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I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16, ESV).
The word “gospel” in the Greek means “good news.” That’s why the Apostle Paul isn’t ashamed of the gospel, and we shouldn’t be either because it’s good news; in fact, it’s great news.
The gospel summarized: we are sinners (Romans 3:23), the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), the gift of God is eternal life (Romans 6:23), and we receive our salvation by confessing Jesus as Lord and believing that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9).
Through the ages of the church, believers have claimed the value of the gospel.
The ancient St. Irenaeus of Lyons (130-220 A.D.), who was discipled by the Apostle John’s disciple Polycarp, writes, “The gospel is the pillar and ground of the church, breathing out immortality on every side.” And the more current Timothy Keller writes, “The Gospel is that we are more sinful and flawed than we ever dared believe, yet more loved and accepted than we ever dared hope.”
The word “gospel” is used about 90 times in the New Testament, indicating that this good news was the primary message of the early church — not politics, not good social behavior, not feeling better about us — but that we were lost and can be saved. As the New Testament says…
And the gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).
Because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake (1 Thessalonians 1:5).
All of us should be messengers of the gospel, knowing that our purpose on this earth is preaching the good news. However, the gospel has become a muddled priority with Christians today. In some churches it’s embarrassing to tell people from the pulpit that they need to be saved. And do we shy away from talking about Jesus when given opportunities at work or school?
Many Christian organizations have a philosophy of preaching the gospel with good deeds. St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.” I agree in serving others, but works must eventually include words as the Apostle Paul exhorts…
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:14-15).
I remember this conversation of a person telling the good news and a person listening:
Listening person: “How is telling me that I’m a sinner good news?”
Telling person: “Do you want love, joy, and peace in your life?”
Listening person: “Of course.”
Telling person: “Sin separates us from the holiness of God. The Bible teaches that God’s holiness includes love, joy, and peace, and only through the forgiving blood of Jesus can we become holy, knowing love, joy, and peace.”
Amen. Let’s look for opportunities to preach the gospel — the good news!
