If we ask our Christian friends, what is Gospel? The answers that we
often get are too simple. Such as good news, God loves you etc.
But today we want to look at how did Paul described Gospel
in the Book of Romans?
Paul described Gospel in the following verses, Romans
1:1-4, “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be
an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God--the gospel
he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy
Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature
was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit
of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God
by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.”
From these verses, we could conclude the four aspects of
Gospel. They are: 1) Gospel is the promise of God; 2)
Gospel has been recorded in the Old Testament Prophetic
Books; 3) Gospel is referring to Jesus, and Jesus is
descendant of David; 4) Gospel is referring to Jesus,
his resurrection from the death confirmed him to be
Son of God, and full of power. Below we are going to
meditate on these four aspects.
First, Gospel is the promise of God. What exactly is God’s
promise? What is the opposite of promise? In short, the
existence of promise is not based on the conditions of
human being, but rather based on God who offers mercy.
Therefore we could also say that Gospel is based on God’s
sovereignty. Mercy and sovereignty of God are both sides
of a coin and we have no reason to separate them. Read
again Romans 9:15-16, “For he says to Moses, "I will
have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have
compassion on whom I have compassion." It does not,
therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on
God's mercy.”
Second, Gospel has already been recorded in Old
Testament Prophetic Books. Many believers think
that the first appearing of the Gospel is in the first
book of New Testament. This is a big error of
understanding. Because the author of Hebrews
told us that, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers
through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,
whom he appointed heir of all things, and through
whom he made the universe.” (1:1-2). And later in
chapter 4, the author also stated that the Gospel that
we heard today is the same Gospel the Old Testament
believers have heard.
Besides, Prophet Isaiah also recorded this promise of Gospel.
But the Old Testament congregation turn a deaf ear to it.
Isaiah cried out, “Who has believed our message and to whom
has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He (i.e. Jesus) grew up
before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.
He (i.e. Jesus) had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was
despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar
with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was
despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he (i.e. Jesus) took up
our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him
stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was
pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his
wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:1-5) And when Jesus Christ
ministered among God’s people in first century, he also has this
comment, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think
that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures
that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”
(John 5:39-40)
Third, Gospel is referring to Jesus, and Jesus is
descendant of David. Jesus is not a common boy in the Jewish
family. He is the descendant of David. This is a mark distinction
from many “Jesus” in the first century. (see Colossians 4:11)
When Paul disciples Timothy -- the “first generation pastor”, he
also emphasize this truth. Paul says, “Reflect on what I am
saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. Remember
Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This
is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being
chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.” (see II
Timothy 2:7-9)
Gospel of Matthew also starting with the genealogy of Jesus. And
Matthew told us that Jesus is son of David, son of Abraham. So we
have to ask what is so special of this teaching? It is because there
is a history element behind it. According to I Samuel 8:20, after
the Israelites entered into Canaan, they immediately copied the
culture of the land. They asked God to install a king for them as
the neighboring countries did. So that this king could lead them
and fight for them. But God has a different view from this earthly
king, that is he must be the representative of the heavenly kingship.
Indeed Moses describes this kingship this way, “When he takes the
throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy
of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. It is to
be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may
learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words
of this law and these decrees.” (Deut 17:18-19) But we know that
David did not fulfill these requirements. He did not shepherding God’s
sheep with all his heart and soul and might. Therefore in later days,
God declared this promise through prophet Jeremiah, “I myself
will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where
I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where
they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds
over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or
terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD. "The days
are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up to David a
righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just
and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will
live in safety.” (Jeremiah 23:3-6)
Jesus is the descendant of David, how importance is this teaching?
One of the answers is that Jesus is our only hero. Jesus alone could
keeps the requirements of the heavenly kingship. Jesus alone truly
shepherds his sheep with all his heart and soul and might. Today,
whenever people reviewing the church, they only see the negative
side of the story. Such as splits among the churches, membership
gone down, pastors have a bad testimonies, have no political respect
from Government, church activities or worship is controlled or
limited by the Government policy, etc. If Jesus is our king, how come
we are in this situation? In fact, when Jesus claimed that he is king,
the Pilate surely has this thought in his heart, how could that be for a
king of the Jews to be betrayed and sentenced by his people and high
priest? But how did Jesus response? Jesus said, "My kingdom is not
of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest
by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." (John 18:36)
Thanks be to God, Jesus came not to established a earthly kingdom, but
a spiritual kingdom which could not be measured by earthly fame, money
or power.
Fourth, Gospel is referring to Jesus, his resurrection from the death
confirmed him to be Son of God, and full of power. In this verse, Paul
did not tell us the reason why did Jesus die? But later he explained in 4:25,
“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our
justification.” Why must Jesus die? This is very very important question.
It is because he is unlucky? No. Is it because he appears at a wrong place
and at a wrong time? No. Or is it just a tragedy happened to a good people
whom being betrayed by wicked people? No. The answer is, Jesus death is
to be our propitiation for sin. Jesus is Lamb of God that takes away the sin
of the world. He hanged on the Cross in order to bear the just wrath of God
on sinner behalf. Jesus death is the will of God. Therefore before Jesus
accomplished this mission, in a role of a lamb, he quietly, humbly and
obediently headed to Calvary. But after he is raised from the tomb, he became
a roaring lion. Therefore, before his ascension, he reminded his disciples that
he is Son of God, full of power and authority. (see Matthew 28:18-20, Then
Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you
always, to the very end of the age." )
But please remember, this does not imply that before Christ’s resurrection,
he is not Son of God, nor has any authority or power. This verse (Romans
1:4) is referring to the completion of the execution of God’s redemption plan
in human history. That is why during the 3 years of ministry, Jesus forbid them
to announce the news that he is the Son of God (refer Matthew 16:20). But on
other occasion, Christ also tell them that in near future, they will proclaim to
the world what they have heard in the room. (refer Matthew 10:26-27, “So do
not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or
hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the
daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.”)
Gospel is referring to Jesus, his resurrection from the death confirmed him to
be Son of God, and full of power. Jesus held the shepherd staff during his
first coming, but he will hold an iron rod in his second coming. (Psalms 2:9)
But we don’t have to wait until that day to see the manifestation of the power
of the Gospel. In fact, Paul saw the affect of this Gospel in the first century.
First, he said, “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) Second, when Paul brings this gospel to the Corinthian church,
there are two distinct results exist. One is full of life and the other is curses.
(see II Corinthians 2:15-16, “For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those
who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell
of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?”)
How does the Book of Romans describe the Gospel? They are: 1) Gospel is
the promise of God; 2) Gospel has been recorded in the Old Testament
Prophetic Books; 3) Gospel is referring to Jesus, and Jesus is descendant
of David; 4) Gospel is referring to Jesus, his resurrection from the death
confirmed him to be Son of God, and full of power. .
Posted on September 2, 2006
