Table Of Contents:
- The wonder of the Gospel (3)
- The Wonder of the Gospel (Part 1)
- The wonder of the Gospel (2)
This week we begin a series of articles written by Jim Chew. Jim has been actively involved in missions in the Asia-Pacific region for several decades. His articles will be posted each Thursday
A meditation on the Gospel from Romans 1:1-4
The “Gospel” means good news. The Greek word is euangelion from which we get our word “evangelise”. Therefore, when we think of the gospel, we automatically think of those who need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Lawrence Richards says, “The gospel is the sum total of saving truth about Jesus as it is communicated to lost humanity”. But is the gospel to be communicated only to lost people? Jerry Bridges aptly reminds us that we need to daily preach the gospel to ourselves as believers!
In Romans 1:15 Paul speaks of his eagerness to preach the gospel to the believers in Rome. He fed on the gospel continually and said with deep conviction, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” It brings salvation to everyone who believes. The Greek here denotes a continuous action. It is the only truth we can bank on day after day which will bring us to God’s presence.
Romans 1:17 tells us how the Gospel saves believers. “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.” It does not say that in the gospel the “love” of God is revealed (that is stated later in Romans 5:8); rather it is the “righteousness” of God that is revealed. The love of God cannot simply “sweep away” the righteousness of God – man’s unrighteousness, and God’s wrath against sin, have to be dealt with!
Our Ultimate Problem is the Wrath of God We need salvation. Salvation from what? From the wrath of God. Romans 1:18 says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” God is very angry at our unrighteousness and the way we suppress and distort the truth to justify ourselves.
The gospel is the good news that God has rescued us from His own wrath! The gospel is the power that brings us to eternal safety and joy in the presence of God. Romans 5:9 clarifies this, “Much more then, having now been by Jesus’ blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”
God demands righteousness and we don’t have it. Our only hope is for God Himself to give us what He demands. And it cost Him Jesus! This is how He saves us. This is indeed “amazing grace.”
God declares us righteous when we believe in Jesus Christ by faith; “In the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last.” (Romans 1:17). Because we have been declared righteous by faith, God looks at us in Christ as if we had never sinned. As those who have been reconciled to God, we now have peace with Him and He has peace with us (Romans 5:1). It is impossible with our finite minds to understand the “riches of God’s wisdom and knowledge!” Let us respond in awe, in wonder and in worship.
I remember the first time I saw the little purple flowers on the mountains in Tibet. They were soooo simply beautiful. And I thought, what a pity that no one but me may ever see these. And then I thought, maybe God makes beautiful things, not to make us happy, but for His own pleasure and because He just enjoys making and having beautiful creations.
This was about 4… Read More....
Dear Family and Friends,
As always, time goes by so quick. The spring semester flew by and now I am in the process of moving to a new city. After the whirlwind of activities over the last few months, I finally have a few minutes to catch my breath before summer camp starts so I thought I’d take a moment to update you on how He is working… Read More....
School has begun! I started teaching on Monday of this week. I am teaching in the English department of my school and am very excited to be working with my students. I have loved all my students from year one to now but because these kids are English majors their English is a little better so we can discuss more in-depth topics and get to know each other a little… Read More....
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