Good News

Scripture: Romans 16:25-27 "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 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— to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen."

Observation: When I prepared to teach this in Sunday school back in April, the first thing in this passage that caught my eye was the phrase "the preaching of Jesus Christ." That is basically synonymous with the previous phrase "my gospel".

It caught my attention because the gospel, which is normally summarized as the fact that Jesus lived, died and rose again, seems pretty straight forward and yet Paul just spent 16 chapters on this gospel! So here it seems that Paul lays out the attributes of the gospel that I must understand, for by grasping these my life should change; these truths are that huge!
1. The gospel is the foundation.
2. It was kept secret (Ephesians 3:3-4, 3:9, 6:19; Colossians 1:26-27, 2:2, 4:3).
3. It was predicted and witnessed to (Romans 3:22).
4. It is to be submitted to - consequences come from disobeying it and obeying it.
5. It is for the world - no other religious system will suffice. All roads don't lead to God. Salvation only comes through Jesus and only lead to this God. Universality is false and demonic. Pluralism is false and demonic. This is the gospel that YHWH has designed, delivered and witnessed to. Rejection of this equals rejection of God.
6. It's ultimate purpose is to bring glory to God (Ephesians 3:8-12).

Application: All preaching should be based on the gospel and should point back to Jesus. Regardless if the subject is about history or current events, traffic tickets or human trafficking, if it is preached it must return us to Jesus Christ. If separated from the purpose of pointing others to God through Jesus Christ, all preaching, teaching, service, social work, gifts, etc. is ultimately meaningless.

Find Jesus in everything and make Him known.

Prayer: Thank You, thank You, thank You! I am saved by Your grace alone that the praise may be to You alone for the glory that belongs to You alone. Amen.