What Is The Message of the New Testament?

I want to introduce you to a simple subject using a complex word. The word is kerygma.

What in the world is kerygma? Why do I need to know and why should I care?

The word kerygma is the Greek word that means “preaching.” In the mid-twentieth century it became a theological word that denoted the actual essence of the Christian apostolic message. I don’t mean the apostolic movement, but the actual apostles of Jesus Christ that were called by him in the first century. It was the simple and life-transforming truths of biblical Christianity.

What it is not is the complex theological constructions and formulations of the church from the 4th and 5th centuries. It is the simple and powerful truth that there is one God and that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. He is Lord of all, he died for our sins, and was raised from the dead. Through him we have access to the Holy Spirit, and the power of the Holy Spirit works supernaturally to prove Christ’s resurrection, and that he is coming again to set up his kingdom on earth.

The Spirit of God is leading the church back to the essence of the apostolic message of the Bible. In the mid-twentieth century, writers like C.H. Dodd and Rudolf Bultmann began to write out the most basic and fundamental teachings of the apostles that can be clearly seen. They developed the doctrine of the kerygma. This is an important truth that the church needs to return to.

The ancient Christian kerygma as summarized by Dodd from Peter’s speeches in the New Testament Book of Acts is comprised of

The Age of Fulfillment has dawned, the “latter days” foretold by the prophets.
This has taken place through the birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
By virtue of the resurrection, Jesus has been exalted at the right hand of God as Messianic head of the new Israel.
The Holy Spirit in the church is the sign of Christ’s present power and glory.
The Messianic Age will reach its consummation in the return of Christ.
An appeal is made for repentance with the offer of forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, and salvation.

Let’s return to the kerygma of the apostles. Paul wrote, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8.

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. “

(1 Corinthians 15:1-5 ESV)

This is the Gospel by which we are saved. Jesus died for our sins, he was buried, and he raised on the third day, all in fulfillment of the Scriptures. We are not saved by belief in the Nicene or Athanasian Creed. We are saved and our lives are transformed by believing in the message of the Gospel.

The apostolic kerygma is what is necessary for salvation. We are not in need of a theological development apart from the Bible. The Bible itself is the preserved record that God has given to us to bring us salvation and the power of God. What we need is an experience with God that brings His Power to change our lives and become his witnesses. Let’s stand for the simplicity of the Bible and leave the traditions of men. Proclaim the kerygma of the apostles.

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What Is The Message of the New Testament?

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