You probably heard about the “hyper loop” on the news the last few days.  A hyperloop is a proposed mode of high-speed transportation developed by the entrepreneur and SpaceX founder Elon Musk.  It is said to go 800 miles an hour.  The designs have been made by this billionaire entrepreneur, but he doesn’t have time to build it.  So he has released the plans with the hope that someone else will take advantage of his great idea. 

            The Gospel of Christ is the eternal plan of hope which God has made available to all people.  Unbelievable blessings await for those who would take part of that Gospel.  But what is the Gospel?   

Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel: 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 revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, but the just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:16-17).

            The Gospel of Christ is that marvelous instrument of God used to call people out of sin and unite them in the church.  The church at Rome was divided.  Yet the Gospel was offered to unite all people in Christ.  All people are lost in sin and are hopeless.  Yet the Gospel is offered to unite all people to God in Christ. 

But what is the Gospel?  What is the Gospel that I must believe and obey?

THE GOSPEL IS THAT WHICH WAS PROMISED

            Romans 1:2 describes the Gospel as that “which was promised afore through his prophets in the holy Scriptures.”  The great theme of the Old Testament is the coming Messiah.  The Old Testament prophets looked forward to the Messiah with great expectation.  Notice the following:    

• He was to be in the line of David and have a Messianic Kingdom—2 Samuel 7:12-13
• His kingdom would never be destroyed—Daniel 2:44
• He was to be a prophet like Moses—Deuteronomy 18:15
• He was to be the sacrifice for sin—Isaiah 53:5-12

When Jesus finally began his great work as the Messiah, he fulfilled these prophecies.  But his work was more than fulfilling prophecies; it was the fulfillment of our needs and God’s plan. 

THE GOSPEL IS THAT WHICH CONCERNS HIS SON

            Romans 1:3 says that the Gospel is that which is “concerning his Son.”  When the Gospel is preached or practiced it has to do with the Son of God.  The Gospel message should have complete control over our lives if Jesus is our Lord.  Notice the influence of the Gospel:

• The Gospel of Christ must be believed—Mark 1:15
• The Gospel of Christ must be obeyed—2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17.
• The Gospel of Christ must be preached –Romans 1:15; Romans 15:20.
• The Gospel of Christ is the N.T. pattern—Romans 6:17

Our lives must be molded by the good news of Christ and his good message.  This occurs when our lives are shaped by the Gospel in obedience, in our speech, in our attitudes, in our actions, in our homes, and in our congregation. 

THE GOSPEL IS THAT WHICH CONCERNS BLESSINGS

            Romans 1:5 describes the Gospel as that which brings blessings.  Notice that it is through the Gospel of Christ that “we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations.”  All blessings are in Christ through the Gospel:

• The blessings of Heaven are “in Christ”—Ephesians 1:3.
• The blessings of Heaven of made possible by the resurrection of Christ—1 Peter 1:3-5.

These blessings which are made possible through the Gospel, also require obedience to be received by us.  The Scriptures teach that we receive the blessings of God by belief and obedience or what we call Biblical faith. 

• The blessings of the Gospel are received by obedience—Hebrews 5:9; Acts 5:32.
• The blessings of the Gospel being received by obedience is demonstrated by the commands of God which yield blessings to the obedient—Acts 2:38. 

The blessings of God are immeasurable.  Unbelievable spiritual riches wait for those who would entrust themselves to the Gospel of Christ. 

 

APPLICATION:

            The Gospel of Christ is that marvelous instrument of God used to call people out of sin and unite them in the church.  Today we must ask ourselves 3 questions: “Have I believed the Gospel? “Have I obeyed the Gospel?”  “Have I the assurance of the Gospel still yet today?”