THE GOSPEL OF GOD

Paul introduces his great doctrinal letter to the church at Rome by setting the theme—the Gospel.

He calls it, “the gospel of God.”  “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, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;” (Romans 1:1-6, emphasis added).

In the same chapter, the Apostle speaks of, “the gospel of Christ,” “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, emphasis added).

Well, which one is it Paul?  Is the message you preached, the Gospel of God or the Gospel of Christ?  We need to understand what you mean because it is a matter of life and death—the difference between an eternity in heaven or in hell!

We are commanded to believe it for it is the power of salvation.  The church is commissioned to preach it for it is the only hope of the world.  So, it would help us to know what we are to believe and preach, wouldn’t it?  Is it the Gospel of God or the Gospel of Christ?

The fact is that these terms are interchangeable.  There is one God in three Persons—the blessed Trinity.  To speak of the Gospel as being of God and of Christ is not a contradiction, for the three (including the Spirit) are One God, and the source of the Gospel.

The good news (that is what the word, “Gospel,” means) comes because God loved us enough to send His Son to die for us. The work of Christ is the source of the Gospel for it is in Him that we are saved. Have you come to God through Christ?