Each of us have shared a personal story in the last week of how the gospel has impacted us personally. We have also shared about circumstances in our lives when doubts about God’s goodness or His timing have impacted our own personal stories and spiritual lives and growth.
So, what is the gospel? Paul tells us, “That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me [Paul] also, as to one abnormally born.” I Corinthians 15:3-8 NIV. Any presentation of the gospel to anyone must include these four elements: Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and the testimony from witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection that Paul shared succinctly with the Corinthian church. But there are other scriptures in the Bible that make these concepts clearer.
Paul wrote the book of Romans as well, and it has many verses that articulate what the good news that Jesus brought means to us — Jesus’ death on the cross provided a way for us to come into a right relationship with God.
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished; Romans 3:22-25 NIV
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2 NIV
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:8-11 NIV
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NIV
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4 NIV.
Just as the two disciples on the road to Emmaus had a personal interaction with the risen Christ, each of us who are believers have as well. With each of our stories we have shared, it is this personal interaction with the risen Christ; our personal relationship is what makes all the difference in our lives and in the life of every believer in Jesus.
by Grace Hunter
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