The Gospel Of God

Romans 1:1–7 KJV 1900

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Origin of the Gospel

Romans 1:1 KJV 1900

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

The Gospel meaning literally the good news. this is the good news for me and you. For a world that is hopelessly and helplessly lost.

This is not Paul’s idea.

This is not an idea that any human came up with.

It has been said that religion is man attempt to reach out to God but the gospel is God reaching out to us.

Religion is about do’s and don’ts where the gospel is about what Christ has already done. Religions originate in the hearts and minds of men but the gospel was born in the mind of God.

This is what sets the Gospel apart from any other religion in the world.

The fact that the Gospel is based on faith and not on works is proof that no man could have thought this up.

The Record of the Gospel

Romans 1:2 KJV 1900

(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

This gospel was not a new idea. Some people seem to have the idea that God has been changing the rules all throughout history. That he had a plan in the Old Testament and that didn’t work out so well so he came up with the gospel as kind of an after thought.

The gospel was born in the mind of God before the foundations of the world. How do I know that. Because the bible says that I was chosen in Christ Jesus before the foundations of the world to be holy, without blame, before him in love. If He knew me, and that I would be made holy in Christ before the foundation of the world then the plan of the gospel of God had already been made.

It says that God had promised it before. Not only had he planned it he promised it. It was promised to Adam and Eve that the seed of the women would bruise the head of the serpent. it was promised to Noah through the rainbow. It was promised to Abraham that in him all families of the earth would be blessed.

it says in our passage

“Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures”

Now here we have an explanation of the inspiration of the scriptures. It says which “HE” had promised. That is God whose gospel it is. He did is before. so even though Paul was now an apostle or messenger to proclaim the gospel God had other messengers long before Paul. He promise came via the prophets. That is they were used as his mouth piece. He breathed the words into them.

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV 1900

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

And the medium used to get the promises to us were the holy scriptures.

2 Peter 1:20–21 KJV 1900

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

As these men were moved by the Holy Spirit they wrote down the words which the Spirit breathed into them and so these words which are the scriptures are the very words of God to us. It is for this reason that they are the holy scriptures. they are sanctified and set apart as the words of God to mankind.

It is in these scriptures that God promised us the Gospel. We remember the two men on the road to Emmaus.

Luke 24:25–27 KJV 1900

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Which brings us to the next point...

The Subject of the Gospel

Romans 1:3–4 KJV 1900

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

The good news of God is the good news of Jesus Christ His Son. This begins to open our understanding of this letter, all the writings of Paul and the other New Testament writers and as we have just seen the prophets who wrote the Old Testament Scriptures. This whole book is a collection of writings about the good news of God concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The whole of the Word of God must be understood in relation to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the subject of the gospel, Jesus is the gospel Jesus is the only good news for mankind, and he is great news for mankind.

The Apostle gives two different aspects of Jesus.

Made of the seed of david according to the flesh

Declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead.

Made of the seed of david

speaks of His incarnation / humanity

Speaks of His future reign

Declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead

declared means appointed

He did not become the Son of God by being raised from the dead because the Bible teaches us that He is the eternal Son of God and that He was with God in the beginning and that He is God. So what does this mean. The emphasis is on with power. By His resurrection from the dead He was appointed the Son of God with the power to save His people. This is contrasted with His humanity in the previous clause. In His earthly ministry He came down to us to dwell with us. He humbled Himself and took on the form of a servant. He got hungry, he got tired, He was tempted. He was with Us in weakness but when the Spirit of holiness raised Him from the dead and He conquered death and the grave. He was highly exalted and is appointed the Son of God with power. The power to save to the uttermost any and all who come to him by faith. In these two statements about Christ Paul gives the gospel message. Jesus was Born as a man and lived and dwelt among us He died for our sins a cruel death on the cross and on the third day he rose from the dead. This is the good news of God because if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our hearts that God had raised Him from the dead then we will be saved from our sins and He will raise us up from the dead.

There is no religion like the gospel of God. this is not about works, do’s and don’ts. It’s about what Christ did.

He didn’t come to call the righteous but to call sinners to repentance. If you are a sinner then this is the best news you will ever hear. If you are hopeless then God’s good news is Jesus Christ his Son. Because God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him will not perish but will have eternal life.