Good News! (Ephesians 1:13)

Ephesians 1:13 speaks of "...the gospel of your salvation..."

GOSPEL

The word translated "gospel" is used 72 times in the NT and 54 of those times (75%), the word is used in Paul's writings; which means that 3/4 of the emphasis of the gospel, is in the epistles.

PROCLAIM GOOD

(euaggelion), [2098, Strong's], is the Greek word translated as "gospel". It is a compound word from (eu), [2095], "good", and (aggello), [n.f.], "to proclaim".

FIELD OF BLOOD

The whole concept of this word comes from battle, and the field of blood, where conquering kings would fight viciously to gain conquest, or deliverance, from an opposing enemy. When the battle was over, and the enemy was defeated, an envoy would be sent; a herald, to announce the good news, that there was victory, and salvation had been secured. This was a time of great joy!

GOOD NEWS

The messenger would race with the joyous message, and at his appearance, raise his right hand in greeting, calling out with a loud voice, "chaire... nikomen!" [rejoice...victory!]. At his appearance it would already be known that he brought good news. His spear would be decked with laurel, his head crowned, and he would be swinging a branch of palms. Joy would fill the city, sacrifices for the good news of victory were offered; the temples would be garlanded; an assembly was held; crowns were put on the sacrifices; and the messenger was honored with a wreath. (TDNT, Vol.2,p.722). This was a typical account of the bringing of good news of deliverance from an enemy combatant, because not only did it mean that there was victory, and the spoils of war, but even more important, it meant that the the victors were no longer subject to the oppression of their foe, and in fact, the conquered became slaves and subservient to the victors!

CHARACTERISTICS

Characteristic of this word, is:

- the expression of great joy

- sacrifice to the gods for deliverance, and to ensure continued deliverance

- the loud, bold proclamation by the messenger, of the good news

DEATH OF SAUL

Ironically, the best visual example of this Greek word is found in the account of the death and defeat of Saul.

"And when the men of Israel on the other side of the valley and beyond the Jordan saw that the Israelites had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and occupied them. The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead and take their goods, they found Saul and his three sons lying dead on Mount Gilboa. They cut off Saul's head and stripped off his weapons, and sent messengers announcing the good news throughout the land, all round the Philistine country, among the people and in the house of their idols. And they presented his weapons in the house of Ashtaroth, and they impaled his body on the wall of Beth-shan" (1 Sam.31:7-10).

ANNOUNCE GOOD NEWS

In the spiritual realm, this is what Jesus did, and this is the announcement of good news:

- the head (authority) of the enemy has been removed; he is totally defeated

- we now occupy and possess what rightfully belonged to us

- all the armor and weapons that the devil had have been stripped from him

- we announce this good news of deliverance throughout the land

- we rejoice in this victory with our Almighty God

TOTAL VICTORY

Every time we read the word "gospel" in the scriptures, this is the visual imagery contained in the word; of boldly and joyfully announcing the good news of total victory and complete deliverance over the enemy!

You Are God's Best and God's Best is Yours