Secondary Thoughts on the Good News of Christ

[John the Baptist’s disciples asked,] “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting...?” Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him...the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” (Matthew 11) If anyone questions that the saving belief is that it’s in Christ, His crucifixion and His resurrection—typically what we call the Gospel or Good News—you may have to look at when Christ said people were saved...and because of John 3.16 (and other passages like John 5.24)–‘everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life’—we can equate belief with salvation. Christ preached a Good News about the Kingdom of God (Luke 4.43; Matthew 4.23).

“...I would give you living water...” said to the Samaritan woman early in His ministry.
“...true worshipers will worship Him in spirit and truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth” also said to the Samaritan woman.
‘So He stayed for two days, long enough for many [in the Samaritan village] more to hear His message and believe’ (John 4)
‘Then the father [of a sick boy] realized that that was the very time Jesus had him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus.’ (John 4)
“Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life...” (John 5)
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to Me!” (John 5)
“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs...God blesses those whose hearts are pure for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” (Matthew 5 Beatitudes, Sermon on the Mount)
“Unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 5)
“Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you...you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5; Luke 6)
“If you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive you” (Matthew 6)
“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate...” (Matthew 7) “I am the gate. Those who come in through Me will be saved.” (John 10)
“Not everyone who calls out to Me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter.” (Matthew 7; Cf Luke 6:46)
 “...many Gentiles will come from all over the world...and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 8)
“For if the miracles I did for you [Korazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum] had been done in [Tyre, Sidon, Sodom] they would have repented...it would still be here today. I tell you [they] will be better off on judgment day than you.” (Matthew 11)
“Take My yoke [my teachings] upon you. Let Me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11)
And Jesus said to the woman [who had washed his feet with tears and put perfume on them], “Your sins are forgiven...Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7)
“The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” (Matthew 12)
“Anyone who does God’s will is My brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3)
“You [disciples] are permitted to understand the secret [mystery] of the Kingdom of God...the seed [God’s word] that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.” (Mark 4)

So what picture of Christ’s Gospel is forming from His teachings?