{"id":49753,"date":"2021-08-23T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-24T02:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/?p=49753"},"modified":"2021-11-12T08:26:09","modified_gmt":"2021-11-12T16:26:09","slug":"getting-to-the-core-of-the-gospel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/getting-to-the-core-of-the-gospel\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting to the Core of the Gospel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The gospel truly is the Good News. The gospel’s power has influenced communities, cultures, and nations throughout history.<\/strong> One way we can resist the devil’s attacks is to go back to the basics. If you’re looking for solid teaching on biblical concepts like the gospel, Romans is a great place to start. In his introduction, Paul offers a condensed gospel message worth studying. Read below to understand the “who” and “what” of the gospel.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To inform our study of the Gospel, we will be looking at the NIV Grace & Truth Study Bible<\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed \u2014a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: \u201cThe righteous will live by faith.\u201d<\/p>Romans 1:16-17, NIV<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The “Who” of the Gospel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Romans 1:3-4<\/a>, Paul outlines the who<\/em> of the gospel: it is about Jesus<\/strong>, who is both the son of David and the Son of God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus Christ is God\u2019s Son<\/strong> in the sense that he is eternally generated by the Father. The Nicene Creed in the fourth century AD defined Christ as \u201cthe only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of the same essence as the Father<\/em>\u201d. In simple terms, the Son is a distinct person from the Father (they are not just different forms of the same person), but they share the same nature\u2014God\u2019s nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cSon of God\u201d also meant Israel\u2019s Messiah<\/strong>, God\u2019s end-time anointed king over his people. The expectation was that this king would be a descendant of David (Eze 34:23<\/a>; 37:24<\/a>) and would come from David\u2019s hometown Bethlehem (Mic 5:2<\/a>). In Romans 15:12<\/a>, Paul refers to David\u2019s father in calling Jesus \u201cthe Root of Jesse<\/em>,\u201d and the New Testament often connects Jesus\u2019 Messiahship with David (Mt 1:1<\/a>; Lk 2:11<\/a>; Rev 5:5<\/a>; 22:16<\/a>). Jesus is this Messiah, God\u2019s appointed ruler over Israel, and who also has all nations as his inheritance (Ps 2:8<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to being from the line of David, Jesus is the recipient of a special appointment by the Father<\/strong> at his resurrection. The appointment is not some kind of change in Jesus\u2019 nature but comes because God has brought a new reality into being: the kingdom of God has come and with it God\u2019s appointed king in that kingdom\u2014his Son. As Revelation puts it, \u201cNow have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah<\/em>\u201d (Rev 12:10<\/a>). It is not that Jesus received a promotion or some special injection of power. After his resurrection, he is no longer subject to human weakness on earth but is exalted to the right hand of God<\/strong> to reign over the new creation, which God has inaugurated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The “What” of the Gospel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Romans 1:16-17<\/a>, Paul sums up the what<\/em> of the gospel. Paul gives a compressed summary of the Good News, cramming into two verses what he will expand on later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nature, Reach, and Means of the Gospel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The gospel\u2019s nature is the \u201cpower of God\u201d.<\/strong> The same power in the creation of the world or in raising Jesus from the dead is at work when we feeble human beings share the gospel. Its reach is global.<\/strong> Though Jews (who heard the gospel first) and Gentiles may sound like only two nations, they represent all nations. \u201cGentile\u201d here means anyone who is not a Jew. There is no part of the world too obscure or too lost for the Good News. The means of receiving this Good News is believing<\/strong>\u2014trusting God and believing God\u2019s promises about Jesus (4:18\u201321<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Effects of the Gospel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the gospel\u2019s nature, reach, and means, Romans 1:16\u201317 spells out three effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One effect is righteousness.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Paul will expand on this later, but in brief, \u201crighteousness<\/em>\u201d refers to the status of having obeyed all of God\u2019s requirements (Dt 6:25<\/a>). The miracle of the Good News is that though outside of Christ we are ungodly sinners, God views us as righteous: our status is as if we had completely fulfilled God\u2019s will (Ro 4:5<\/a>). The root of the word for \u201crighteousness\u201d is the same as the verb \u201cjustify<\/em>\u201d. God has already given us this justified status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A second effect is salvation.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Though in theology and common Christian language \u201csalvation<\/em>\u201d is quite a general term, Paul usually means it in a more specific sense. He normally means by it not what God has done for us but what God will do<\/strong>. The next two references to the word in the letter come in Romans 5:9\u201310<\/a>, where Paul says that we will be saved from God\u2019s wrath. Salvation in the Bible is salvation from something<\/strong>, and when we appreciate that it is being saved from God\u2019s just anger against us, we see how wonderful it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final effect is confidence.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This comes from this knowledge that God will save us in the end<\/strong> from the coming judgment. Paul says he has no reason to be ashamed (1:16a). He and we may have short-term concerns, but ultimately we have the assurance of God\u2019s love, protection, and gift of eternal life (2Ti 1:12<\/a>). Paul has that confidence not because he is an apostle but because he is a Christian. He says he’s confident not because God appointed him as a chosen vessel but because the gospel is the power of salvation. Therefore, we can have that same confidence.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Old Testament Reference<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Romans 1:17 closes with a guarantee<\/strong>. Paul grounds from the Old Testament the truth that Christians have righteousness from God through believing: \u201cThe righteous will live by faith<\/em>\u201d (citing Hab 2:4<\/a>). Paul has already stated that the Good News was promised through the Old Testament prophets (Ro 1:2<\/a>), but this is Paul\u2019s first specific quotation from the Old Testament in Romans. The doctrine of justification by faith is not Paul\u2019s idea but was announced by God centuries before Paul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LEAVE A COMMENT:
How are you doing with the whole “live by faith” part? What encouragement would you give to someone whose faith is wavering?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NIV Grace & Truth Study Bible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"NIV<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We enjoyed looking through this Study Bible; hopefully you did as well. The notes in this one are longer than a few sentences if you’re looking for something a bit more substantial. The intention of the NIV Grace & Truth Study Bible<\/strong><\/a> is in the name – “to reveal grace and truth on each page”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this Study Bible sounds interesting to you, consider adding it to your account today! Visit the product page<\/a> for more info.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SEE PRODUCT PAGE<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Want to learn more about this useful study tool? Hear from General Editor Dr. Mohler:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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