THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

"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. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16-17).

Devotion 3 of 27

PRIOR TO JESUS

Prior to Jesus, the world "sat in great darkness"--moral and spiritual ignorance (Matt 4:16). The nations were "alienated and enemies in their minds through wicked works" (Col 1:21), and were "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1-2). A vast experiential gulf had formed between God and man. Apart from Jesus, the vast majority of the world--the Gentiles--were described in arresting language. They "were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world" (Eph 2:12). The wells of philosophy were found to be without water. The idols of the world have brought no deliverance from enslavement to sin. Apart from the promises given to the Jews, there was no hope on the horizon. Because their fleshly nature was not separated from them, the nations were "dead in their sins and the uncircumcision of their flesh" (Col 2:13). The world desperately needed some "good news."

John the Baptist

When the "day of salvation" was about to dawn, Gabriel, that stands in the very presence of God, brought "glad tidings" to Zachariah and Elizabeth concerning the birth of the harbinger of the Messiah (Luke 1:19). A new day was about to dawn. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Zachariah spoke of good things to come. "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, and Hath raised up an horn of salvation for us . . . That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers . . . That He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life . . . the Dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:68-79). That was "good news," and it was just the beginning!

GLAD TIDINGS

When Jesus began preaching "throughout every city and village," He went "preaching and showing the GLAD TIDINGS of the Kingdom of God" (Luke 8:1). How glorious His words must have sounded to those aware of the human condition!

Paul declared a message described as "GLAD TIDINGS" (Acts 13:32). This was a message that rejoiced the heart. Those perceiving it rejoiced--many of them for the first time in their lives.

Blessed is the person who hears the good news of the Gospel! They are endeared to those who bring it. As it is written, "As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" (Rom 10:15).

The Gospel is inherently good news; i.e., the word itself brings produces joy. A diagnosis of the Gospel is not good news, but the Gospel itself. What the word of the Gospel announces is good! The message that is carried within the Gospel is one of accomplishment and provision, something Law could not produce.

PRAYER POINT: Father, thank You through Jesus for not leaving the world in darkness. I praise You for dispelling the gross darkness that covered humanity with the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

-- TOMORROW: THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM --