“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 1:16
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
The definition of the Gospel is this: “A revelation of the grace of God to fallen man through a mediator, including the character, actions, and doctrines of Christ, with the whole scheme of salvation, as revealed by Christ and his apostles.” Astounding.
The doctrine of the Gospel contains the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 tells it all in a mere two verses. Though it can be simply stated, it defies human reasoning to understand.
“How that Christ died—” How could He die? He was GOD! Yet Jesus, “died for our sins according to the scriptures.” For our sins? You mean a God who should not have died, DID, but what’s more: He died on account of my sins? Yes, He exchanged my wrongs for His rights. He absorbed my shame and carried it to His grave.
“And that he was buried,” Yes, it would only be right to bury a corpse. His Spirit, Soul, and Body were so torn asunder that the earth yelled and heaven hid. “Truly, this man was the Son of God,” and “a righteous man” professed those who saw it (and all who believed on Him, thereafter). The Saviour most certainly was slain, and interred thusly.
“And that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” Those same immutable scriptures that foretold and sealed His sacrifice also UNsealed His death sentence. Hell lost its first prisoner! Death’s power broke! He was the First, but He would not be the last. Rather, He arose, “that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Rom. 8:29)
That is the Gospel, believe it or not.
The Blessing of the Gospel
Paul called it the “glorious gospel of the blessed God.” (1 Timothy 1:11) It is for all, even the Gentile, or “Greek.” This gospel compelled Paul to pledge his whole life: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might … testify the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)
The Burden of the Gospel
Every believer has trusted, and thus been entrusted with the Gospel. It freed you from damning burdens of grief and guilt and gave you a redeeming burden: to bear these tidings to others. Paul said he was unashamed of that Gospel. Many Christians say the same, but are they really?
We say we are unashamed of the Gospel, “the power of God unto salvation”— as long as it goes with a gimmick. Why is it that an amazing message like the Gospel must be gimmicked to be presented? When we visit door-to-door, must we talk of church membership when we bear salvation? Why must we give the affluent a bottle of water (which they will likely give to their dog) to bribe them to take a Gospel tract? We offer a cheap trade-off for a few seconds of attention. Free t-shirts. Tickets. Candy. Coupons. All of this– in the name of NOT being ashamed? We are guilty of gimmicks!
The Gospel is powerful. Gimmicks do not enhance its effect on the soul. We should boast of Christ more than we brag about our crafty programs to lure in the crowds.
Can you be bold to give the Gospel if you had nothing else beside that to offer a lost soul?
If the Gospel be beautiful, let it be unfiltered. Let the glorious, graceful, global Gospel of Jesus Christ stand on its own. Then we may truthfully say with Paul, “I am not ashamed of the gospel.”
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