The Church Proclaims the Gospel

GOLDEN TEXT: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” —Romans 1:16

ROMANS 10:8-15; I CORINTHIANS 2:1-5

NO TRUTH is more clearly set forth in the Bible than that the church is commissioned to proclaim the Gospel. But to obey properly this mandate one must know what constitutes the Gospel. The word Gospel simply means good news, or glad tidings, but there has been much preaching in the name of the Lord that has been far from good news. The God-dishonoring doctrine of eternal torture is certainly not the good news of the Gospel.

Paul wrote, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.” What is the Gospel of Christ? There have been many and contradicting answers to this question, but Paul gives us a clue when in Romans 1:1,2 he speaks of the Gospel which God “had promised afore by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures.” An even more definite statement is found in Galatians 3:8, where Paul writes concerning the Gospel which God preached unto Abraham when he promised, “In thee shall all nations be blessed.”

This promised “blessing” was to come through Abraham’s “seed,” and, as the Gospel theme develops throughout the Old Testament, this “seed” is seen to be none other than the Messiah, the Christ of promise. Paul explains this in Galatians 3:16, and in verses 27-29 of the same chapter adds the information that those who are “baptized into Christ” are also a part of this promised “seed” which is the channel of blessing to “all families of the earth.”

The glad tidings which the angel announced was simply the fact that Christ, the promised Savior, was born. And how wonderfully they emphasized the divine purpose for blessing all the families of the earth through this “seed.” It was good tidings of great joy, they said, which shall be unto “all people.”

In the Scriptures, the divine purpose to bless all nations is associated with the establishment of a kingdom, a government, to be the administrative agency in dispensing the promised blessing. Thus the glad tidings of salvation is spoken of as “the Gospel of the kingdom.” As the Redeemer, Christ died for the sins of the world; and as king, he reigns for a thousand years, together with his church, to make the blessings of life available to the people.

This, briefly, is the Gospel of Christ, and what a privilege it is to proclaim such a message to a sin-sick and suffering world! Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.” Who could be ashamed of such a message! It glorifies God and reveals his great love for all mankind. To know such a message, and to have it in one’s heart, is to have a burning desire to tell it out to all mankind!

The importance of witnessing for the Gospel is emphasized in Romans 10:10, where Paul says that “with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” This would indicate that simply to believe the Gospel oneself and not endeavor to proclaim it to others, would not lead to salvation.

But, as Paul points out, in order for one to believe on Christ and accept the Gospel, it must first be made known to him—“How can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (vs. 14) Thus, from two standpoints, we see the importance of witnessing. It is essential to our own salvation, and in the divine plan of salvation, God has made it the means whereby his saving grace through Christ and the Gospel is made known to others.

Paul quotes from the prophecy of Isaiah, chapter 52:7, where the messengers of the Gospel are shown proclaiming “good tidings.” At this end of the age the final aspect of the good tidings mentioned by Isaiah is preached by “the feet of him,” which is, “Thy God reigneth!” This, in a very special sense, is the “Gospel of the kingdom.” The power of the Gospel to draw men to God is not in “excellency of speech”—as Paul points out in I Corinthians 2:1-5—nor in the wisdom of men, but in the power and wisdom of God. Nor is it the power of oratory in proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, for the Gospel itself “is the power of God unto salvation.”

But it must be the pure Gospel Paul wrote, “I am determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (vs. 2) The message of “Jesus Christ, and him crucified,” embraces the entire divine plan of salvation; for he is the center, the hub of that plan, every aspect of it being dependent upon him and his shed blood. It was because he was crucified that we can be crucified with him, and, if faithful, reign with him. It was because his death provided satisfaction for the sins of the whole world, that the opportunity for life will be offered to all mankind through the agencies of his kingdom. Truly, it is a glorious Gospel!

QUESTIONS

What is the meaning of the word Gospel, and what is the “Gospel of Christ”?

Paul wrote, “With the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” How important does this make the privilege of witnessing for the truth?

What special message of truth is mentioned in Isaiah 52:7, which can properly be proclaimed only at this end of the age?

How comprehensive is the truth embodied in the expression, “Jesus Christ, and him crucified”?

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