Where Does the Story Begin?

How does the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. describe the Kingdom of God, and when did God begin revealing information about His Kingdom to mankind?

Many assume the gospel of the Kingdom of God originated with the preaching of Christ and His apostles.

The four New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. accounts of Christ's life and teachings are commonly referred to as the four Gospels. Few, however, realize that the essentials of the gospel were revealed to servants of God long before Jesus was born. (Actually, these four books were not originally called "the Gospels"; that term was not applied to them until the middle of the second century.)

Our English word gospel is derived from the Old English expression "good spell," meaning good tale or good newsThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament .. In the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ., the Greek word evangelion , translated "gospel," refers to a message from a king or a favorable report about a significant event. So gosp el simply refers to good newsThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . from God. It is God's message announcing His plan and purpose for humankind. It is His good newsThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . to us. Jesus Christ came to proclaim the wonderful news about God's plan and purpose. The focus of that plan is the Kingdom of God.

God has always revealed His purpose to mankind. Even in the beginning He explained why we were born and the purpose of human life. Implicit in that explanation is the beginning of the gospel.

The apostle Paul says the gospel was preached, many hundreds of years before Jesus' birth, to a man named Abraham. "And the ScriptureThe divinely inspired writings of both the Old and New Testaments. The term Scripture is used in the New Testament to refer to both the Hebrew Bible (Luke 24:44-45) and the new apostolic writings accepted as inspired (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18). . . . preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed'" (Galatians 3:8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
See All..., emphasis added throughout).

Notice the gospel is about God blessing all nations. It is about good things to come. In one passage it is called "the everlasting gospel" (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 14:6And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
See All...). It is God's plan for blessing all of humanity for eternity.

Jesus Christ is the central figure in that plan. But the gospel is not limited to information about the person of Christ. It encompasses the entire purpose of God as revealed in all ScriptureThe divinely inspired writings of both the Old and New Testaments. The term Scripture is used in the New Testament to refer to both the Hebrew Bible (Luke 24:44-45) and the new apostolic writings accepted as inspired (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18).. It is the good newsThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . about how the MessiahA Hebrew word meaning literally "anointed one," synonymous with the Greek word christos, translated Christ. "In ancient Israel both persons and things consecrated to sacred purposes were anointed by having oil poured over them ... The Israelites did not think of crowning a king but of anointing him when he was enthroned ... [The future Messiah] is to destroy the world powers in an act of judgment, deliver Israel from her enemies, and restore her as a nation. The Messiah is the King of this future kingdom to whose political and religious domination the other nations will yield. His mission is the redemption of Israel and His dominion is universal. This is the clear picture of the Messiah in practically all of the OT passages which refer to Him" (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, "Messiah").—Jesus of Nazareth—will bring that plan to an unimaginably wonderful climax.

Let's trace the thread of God's revelation of this good newsThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . as it unfolds from the ScripturesThe divinely inspired writings of both the Old and New Testaments. The term Scripture is used in the New Testament to refer to both the Hebrew Bible (Luke 24:44-45) and the new apostolic writings accepted as inspired (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18)..

When did God first express His purpose for creating mankind?

"Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth'" (Genesis 1:26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
See All...).

This verse begins the announcement, the good newsThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament ., of the Kingdom of God. Here God expresses His intent to fashion human beings in His image and give them dominion over His creation. Being created in the image of God imparts a special purpose to human life. (Lesson 3 of this BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. Study Course covers in more detail how and why God creates humans in His image and likeness.)

God offered the first human family a way of life—symbolized by the tree of life—that involves all human beings enjoying a personal relationship with their Creator.

What spiritual ingredient is essential for man's relationship with God to succeed?

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
See All...).

God makes His blessings and rewards available to those who willingly serve Him in active, living faith (James 2:17-23 [17] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
[18] Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
[19] Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
[20] But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
[21] Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
[22] Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
[23] And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

See All...). This faith is possible only as a gift from God and is crucial to our salvation (Ephesians 2:8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
See All...). No one who refuses to believe and trust God can please Him.

God expected Adam and Eve to trust Him and demonstrate their trust by obeying what He said. Throughout the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. trusting obedience is referred to as faith. Regrettably, Adam and Eve greatly underestimated the importance of trusting God and faithfully following His instructions.