Psalm 35:27 *Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant*
*IS THERE A PROSPERITY GOSPEL*? (A)
The question above is to be examined biblically not emotionally. In the previous teaching, we established a truth backed by several scriptures- God prospers people materially. I am a living testimony that God blesses materially. Why should I deny the goodness of God?
However, is there a "Gospel" around this material blessings? Does the very essence of the gospel message centre on material prosperity? If we'll answer this question, we need to define the word "gospel" from a biblical standpoint.
What is the Gospel? The Gospel simply means good news. For a news to be qualified as good, there must have been a bad news prior. The reason the good news is of value is because there is a bad news.
We will not understand good news If we do not understand the bad news. For a few moment, let me tell you the bad news that necessitates the good news.
Romans 3:23 says, *"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard*" ( NLT)
This is the first bad news. Mankind sinned and lost all his favours and standings with God.
Romans 5:12 says, *"When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s SIN BROUGHT DEATH, so DEATH SPREAD TO EVERYONE, for everyone sinned*" (NLT)
Another bad news is that sin brought (spiritual) death on all mankind. If spiritual death is left unattended to, it will lead to eternal death in the lake of fire.
Romans 6:23 says, *"For the wages of sin is DEATH,*"( NLT).
Sin and death (spiritual&eternal) is the bad news that necessitates the good news (gospel). We can say that the sin problem was what occasioned the gospel not the problem of poverty or lack.
If anything qualifies to be called the gospel (good news) from the biblical standpoint, it has to be the gospel that addresses the problem of sin and its consequences (death).