Truth of all Ages

As if mention of the word gospel triggers something in Paul, he immediately ceases to speak about himself and darts off onto a new topic. It is clear that he loves to talk about the salvific work of God through Christ. As we noted in passing in yesterday’s study, our word gospel translates the Greek word euangelion (which means “good news”), and Paul’s enthusiasm shows that he regards “the gospel of God,” which is the Good News, as great and awesome indeed.

In his commentary, Dr. James M. Boice briefly explores why the Gospel message is so wonderful. He writes: “First, it tells us that God is actually there—that He is not merely the figment of human imagination but really exists, that He has made us for fellowship with Himself and does hold us accountable for what we do. This gives meaning to life. Second, it tells us that God loves us and has reached out to save us through the work of Jesus Christ. We could not reach God, because our sins separated us from Him. But God removed our sins through Christ and so bridged the gap over these very troubled waters.”

As Paul begins to speak of the Gospel, he depicts for us an event that happened in space and time after careful planning and communication. God, he asserts, “promised [it] before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures.” Boice writes: “New as the Christian Gospel seemed when it first burst upon our sin-darkened world, the Gospel of the salvation of men by God through the work of Jesus Christ was nevertheless no novelty. On the contrary, it was the goal to which all prior revelations of God during the Old Testament period led.” Indeed, the Old Testament (which Paul has in mind when he speaks of “the Holy Scriptures”) is filled with prophecies concerning the coming, birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. From Genesis 3:15 to Malachi 4:5, God speaks in the Old Testament to make clear that He intends to send a Savior, one who will suffer and die to deliver His people from their sins. In their preaching recorded in Acts and in their writings, the apostles frequently cite these “holy” (i.e. “divine”) prophecies to make their case for the Christian message.

In tomorrow’s study, we will venture still further into the heart of the meaning of the Gospel as Paul declares that it concerns “His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”