The Gospel
Robert Meredith
“I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:14-16). The Apostle Paul knew he owed mankind the gospel of Christ. He had been redeemed from his sins by God’s mercy (1 Timothy 1:13), and he desired to give other people the opportunity to access God’s grace as he had. He was not ashamed of God’s good news made possible through Jesus, and realized it was the only way for man to be saved.
Notice, once again, verse 16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Paul did not say that the gospel was “a” power of God unto salvation, but “the” power. If one desires salvation it is only going to be given through the gospel; it is the power of God unto salvation, there is no other power that is going to be used to save. In 2 Thessalonians 2:14, Paul penned, “Whereunto He called you by our gospel, to the
obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” One is called by the gospel, that is, when one hears the gospel that is how God calls him. It is not by an overpowering “experience”, but by the preaching of the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:21) that anyone who believes the message (Romans 10:16) and obeys its commands regarding salvation (Acts 2:40; 2:38) will be saved. Jesus said, “No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me” (John 6:44-45). From this passage one learns how it is that God draws a person; it is by teaching him. When one is taught the truth (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 4:2) and obeys it, he is saved by God (Acts 2:41, 47).
The gospel must be obeyed. In Romans 10:16 one reads, “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?” From the above text one can see that the gospel must be obeyed, but not everyone is going to accept the truth. One can also notice from the text that the biblical meaning of belief involves obedience to what is required. If one does not obey what the Lord instructs, he really does not believe the Lord. To obey the gospel is to do what God instructs one to do to be saved, thus accessing God’s grace (Romans 5:2). Saul of Tarsus was instructed to go to the city of Damascus and he would be told all things that were required of him (Acts 9:6; 22:10). By complying with the will of the Lord, he thus was “calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). The good news (gospel) for man is that Jesus was willing to die for our sins, He was buried and the third day He rose triumphantly from the grave (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Man emulates Christ’s sacrifice when he obeys the gospel. Man must die to sin (repentance) and be buried with Christ (baptism) and thereby arise to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:2-5). When one does this, he is obeying from the heart that form of doctrine that was delivered (Romans 6:17), and is forgiven of his sins because Christ washes them away in His blood (Romans 6:18; Revelation 1:5; Acts 22:16).
One must abide in the gospel. Paul wrote, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand” (1 Corinthians 15:1). The apostle told the saints (1 Corinthians 1:2) of Corinth that they stood in the gospel. To stand in the gospel is synonymous with standing in God’s grace (Romans 5:2). One must remain faithful to the Lord and if he does, heaven will be his eternal home (Colossians 1:22-23). Let everyone strive to obey the gospel and live a life that shows we are conforming ourselves to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29; Romans 12:1-2).