The Simple Gospel: The Gospel of Christ – God’s Power to Save

Romans 1:16-17 says this: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘ The just shall live by faith.’ “

This passage of scripture has long been recognized as the great theme of the beloved Book of Romans. It is a great theme of a great book. How much attention do we give it as a guide to life? Every tenet and every encouragement offered by the inspired apostle is founded on this truth concerning the gospel of Christ. The gospel of Christ is dynamic. It is explosive. It is revolutionary. It can effect more changes on the heart of an individual than an atomic bomb on a crowded city. “… if anyone {is} in Christ, {he is} a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

In the great mountain message, our Lord declared, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) Where can any man go to discover the righteousness of God? He must go to the gospel of Christ. There are many people today having a great deal of trouble in dealing with what to do with the Old Testament and God’s covenant with the Jews. May I suggest that you engross yourself in the Book of Hebrews to find those answers? The first has been put away to establish the second (See Hebrews 8).

In questions dealing with instrumental music in worship, as well as others, many go to the Old Testament to find justification. There is no justification there. We are justified by faith in Christ Jesus. “But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, {even} in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.” (Romans 10:8-10).

Faith in Jesus as the Son of God will motivate a person to find and do the righteousness of God found in the gospel of Christ. There is no need to go looking in any other source. The answers are to be found in the good news of Jesus. John said, “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 9). The doctrine of Christ is the gospel of Christ. Do you believe it? Have you obeyed it? Are you continuing in it? The Bible teaches beyond question that we must obey the gospel and then maintain purity in our lives and in our service to God. Halfway faith and partial obedience will never do. We urge you to obey the gospel. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mark 16:16)

Author: Fain, Larry