Dr. David Jeremiah: END TIMES - BE THE GOOD NEWS | David Jeremiah Sermons [5:09-10:11]

The gospel of the kingdom would be preached to the ends of the earth and when it did, the world would never be the same. Now, of all the prophecies that we've studied this far in Matthew 24, I must tell you this is the most implausible. I mean, one could imagine the continuation of war. Deceivers come and go, there's always going to be disease and famine, but who in the world could ever imagine that the words of a rural rabbi from Galilee would transform human history? Who would ever believe that his words would reverberate on every subsequent generation and be his life changing 2,000 years later, as the disciples had known it to be in their own life? This is our Lord's positive prediction. So far, we've looked at a lot of grim prognostications in the Olivet Discourse, but during all those difficult days at the end of history, one thing will be unstoppable and that is the relentless spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ in every generation, in every continent, through every difficulty. Like a beam of light through the black and night, the good news will bring the world its only hope. The message of Jesus crucified and resurrected will echo through all the turbulence of the times and herald his swift return. Think of it, the gospel that you and I have in our lives, in our hearts, in our hands, is the only message of hope for the world in which we live. Matthew 24, 14, Jesus said it this way, and this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to the nations and then the end will come. I want to talk with you today about the unstoppable message of the gospel. Let's start with the word gospel itself. The Greek term is Evangelion. You can instantly see how we get our world evangelism from that Greek word. Evangelion, Evangelism. But look closer. Notice that in the middle of that word is the word angel, EV, ANGEL, I.O.N. What is an angel doing in the middle of the gospel? Well, the word literally means messenger. The Greek prefix EV means good, so the word gospel literally means good message, good news. I always love this because the word angel is also used to describe a preacher, so I am an angel. My wife wouldn't agree, but I'm going to say it. This word appears for the first time in the Bible at the beginning of Jesus' ministry. In Matthew 4.23 it says, and Jesus went about all the Galilee teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, the good news of the kingdom. The gospel, as you know, is a set of facts rooted in history based upon the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The son of God, son of man, came to this earth and paid the penalty for the sin of the whole world. He could do that because he was the infinite God. One man could not do that for another man, but God could do it for all men. And he did. He came to this world. That's the fact of the gospel. And those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, as we know, enter a living relationship with God by grace and through faith. And Christ alone is the one who can bring forgiveness and eternal life. Ephesians 1, 13 says it this way, in Christ you also trusted after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When we receive this message, call the gospel by simple faith, and we confess Jesus Christ as the Lord of our lives, we become living recipients and embodiments of the good news. In other words, we say yes to Jesus. I can't help but pause here and ask this question at the beginning of this message. Have you said yes to Jesus? Everything in life and eternity depends on your answer to that question. In Romans 116, Paul said, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Watch this. For the gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. So when you go back to Matthew 24, there's something else that's very interesting. Matthew says, this gospel of the kingdom will be preached. Why is it called the gospel of the kingdom? Let me try to deal with that because it can become theological hornet's nest if you let it.