The Purpose of the Gospel

When Jesus interrupted Paul’s persecution of Christians and spoke to him, He revealed the foundational purpose of the gospel. These are Jesus’ words to Paul concerning his new ministry:

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:18)

Notice that to be turned from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God, in order to receive forgiveness of sins and our inheritance in Christ all begins with having our eyes opened. This truth is prophesied in the book of Isaiah.

I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. (Isa. 42:6-7)

The implication is profound. When the serpent tempted Eve in the Garden, he basically declared that Adam and Eve were blind, but eating of the forbidden tree would open their eyes: “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Gen. 3:5)

What actually happened was spiritual blindness, not sight. The human race became blind and deaf to Truth. Therefore, the purpose of the Gospel is to have our spiritual eyes re-opened. That is the only way we will ever comprehend the Light, the authority of God, the forgiveness of sin and our inheritance in Christ.

For this reason Paul prays the following prayer. We should make this prayer our own.

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe…(Eph. 1:17-19)