The Greek word that is translated as “gospel” in the Bible means “good news”. It was first used in a secular political way to describe messages of good news sent out from the government in Rome such as the birth of a child to a Roman Emperor or a victory of a Roman general. Christians picked up the word and used it to describe the “good news” about their leader and ruler Jesus. In fact, Jesus himself used the word to describe the “good news” of the work he was going to do and of the kingdom he was going to establish.
The Apostle Paul was in Corinth, Greece in 57 AD. He knew some Christian believers in Rome and he wanted to go there to preach and teach, but he had not been able to do so at this point. Because he was not going to be able to go there immediately, he wrote a letter to them explaining the gospel mesage that he preached and taught. I am going to highlight some quotes from Paul's letter to berifly answer the question, "What is the Gospel?"
The solution, the way out of trouble - Romans 1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, “The righteous by faith will live.” (NET)
Man is without excuse - Romans 1:18-20
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. (NET)
Because they have a choice to acknowledge God or not, to do good or to do evil, people are responsible for their own behavior - Romans 1:28,32;2:1
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done... Although they fully know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but also approve of those who practice them. Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge someone else. For on whatever grounds you judge another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge practice the same things. (NET)
Trying to obeying the law is not the answer; trying to “follow rules” is not the answer - Romans 3:19-20
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. (NET)
Faith in Jesus is the answer - Romans 3:21-26
But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (although it is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed— namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness. (NET)
Humility and faith - Romans 3:27-28
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith! For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law. (NET)
To Summarize:
- God has revealed himself in several different ways:
- Through the creation of the universe.
- Through the written words in the Bible.
- Most importantly, through his son Jesus.
- Human beings have a choice to believe in God or not, to do good or to do evil.
- Therefore, human beings are responsible for their behavior and their choices and are without excuse.
- Trying to follow the rules is not the answer.
- God has offered you a gift, a way out of this predicament.
- He has offered to “pay your fine”, to “commute your sentence”.
- You accept this gift by humbling yourself, admitting your failure, believing in and trusting in Jesus.
- Faith is not about boasting.
- “I’m a good person; I’m certainly better than that guy.”
- Faith is about humility.
- “I know I am not perfect and I need help.”
We will talk more about faith in the next blog.
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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®
copyright ©1996-2016 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
This post is the result of my studies based on the book by Mark E. Moore, Core 52: A Fifteen-Minute Daily Guide to Building your Bible IQ in a Year, published by WaterBook (Penguin Random House)
Trade Paperback ISBN 978-0-525-65325-7
ebook isbn 978-0-525-65326-4
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