What is the Bible about? Essentially it proclaims the salvation of the elect (Colossians 3:12) – the chosen of God (1 Peter 2:4). This is the good news of a new life in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and of an eternal future in heaven for those who believe and trust Him (Ephesians 1:12).

How is this salvation achieved? By faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8, 9), the Son of God who suffered death on a cross. He was buried and rose to life again. He ascended into heaven, where He sits at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus was and is the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17).

Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:20 speaks of this fulfilment, ‘For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.’ Those promises are the ones made by God in His word, the Bible.

The risen Jesus told of these things about Himself to two disciples whom He met as they were on their way to Emmaus. This is what He said, “These are the words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them,”Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:44-48)”

The good news, the gospel of salvation, was spoken of by the Prophets of the Old Testament (Isaiah 61:1). Matthew 3:3 tells of John the Baptist, the one whom Isaiah prophesied would affirm Jesus as the Messiah: ‘For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight.’”’  (cf Isaiah 40:3)

Malachi also prophesied of John the Baptist who would herald the coming of Jesus: ‘“Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts (Malachi 3:3).”’

John said there was ‘One mightier’ than he who would come and ‘baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16).

Jesus, Himself, started His active three year ministry by proclaiming His gospel: ‘“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17),”’ and before ascending to heaven He commissioned His disciples to teach others to be disciples teaching them to observe all things He commanded them (Matthew 28:19).

At the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:2-4) many heard the gospel (vv 14-37), and in turn they enthusiastically told others, so that thousands believed their testimony and were baptised (v 41, 47). The church grew rapidly and the gospel was proclaimed throughout the known world.

Today, that same gospel of the good news of Jesus Christ is being broadcast far and wide by churches, missionaries and millions of individual Christians. Countless books have been written about Jesus, and the Bible is the best selling book of all time, with over 5 billion copies sold. Today, there are thousands and thousands of sermons readily available on the WWW for people to download and to hear. Christian radio broadcasters make known the good news of Jesus Christ to the world, and they send their messages to places where knowledge of the Lord is scant, and where confessing to being a Christian could result in their death at the hands of those who hate Jesus.

Martyrs praise Him for His infinite mercy! They loose their life and gain eternal life with the Lord (Matthew 10:39; 16:25). They suffer death for their testimony and attain perfection, the glory of God (John 17:22).