Day 9 - What is the Gospel?

Words cannot describe the importance of Romans 1. According to the scriptures, the gospel is the power of God, a message that every Christian has the privilege of carrying. Before we dive into the answer to “What is the gospel?”, we first must understand its importance. In nearly every one of Paul's letters to the churches we

see a clear gospel message. To understand the gospel is to understand that its power does not reside in our eloquence of speech (1 Corinthians 2:1), our abilities to preach, or how capable we are at evangelizing, but rather the power lies in the gospel itself. The word "gospel" directly translated means “good news” but stems

from the Greek term "Euangelion", which is found 76 times in the New Testament. Its repeated mention highlights the significance of its message. Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 1:18 that the preaching of the cross may seem foolish to those who are perishing, but to those who are saved, it is the power of God. The gospel alone holds the power to transform lives, bringing salvation and reconciliation between humanity and God. We can feed the hungry, clothe the naked, but the gospel is the only gift that will never perish. In 1 Corinthians 9:16, Paul expresses his deep sense of responsibility to preach this gospel, acknowledging that the necessity to proclaim it has been laid upon him, considering it a great woe if he were to neglect it, and expressing urgency to Christ's saints to share this gospel everywhere we go. The gospel is the most important message that can be relayed to anyone, at any time, at any moment… so, what is this gospel?

Fulfilling the gospel is the reason Jesus came to earth, and without it, it’s impossible for any person to have salvation and an eternity in the presence of God. Centering on His redemptive work within us, it proclaims that God became flesh in the person of Jesus, lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and rose again from the dead. The Gospel reveals that despite God's love and desire for a relationship with us, humanity is tainted by sin. Sin is the disobedience against God's perfect standards, separating us from Him, and making us an enemy of God (Romans 5:10).

Every person, without exception:

● Is affected by sin and has fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23-24)

● Needs to understand that Jesus willingly took upon Himself the punishment for their sin by dying on the cross. (1 Peter 2:24)

● Must accept His death for their sin, as substitutionary atonement that satisfies God's justice, and offers forgiveness to all who believe (Romans 3:25-26).

● Must repent and believe in Him as Lord of their life (Acts 17:30, Acts 3:19).

Challenge: We cannot accurately express the gospel without truly comprehending it. Take time to review this summarized Gospel journey:

1. God's Holiness and Love (Psalm 99:9, John 3:16)

2. Man's Sinfulness (Romans 3:23, Isaiah 53:6)

3. The Consequences of Sin (Romans 5:10, Romans 6:23, Hebrews 9:27)

4. Jesus' Sacrifice (1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 4:10, John 3:16)

5. The Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 6:9)

6. Salvation Through Faith Alone (Ephesians 2:8-9, Acts 16:31)

7. New Life in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20)

8. Share The Gospel Everywhere We Go (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15)