The four Gospels focus on the life of Jesus Christ and the giving of a new Covenant of Grace in the progress of God’s Redemptive Plan. In this respect, the books must be considered epochal with respect to that Redemptive Plan for they record an event that fulfilled both specific prophecies given in the Old Testament and the Law itself. That event was the birth, life, death, and resurrection of the "Anointed One", i.e. "Christ" (Greek) or "Messiah" (Hebrew).

Unlike the old Covenant of Law that promised a temporal inheritance in the Land conditional upon obedience, this new Covenant of Grace promises an eternal inheritance in Heaven unconditional upon one’s decision to "believe". "Belief" carries with it not only intellectual assent to the facts of history but also the willingness to personally trust the God who accomplished those momentous works in behalf of mankind.

The Covenant of Grace, like the Covenant of Law, identifies a "Redeemer", "people", "Covenant", "tabernacle", and "inheritance". However, the first emphasized the physical, while the second emphasizes the spiritual. Moses was the redeeming instrument whereby God freed Old Testament Israel from Egyptian bondage, giving them the Covenant of Law, providing a Tabernacle meeting place with God, and fulfilling His promise of a Land for their inheritance. However, a perfect man in the person of Messiah had to be the instrument whereby God would free New Testament "Israel" from sin, giving them the Covenant of Grace, providing a new dwelling for the Holy Spirit within each believer, and extending His promise to a Heavenly inheritance. Thus, the New Testament Gospels complement those Old Testament books of Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, becoming their fulfillment in terms of God's Redemptive Plan for His people.

Each of the Gospels may be reviewed in detail in the GOSPELS (TOPICAL DETAIL), or you may wish to continue your overview by selecting any of the remaining topical sections of the New Testament.

REDEMPTIVE PLAN