The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
The verse opens the beginning of the good-news record and account of the ministry of Jesus Christ, the Son of God in His divine sonship. The gospel it introduces is God's message of redeeming love for life and salvation. In its setting with the following verses, it leads into the fulfilled prophecy of a messenger preparing the Lord's way. This is linked to the coming of the Messiah and the rise of His forerunner, John as the promised son who goes before the Lord to prepare His ways.
That beginning includes John's wilderness baptism of repentance for forgiveness and his pointing to a mightier One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. It includes Jesus coming from Nazareth to be baptized by John with the Spirit descending and the Father's voice of approval. It includes Jesus then driven into the wilderness for forty days of temptation among wild beasts with angels serving Him. The beginning it opens is to be repeated and carried publicly wherever people can hear it. It is to be carried in every city and town, among white and Black people alike, in these last days by those Christ has called to His work.
Those who carry it must have redeeming love revealed in their hearts and expressed in earnest work for the salvation of sinners. The gospel must be presented not with harshness but commended by a spirit that works by love. The theme of saving grace is the antidote for a harsh spirit. Opposition works to dishearten the work for Black people, but testimony for that work must be borne as long as breath of life lasts.
The verse opens the beginning of the good-news record and account of the ministry of Jesus Christ, the Son of God in His divine sonship. The gospel it introduces is God's message of redeeming love for life and salvation. In its setting with the following verses, it leads into the fulfilled prophecy of a messenger preparing the Lord's way. This is linked to the coming of the Messiah and the rise of His forerunner, John as the promised son who goes before the Lord to prepare His ways.
That beginning includes John's wilderness baptism of repentance for forgiveness and his pointing to a mightier One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. It includes Jesus coming from Nazareth to be baptized by John with the Spirit descending and the Father's voice of approval. It includes Jesus then driven into the wilderness for forty days of temptation among wild beasts with angels serving Him. The beginning it opens is to be repeated and carried publicly wherever people can hear it. It is to be carried in every city and town, among white and Black people alike, in these last days by those Christ has called to His work.
Those who carry it must have redeeming love revealed in their hearts and expressed in earnest work for the salvation of sinners. The gospel must be presented not with harshness but commended by a spirit that works by love. The theme of saving grace is the antidote for a harsh spirit. Opposition works to dishearten the work for Black people, but testimony for that work must be borne as long as breath of life lasts.