. And if any one of you here right now thinks that you're not qualified, that there's too much junk, too much brokenness, too much darkness in your life, hear Jesus' words. This is what Jesus said:

  • I have not come to call ''that word again'' the righteous, but sinners. ''Mark 2:17''

    • By: John Ortberg - December 23, 2006 - Public
    Category: The Calling of Levi
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    December 23, 2006
    The calling
    The Greeks had two words for calling. Keleuo was the word that they used if you were going to give somebody commands or directions or tell them what to do.

    That's not the word that the New Testament chose to use for God's kind of calling. The other word, kaleo, was used to speak to a person to bring him nearer ¨ either physically nearer or relationally nearer. That's the word that they chose. Jesus' whole mission began when He called people to belong to a little circle , a little redemptive community. Jesus went up into the hills and called to Himself those He wanted, and they came to Him that they might be with Him. ''Mark 3:13-14''

    Now they belonged. This community of belonging was continually being extended. Paul writes to the people at Rome, who are a long, long way away:

  • And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. ''Romans 1:6''

    And now it's you and I. That's our calling. It's nothing we've done. It's to belong.


    • By: John Ortberg - December 23, 2006 - Public
    Category: The Appointing of the Twelve Apostles
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    December 23, 2006
    Centrality of the Resurrection
    Paul said
  • If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. ''1 Corinthians 15:14''

    Paul said,

  • If Christ has not been raised from the grave, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. ''1 Corinthians 15:17''

    Paul said, If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all people. ''1 Corinthians 15:19''

    Whether or not you agree with it¨whatever you think about it¨the Resurrection is not some kind of optional part of the message that gave birth to the church. It's not like buying a car where you can say, "I'll take it with a sun roof" or not. It is not that kind of a deal. It is It! Without that message¨whether or not you believe it's true¨without that message, the church does not get born! And they said, "It all hinges on this."


    • By: John Ortberg - December 23, 2006 - Public
    Category: Paul Describes Jesus As Risen from the Dead
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