Many are used to thinking that the Gospel is just a short message: “Jesus died for you and rose again—just believe, and you’re saved.”
But if we look at the actual text—especially the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke—it becomes clear: that’s not the full picture. In reality, the Gospel begins earlier—with a call to return.
With repentance. With a journey back—to the commandments of YHWH Elohim.
Why is this important?
When the Most High decided to speak to His people again, He didn’t send the Messiah right away.
He started with John—a prophet in the spirit and power of Elijah, a voice crying in the wilderness.
His mission wasn’t to entertain, comfort, or convert people to a new religion.
He came to awaken—to call back to obedience, to a righteous way of thinking.
📜 Luke 1:16–17
“…and he will turn many of the children of Israel to YHWH their Elohim. He will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the mindset of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for YHWH .”
So, the Gospel isn’t just a story about the cross.
It’s a call: remember what you belong to. Return. Clear the way. Get ready.
This is about us. About how we should live.
Before Yeshua began His ministry, John was born.
And immediately after his birth, his father Zechariah—a priest—speaks prophetic words, often misread as being only about the Messiah. But look closely:
📜 Luke 1:15
“For he [John] will be great before YHWH. He must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to YHWH their Elohim.”📜 Luke 1:67
“And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying: ‘Blessed be YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David…’”
This prophecy was spoken before Yeshua was born!
Zechariah speaks of redemption beginning through his own son—through John. He begins the return of the people—not to something new, but to what was forgotten: to holiness, to the covenant, to obedience.
What is holiness—and what is it for?
A few verses later, Zechariah explains why this redemption is needed:
📜 Luke 1:74
“…that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.”
What is this holiness? It’s not an inner emotional state.
Holiness means being set apart. Set apart from the world. And it’s expressed in living according to the commandments.
📜 Leviticus 20:26
“You shall be holy to Me, for I YHWH am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.”
So we see: holiness means being different—not because we’re “spiritual,” but because we live by the commandments (Torah) of YHWH.
Not like the rest.
When the Judge is coming—what does the guilty one do?
📜 Luke 3:16
“I baptize you with water, but One is coming who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie…”
Imagine this: a person realizes their guilt. They understand they’ve broken the Law, strayed from the path.
Then suddenly, they learn—a Judge is on His way. But He’s not coming with wrath—He’s coming with a chance for mercy.
That’s why John says, “He is mightier than I.”
Because this Judge brings not destruction, but a chance to start again. On one condition: repent. Acknowledge your path was wrong and desire to return—to the commandments of YHWH.
📜 Isaiah 40:3
“A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of YHWH; make straight in the desert a highway for our Elohim.’”
This is the true call that echoes to each of us: correct your path. While the Judge is still on the way—straighten the crookedness, rebuild the ruins, return to the road of the commandments.
That’s what true repentance means.
📜 Matthew 3:8
“Bear fruit worthy of repentance.”
And what does “salvation” mean?
📜 Luke 1:77
“…to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, through the tender mercy of our Elohim, by which the sunrise shall visit us from on high—to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
⚠️ These aren’t just words about forgiveness. This is an awakening.
Salvation doesn’t mean “accept forgiveness” and become a slightly better person.
It’s not just about quitting bad habits or changing your personality (becoming a “good person”).
It’s about leaving darkness. Realizing you’ve gone astray—and setting your feet back on the path.
📜 Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”📜 Proverbs 6:23
“For the commandment (מצוה mitzvah) is a lamp and the teaching (תורה Torah) is light, and the reproofs of instruction are the way of life.”📜 Psalm 19:8
“The commandment of YHWH is pure, enlightening the eyes.”
The Law is light. It doesn’t drag us to heaven—it shows us the way.
And it is into this light—the path of obedience—that John calls us.
📌 The problem isn’t just that someone was “bad,” but that they lived outside the knowledge of YHWH ’s will—or had turned from it—walking in their own ways instead of His commandments.
And the commandments are the instruction for how to live rightly.
📜 2 Timothy 3:16
“From childhood you have known the Sacred Writings (Tanakh), which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Messiah Yeshua.
All Scripture (Tanakh) is breathed out by YAHOVA and useful for teaching the truth, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness—fruitful for learning, for self-examination, for inner direction, and practice in righteous behavior. His Word (Torah) teaches, corrects, guides toward honest living, fixes errors, and ultimately leads to righteousness. So that the one who belongs to YAHOVA may grow in integrity, equipped and prepared for every good work.”
Without the Law (commandments), a person remains in ignorance—even if they are sincere.
That’s why true salvation includes returning to the commandments of YHWH — not living “by conscience,” but by Truth.
Conclusion
Where does the Gospel begin?
With a call: Return. Clear the path. Acknowledge that you’ve gone astray.
Not just “believe you’re saved”—but live as one who is saved.
The one who truly desires to be justified straightens their path, repents, acknowledges the Law, and begins to live by YHWH ’s commandments.
Not to earn salvation, but because they have been justified and now belong to Him.
📌 Obedience is not the price of justification—it’s the fruit of true repentance.
Justification is not the cancellation of deeds—it is the confirmation that you’ve chosen the right path.
That’s how one lives who has received mercy: not to keep living as before, but to walk in truth.
Mercy is not given instead of obedience—but to those who are striving toward it.
Not to abolish the Law—but to give time to return to it.
📌 Justification is granted for past sins—and given to those who are ready to leave lawlessness behind and begin obeying YHWH.
Final Thought
The true Gospel begins with a call to repentance.
Not with the slogan, “He died for you,” but with the cry:
“Return to the covenant! Clear the way! Accept the Law of YHWH as light!”
Yeshua didn’t come to cancel that call—but to establish it.
He became the sacrifice—not for everyone, but for those who repented and were ready to serve YHWH in holiness and righteousness, according to all His commandments.
And if you hear that call—now is the favorable time.
While the path is still open—straighten it.
While the voice of John still cries—answer it.