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 7 of 27

THE GOSPEL OF GOD

No other religion in the world has good news about their god! Heathen gods are false gods, and are embraced out of fear. But it is not so with the "God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom 15:6; 2 Cor 11:31). The Gospel is good news about God! "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for THE GOSPEL OF GOD" (Rom 1:1). Seven times the good news that brings glad tidings of good things is called "the Gospel of God" (Rom 1:1; 15:16; 2 Cor 11:7; 1 Thess 2:2,8,9; 1 Pet 4:17).

The Gospel is not merely information about God. It carries the message of how He has been pleased with the accomplishments of the Son. The Spirit accentuates this aspect of the Gospel. "According to THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF THE BLESSED GOD, which was committed to my trust" (1 Tim 1:11). The word "blessed" denotes jubilance, joy, and exhilaration. This particular verse highlights how God rejoices in what the Son has done. In fact, the Gospel is the only religious message in the world that presents a happy and joyous God. Those who come to Him through Christ will not find a frowning God! This is an absolutely unique situation. The Gospel is truly THE GOSPEL OF GOD!

GOD "so loved the world" (John 3:16). GOD "sent the Son to be the Savior of the world" (1 John 4:14). GOD "condemned sin in the flesh" of His Son (Rom 8:3). GOD cursed Jesus so He could bless us (Gal 3:13). It was GOD that was "in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself" (2 Cor 5:18-20). Jesus did the will of GOD (Matt 26:39,42; John 5:30). He died to fulfill the will of GOD! GOD raised Him from the dead (Acts 2:32; 4:10; 10:40; 13:3013:37). From another perspective, He was raised from the dead by "the glory of THE FATHER" (Rom 6:4). He ascended into heaven and presently intercedes for us according to the will of GOD (Isa 53;12; Rom 8:34; 1 Tim 2:5; Heb 7:25. The Gospel gives us good news about God--and it is powerful! The Gospel is truly THE GOSPEL OF GOD!

This is why the Gospel is called a "glorious Gospel" -- it reveals God as He was never made known before! Now, because of the offering of the body of Christ "once for all" (Heb 10:10), those who "receive the atonement" (Rom 5:11) assume a new identity with God. They have been "reconciled unto GOD" (Rom 5:10), have "peace with GOD" (Rom 5:1), and have "access by one Spirit unto the FATHER" (Eph 2:18). Now those in Christ Jesus receive "grace and peace from GOD" (Rom 1:7), and "love with faith from GOD" (Eph 6:23). They are "alive unto GOD" (Rom 6:11), "bring forth fruit unto GOD" (Rom 7:4), and are urged to make their "requests known unto GOD" (Phil 4:6). The Gospel is truly THE GOSPEL OF GOD!

The Gospel announces what God has done! He has presented Christ as "a propitiation," or covering for sin (Rom 3:25). It declares He has "prepared" unimaginable things for those who "love Him" (1 Cor 2:9-10). He has "sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying Abba, Father" (Gal 4:6). GOD has given us the "spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (1 Tim 1:7). In Christ, GOD has "given unto us eternal life" (1 John 5:11). The Gospel is truly THE GOSPEL OF GOD!

It is tragic that God has been omitted from much of what represents itself as coming from Him. These days, we hear little about God the Father from the pulpits of the land. We must remember Jesus was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit, that He might "bring us to GOD" (1 Pet 3:18). Jesus described the objective of His ministry as men coming "unto the FATHER" (John 14:6). May you do your part in awakening a consciousness about this aspect of the Gospel. The Gospel is truly THE GOSPEL OF GOD!

PRAYER POINT: Father, thank You through Jesus for giving us a message that declares Your goodness, promises, and delight in the Son. We delight in Him also.

-- TOMORROW: THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST --