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by Wayne Blank
When and Where Did Preaching Of The True Gospel Begin?
The true Gospel began with Jesus Christ, after John the Baptist had prepared the way:
"In those days came John The Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight." (Matthew 3:1-3 RSV)"Now when He heard that John had been arrested, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth [see also Nazarene] He went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles - the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand ... And He went about all Galilee, teaching in their Synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people." (Matthew 4:12-17,23)
"And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him. You know the word which He sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ, He is Lord of all, the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached" (Acts 10:34 RSV)
From Whom Did The True Gospel Originate?
The true Gospel came from God, and was delivered by Jesus Christ exactly as God commanded Him:
"For I have not spoken on My own authority; The Father Who sent Me has Himself given Me commandment what to say and what to speak." (John 12:49 RSV)"He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but The Father's Who sent Me." (John 14:24 RSV)
God's Gospel About The Kingdom Of God
The true Gospel is about the coming Kingdom of God:
"He said to them, "I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose." (Luke 4:43 RSV)"Pray then like this: Our Father Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come..." (Matthew 6:9-10 RSV)
When Does The Kingdom Of God Begin?
One of the most spectacular prophecies of the Bible involves the establishment of The Kingdom of God at The Return Of Jesus Christ:
"And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand for ever; just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure." (Daniel 2:44-45 RSV) (see Daniel's Statue)
Fact Finder: What did the apostle Paul warn those who preached a different Gospel?
Galatians 1:6-9
