Let us consider two passages of scripture concerning the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. II Corinthians 4:4, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” II Timothy 1:11, “According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.” You will observe the Apostle terms the Gospel ‘the glorious gospel’. Why? I believe that at least seven scripture passages manifest the glory of the Gospel. The first is Romans 1:1 where we read, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.” It is termed here ‘the Gospel of God’ denoting its origin. In its origin there are at least three things for consideration. Since it is God’s Gospel we would consider (1) its undeniable power, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16); (2) its matchless purity; and (3) its endless effect upon those who believe it. The second passage that unfolds the glory of the Gospel is Acts 20:24, where Paul said his course and ministry was “to testify the Gospel of the Grace of God,” here unfolding the source of the Gospel. Sinners are saved by the Gospel and not apart from the Gospel. Then it is further affirmed that salvation is ‘by grace’ and grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). The third scripture passage that reveals the glorious Gospel of the Blessed Redeemer is Romans 15:19, where the apostle terms the Gospel ‘the Gospel of Christ,’ unfolding the revelation of the Gospel, for the Gospel as revealed to a sinner is the unveiling of Christ (Matt.6:13-17). The fourth passage is Romans 10:15, where the Gospel is termed ‘the Gospel of peace.’ Here Paul is teaching us that the Gospel brings comfort to guilty convicted sinners. The fifth, Romans 16:25, “Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel…” Here Paul terms the Gospel ‘My Gospel,’ unfolding the fact of the Christian’s privilege of participation in the testimony of the Gospel. Sixth, we find the Gospel termed ‘the Gospel of the Kingdom’ in Matthew 4:23. I believe this sixth term relates to us the benefits reaped for the believer. According to scripture the believer has been translated into a kingdom of light in which the kingdom’s subjects are kingly priests (I Peter 2:9 & Revelation 1:5-6). The seventh and final term which magnifies the glory of the Gospel is Revelation 14:6. The Gospel is termed ‘the everlasting gospel,’ relating to us its perpetuity; reminding and assuring us that “He is able to save to the uttermost (forever and ever) them that come to Him by Christ Jesus.”
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