Rose Publishing - Knowing: Basics of the Faith

The Uni q ueness of the Gospel of Jesus

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.

Romans 1:16

I n all the history of the world there has never been anyone like Jesus. He and his life were so extraordinary and impacted the world so strongly that time itself changed! Our calendar is based on when
he was born. We count the years since his birth and call it ad an abbreviation for Anno Domini , which is Latin for in the year of our Lord. We refer to all history before Jesus was born as bc an abbreviation for before Christ.

What was so important about Jesus? It was his radical message of lovewhat we call the gospel.

The word gospel comes from the Greek word euanglion , which simply means good news.

Over the centuries, the gospel of Jesus has spread through the world like wildfire. Millions of people have called themselves Christians, naming themselves for Jesus, the Christ. They do so to show their devotion and because they want to imitate and follow him, to be Christ-like.

So what is it that inspires this type of devotion? How does this so-called gospel of Jesus uniquely offer hope to a world so full of trouble and bad news?

The word gospel comes from the Greek word euanglion , which simply means good news. For example, in ancient times, a herald might proclaim to hearers the gospel of a military victory, the birth of a royal child, or some other joyous announcement. In the Bible, the word gospel takes on added spiritual and eternal significance.

In the Old Testament, anticipating the dark years of the Babylonian exile, God moved the prophet Isaiah to encourage mourning Jews about a coming day when a God-sent messenger would bring good news to Zion (Isaiah 40:9). This anointed messenger, Isaiah foretold, would not only rescue the people of God (61:14), but also restore the perfect rule of God.

In the New Testament this good news of God is immediately associated with the person of Jesus. Luke shows Christ beginning his public ministry by reading those very words of Isaiah and declaring them fulfilled (Luke 4:1621, Isaiah 61: 12a). In other words, Christ was claiming to be the one about whom Isaiah prophesied. The gospel is the ancient promises of God realized in the person of Jesus Christ!

This is the reason the evangelists, the gospel writers Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, all focus on Jesushis words and works. This is why the apostle Paul repeatedly referred to the gospel of Christ (Romans 15:19; 1 Corinthians 9:12; Galatians 1:7). Jesus is the gospel! He embodies Gods good news. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus made the way for us to have a relationship with God and experience his love forever.

Next, well look more closely at the first four letters, G , O , S , and P . Well unpack letters E and L in Topic 3: Coming to Faith.

When we put our faith in Christ, an amazing transformation takes place. We become brand-new creations (well talk more about this in Topic 4: All Things New). This change is spiritual. It is actual and real. It is internal, fundamental, and essential. It affects our basic nature. Theologians call this regeneration. Jesus called it being born again (John 3).

1. Take a few minutes to slowly read Psalm 103. What does this beloved prayer/song reveal about Gods nature?
2. Psalm 103 describes God as compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Does this match what you heard about God in your younger years? Based on your experience, which of these descriptions is easiest to accept? Which is more difficult?
3. Speaking of Jesus Christ, the apostle John wrote: No one has ever seen God. But the unique One [Jesus], who is himself God, is near to the Fathers heart. He has revealed God to us (John 1:18, nlt ). What does Jesus reveal to us about God?

1. Read Romans 3:1018, 23 and Romans 6:23. According to these verses, why do we need a savior?

Many people today believe we humans are basically okaymaybe even divine. But the Bible tells us that we all come into this world as naturally self-centered rebels against God. As sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, we have inherited their sin nature, and we each have sinned in thought and deed. Every last one of us has an innate tendency as well as a long track record of wanting what we want rather than what God wants for us.

The Bible tells us the penalty for such rebellion against God is death. At the most basic level, death is separation. When we die physically, our souls are separated from our bodies, and we are separated from our loved ones. Spiritual death is the ultimate consequence of sin. It means separation from God and the life he gives.

C. S. Lewis said that we are not basically decent folks who need a bit of improvement. We are rebels who need to lay down our arms.

As spiritually dead people (see Ephesians 2:1), we do not have the power to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.

1. What do you think total surrender looks like? Why do you think it is difficult to do?

God has not left us alone in our helpless, hopeless state (remember his love?). God sent a Savior!

1. Read Isaiah 53:16. This is a continuing description of the one the prophet identified as the bringer of good news. What does this passage say about Christ? What did his death accomplish? What would have happened if he hadnt died?

The penalty for sin is death. We deserved to die. But the Bible says Jesus acted as our substitute. He voluntarily took the punishment we deserved because of our sin. He was pierced for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5). Christ died, so that we might live.

His triumphant cry from the cross (It is finished! John 19:30) means that humanitys debt to God because of sin has been paid in full. The tearing of the veil in the temple at that precise moment (Matthew 27:51) indicated that access to God was now possible for humankind because the problem of sin had been solved by Jesus.

In the cross of Christ we see vividly portrayed the awfulness of sin and the justice of God. But we also have a stunning reminder of the love of God. In the resurrection of Jesus, we have undeniable evidence of his authority and power over sin and death.

1. Read our memory verse again, Romans 1:16. The Greek word translated as power is the word dunamis . This is the word from which we get our English word dynamite. How is the gospel like spiritual dynamite?
2. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! What does it mean to be a new creation in Christ?

Knowing these truths is critical. But merely knowing them is not enough. We must take them to heart. We must exercise faith. (Well talk more about this in Topic 3: Coming to Faith.)