Luke 24:45-47 English Standard Version

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Since we are tasked with spreading the gospel throughout the whole world, it would seem only right that we know what we are talking about. Do search on Google by asking what is the gospel. We will discover a variety of answers from “The Good News” to various 30 to 50 page thesis about everything required to understand the gospel.

As we look at our opening verse we see Christ opening the minds of his disciples to understand the “Scriptures”. Those scriptures were not the New Testament, as it had not been written when Jesus preached the good news Himself. We can see this mission was given to apostles that began in Jerusalem, the heart of Judaism. They needed to explain to those who had lived by the Law that they too might see everything they had learned from their teachers was meant to show them that this Jesus of Nazareth was “The Christ” their Messiah.

Now here we are spreading the word to a world that may have no understanding of the Old Testament, any knowledge of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their God of promise. We need to discover a way of preaching the gospel that does not confuse them by requiring them to read and understand the Old Testament as if they were Jews themselves. That is not necessary.

The leading edge of the gospel message is the same for everyone. It is a life lived without God and a regret for the choices we all made. We will find we were in anguish over the results.

The preaching of the gospels begins with a yearning in the heart to end the emptiness in their heart because life has not been fulfilling.

Romans 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope

It is not our fault we were born this way. Futility indicates we are helpless to help ourselves. We cannot change ourselves. The “Good News” is that God can.

Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

The gospel message begins with the lost opening up to us the condition of their heart and exploring what they have tried that did not bring them happiness, their futility. The lost will resist opening up to strangers that have not earned their trust. How can we earn the trust of the lost?

Order and office.-The sacerdotal order was originally the instrument by which the members of the Jewish theocracy were taught and governed in things spiritual. Teaching by act and teaching by word were alike their task. But during the time of the judges, the priesthood sank into a state of degeneracy, and the people were no longer affected by the acted lessons of the ceremonial service. They required less enigmatic warnings and exhortations, under these circumstances a new moral power was evoked the Prophetic Order. Samuel himself Levite of the family of Kohath and almost certainly a priest, was the instrument used at once for effecting a reform in the sacerdotal order and for giving to the prophets a position of importance which they had never before held. Nevertheless it is not to be supposed that Samuel created the prophetic order as a new thing before unknown. The germs both of the prophetic and of the regal order are found in the law as given to the Israelites by Moses but they were not yet developed, because there was not yet the demand for them. Samuel took measures to make his work of restoration permanent as well as effective for the moment. For this purpose he instituted companies or colleges of prophets. Source: Smith’s Bible Dictionary

Hebrews 1:1-3 English Standard Version

The Supremacy of God’s Son

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. 

The office of the prophet ended with Jesus Christ. Jesus did not speak for God. He is God, and God is One, in mind and will.

2 Peter 2:1-3 English Standard Version

False Prophets and Teachers

1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

We caution everyone that has the gift given of prophecy not to declare themselves to be prophets because the office no longer exists. The idea of the gift given is one of ownership is false teaching and should be denied.

Consider the exploitation of false words above. That equals lies and we know the Father of lies.

John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

John 14:17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

The gift of prophecy knows the truth when it is spoken, and lies for what they are and nothing more. Wisdom and experience explains what to do with that knowledge.