Sept. 1 | The Gospel Defined
Romans 1:17, “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed— a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
The Greek word for “gospel” in the New Testament is, “euaggelion,” which means, “good news.”
The gospel is the “good news” concerning God’s glory and humanity's salvation by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. No one can be saved from the wrath of God without believing in the gospel.
In today’s passage Paul wrote that the righteousness of God is revealed to all who believe and have faith in the gospel. The only way sinful people can be made “right with God” is by having faith in the “good news” of Jesus Christ’s work of salvation. The Bible teaches that because of Adam’s sin, all have been born sinners (Romans 5:19). However, when Jesus (God the Son) came in the flesh and died on the cross for sinners, He made a way for all to be saved.
Paul wrote in Romans 5:18, “Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.” Adam’s “one trespass” was the act that resulted in God’s wrath and Jesus’ death on the cross for mankind’s sin was the “one righteous act” that saved us from the curse of sin.
Here are seven things to remember concerning the gospel; first, after Adam sinned all mankind was born under the power of sin (Romans 5:18). Second, as people sin in their own free will they reveal their heart is wicked and deserving of God’s judgment (Romans 3:23). Third, Jesus came to earth as a man and died on the cross for mankind’s sins (Romans 3:24-25). Fourth, when Jesus rose from the dead He proved His sacrifice pleased God the Father and that having faith in Him is the only way to receive forgiveness and salvation (Acts 17:31).
Fifth, since Jesus ascended to heaven His disciples have been preaching His gospel (good news) to the entire world (Mark 16:20). Sixth, everyone who believes in Jesus’ gospel is saved and made righteous (Romans 1:17). Seventh, God commands all born again disciples to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to others so that they can be saved (Matthew 28:19-20).
The greatest miracle of the gospel isn’t that Jesus rose from the dead, but that God would so love a sinful world that He would send His only Son Jesus to die in their place so that we would not perish, but have eternal life. Therefore, let us never forget that the gospel is all about God’s love! John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Reflection
Action
- If you haven’t been saved yet, place your faith in Jesus’ work on the cross, as the gospel teaches, and confess Him to be the Lord of your life.
- All of us, who believe the gospel and are saved, should study it and seek God in prayer to understand it better.
- Let us all know the gospel, live the gospel and preach the gospel to others!