The power of the Gospel. Rom.1:1-6, 14-17
By Ysrael De la Cruz

As followers of Jesus, we need to be acquainted with the gospel; we need to know what it is and what it isn’t. In a shifting culture, it’s imperative that Jesus followers know the content of gospel; a word that appears over 75 times in the NT. For some people when they hear the word gospel, they think of a type of music. When we read in the NT about the gospel, it never refers to a musical genre. The gospel was the reason many Christians died in the first and 2nd century.
What is the gospel?
Paul writes a letter to the church in Rome and here is how he introduced himself to them. Rom.1:1-6
Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God. (v.1)
The gospel is of divine origin. It is of God, God is the author, or originator of the gospel. It belongs to God.
-God promised this gospel through the prophets in the Holy Scriptures. (The prophets, the writings in the Old Testament were pointing toward this gospel). Jesus had said that the law and the prophets testified about him. They bore witness to the coming of the Messiah.
John 5:39 the Scriptures testify about me.
Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

What is the gospel about? V.3
-About God’s Son, a descendant of David humanly speaking.
-The Son of God announced by the angel to Mary. He will be known as the Son of the Most high.
-The resurrection proved that he is indeed who he claimed to be. Jesus the Christ and Lord.
Paul said that it was because of what Jesus did that he received the call to be an apostle, one who would call people to respond in faith to the good news of Jesus.

Paul’s passion for the gospel
Paul was so passionate about preaching the gospel of Jesus that even though he had not visited Rome, he longed to go to Rome to preach the gospel there as well. (8-13)

-Paul felt obligated to preach the good news of Jesus to all people. Greeks (civilized world) and no-Greeks (Barbarians ESV, NASB, KJV), wise and foolish. He wanted an opportunity to preach in Rome. (v14) He prayed for an open door to be able to go to Rome in his preaching the gospel.

-Paul was not ashamed of the gospel:
The gospel is the power of God at work for the salvation of anyone who believes. First the Jews (the preaching of this good news started with the Jewish people; the first church was Jewish, then the gospel reached also the non-Jews or gentiles)
The gospel is good news of salvation for anyone who believes it. The good news of Jesus, the Savior. There is salvation for anyone who believes it.

The gospel reveals God’s righteousness.(.v17) Righteousness is defined as the quality or state of being morally just or rightful. The gospel shows us or teaches us how to be right with God. This righteousness cannot be earned. Only received by faith. From the beginning to the end, this righteousness is by faith.
The righteous shall live by faith.

God’s plan of salvation is revealed in the Gospel, it tells people how they can be right with Almighty God. By believing in Jesus, whose life was sacrificed to save those who believe in him. God did his part, now people just have to respond to Jesus by placing their faith in him. Jesus is God’s righteousness revealed.
Read Rom.3:21-24 Jesus is truly God’s righteousness revealed to the world.

The gospel, good news of Jesus has the power to transform and save lives. No wonder Paul was so eager to tell others about this great news.
We too must be eager to tell people that they can be right with God by faith in Christ.
If you already believed the gospel of Jesus; you must continue to take a stand on it. You and I must hang on to this good news that saves us and share it with others.
2000 years have passed and people continue to be transformed by the gospel. God is at work through the message you and I can bring to someone. Take a stand to share it with others, for you have been commissioned to tell others about Jesus.