In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he made a very radical statement.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (Romans 1:16) 1
The word translated gospel from the Greek language of the New Testament is the Greek word euaggelion. It means “good news” or “glad tidings” and denotes victory and freedom from captivity. This word was “a technical term for news of victory” 2 in the ancient world. Paul used the word gospel to describe what Jesus had accomplished for us on the cross. Despite our sins and the judgment we deserve, God has made available complete forgiveness, redemption, and salvation for us
The Apostle Paul said he wasn’t ashamed. Obviously he had been accused of being shameful for what he believed. It’s so simple: our efforts have no power to save us, and our efforts have no power to keep us saved. That certainly was a scandalous idea to embrace in the religious system of Paul’s day. What he was saying is that the POWER of God, “dynamis” 3 in the Greek, from which we get the word dynamite, is in the Good News. In my life as a Christian I have been taught many things about how to “get the power of God working” in my life. Paul said I can speak in the tongues of men and angels, have the gift of prophecy, understand all the mysteries of knowledge, have the faith to move mountains, feed the poor, and give my life for Jesus, but all of that work and investment will profit me NOTHING without one vital and priceless thing: receiving the unconditional love of God as demonstrated when He gave His only begotten Son for us. 4 Neither tongues nor prophecy nor faith nor generosity nor martyrdom is the power of God. The Gospel of grace is the power of God for our complete salvation: our wholeness, healing, provision, deliverance, and redemption, now and forever.
What is the Good News? I’ll tell you what the Good News is NOT. The Good News is NOT that you hear about Jesus; you believe in Jesus; you love Jesus; you serve Jesus; and you die for Jesus. That’s not the Gospel. It’s not even close to the Gospel.
The Gospel is that Jesus knew YOU; Jesus loved YOU; Jesus came as YOU; Jesus died as YOU; Jesus rose as YOU so you can be as He is in perfect union with God. That’s the Gospel. Jesus served you. He came down, stooped down, and made you one with Him.
The Gospel which says that the blood of Jesus paid our debt and made us righteous before God is the power for our salvation. We are saved when we believe by faith that His blood has washed all of our sins away, and we now have HIS righteousness.
The word translated “salvation” is the Greek word “soteria” 5 from the verb “sozo” which involves much more than our get-out-of-hell-free-card. The Gospel is also the power of God to heal, to rescue, to preserve, and to deliver us from every demonic force. Jesus is our all in all. His blood has paid the debt for our sins and put us in a position to receive all of heaven’s goodness. We are co-heirs with Jesus and heirs of God! 6
Unveiling Jesus, by Tricia Gunn, is a verse by verse study of the pure gospel of grace. It’s an amazing journey of love, identity, and freedom in Christ.
Shop Unveiling Jesus Products
Unveiling Jesus Book
Unveiling Jesus 20-Part Series
Original Unveiling Jesus, 10-part series
1 Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
2 euaggelion, Kittle, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Volume 2, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1966, p. 722
3 G1411 (dynamis), Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, website: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1411&t=KJV, accessed 5-17-14
4 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
5 G4991 (sōtēria), Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, website: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G4991&t=KJV, accessed 5-17-14
6 Romans 8:17
