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July 14 Daily Devotional

Gospel Defined

Peter G. Feenstra

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures. Romans 1:1–2

Bible Reading

Isaiah 40:1–9; Romans 1:1–4

Devotional

“Gospel” is a very important word in the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans. If the apostle couldn’t present the church with the gospel, he wouldn’t have anything good to say to them. The gospel makes it all worthwhile.

How are we to define the word “gospel”? In the Greek language “gospel” is a compound word which literally means good message or good announcement. In the society of the ancient Near East “gospel” was not a religious word. “Gospel” was a message that was made by someone with authority. It was the proclamation of an emperor or a king after a victory in battle or when a child was born in the royal palace. Heralds would leave the king’s palace and they would proclaim the good news (the gospel) of victory or new life throughout the land. Gospel was an official announcement of good news, bringing great joy to all the people!

Gospel is a word with Old Testament roots. There it is used in conjunction with the announcement of God’s work of redemption. Take Isaiah 40:9 as an example. The chapter begins “‘Comfort, yes, comfort My people!’ says your God. ‘Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.’” That certainly is good news! The gospel of salvation needs to be proclaimed to others and that is why verse 9 says, “O Zion, you who bring good tidings [good news], get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, you who bring good tidings, lift up your voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God.’”

Later, in Isaiah 61, the prophet says, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me to preach good news [gospel] to the poor”. The Lord has an announcement which will be of great benefit to the poor. This passage is chosen by Jesus Christ as the scripture reading for His very first sermon.

The church proclaims the gospel. We may speak about the birth of royalty and, at the same time, announce His victory. You hear the message of the gospel on a regular basis. Do you appreciate how good the good news is?

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