I want you to read the verse again from yesterday’s devotion, but I want to focus in on another word that is used in that passage, the word “gospel.” (Romans 16:21-27)…..21 Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you. 22 I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. 24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. 25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith 27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
This verse introduces us to another great word that ought to cause us to praise our Lord, it is the word Gospel which means good news, the glad tidings of salvation through Christ. It is the message of His death and His victorious resurrection, which brought us peace and hope (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Why is it so necessary to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ? Because His is the only name that can save the sinner from the condemnation of death (Acts 4:12). The Gospel performs the ministry of establishing us, “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel…..” (v.25). The word establish here means to make stable, to place firmly, to set fast, and to strengthen. When the Gospel is believed we are given stability and firm footing to stand. No longer is the believer in Jesus Christ in danger of going to Hell because the Gospel gives us hope and security as we face life and eternity (Psalm 40:1-4).
How God was going to take care of sin issue was a mystery kept secret since the world began. But now the entire plan of God has been revealed to those who are His (Ephesians 1:7-10). If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then He has revealed His plan to you. Why have we been given such grace in understanding this mystery? That we would believe “for obedience to the faith.” Sadly, the Gospel is still a mystery to many people. Satan has blinded their minds to the truth (2 Corinthians 4:1-6). People have been led to believe that the Gospel involves Jesus plus something else they have to do to be saved, such as Jesus plus church attendance, or Jesus plus good living, but none of that kind of thinking is right. We are saved by what Jesus has done, not by what we have done or could do. The Gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ – alone!
Let me ask these questions. “What have you done with the gospel?” “Have you believed the gospel?” “Is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior?”