What is “God’s Story? It’s the Gospel, the Good News, the declaration of God justifying sinners by the death of His son, Jesus Christ, then openly declaring the acceptance of His work in raising Him from the dead. God’s story of salvation is what God uses to call sinners to Himself as well as to build up and motivate His people.
1 Corinthians 15:1–8 (ESV) — 1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
The word, “gospel” comes to us via Anglo-Saxon “God-spel” which means God’s story, whereas the Greek word, “euanggelion” literally means “good message.” Putting it together it’s the good news of Jesus Christ or “God’s story” – the message that the apostles were commissioned to preach that has been the message of the church.
Romans 1:15–17 (ESV) — 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Even more elaboration on the good news is found in the way that Paul said it brings life and immortality to light as the message declares the mighty work God accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 1:8–10 (ESV) — 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
No wonder the apostle Paul called this the “glorious gospel” as the KJV calls it where the ESV calls it the “gospel of the glory of Jesus Christ.” Nevertheless, the Gospel is more than mere words, rather it is demonstration of the power of God which focuses upon the Lord Jesus Christ and His completed work of salvation.
2 Corinthians 4:3–6 (ESV) — 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
The message of “God’s story” is also called the gospel of peace because it’s the message of God reconciling sinners to Himself.
Ephesians 6:15 (ESV) — 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
2 Corinthians 5:18–19 (ESV) — 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Romans 5:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
This power-packed message of God needs no altering because it is good for all time and eternity. No wonder we read that this Gospel is everlasting.
Revelation 14:6–7 (ESV) — 6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
It’s a privilege of a man to be called to preach the Gospel as a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s the heralding of “glad tidings” and what could be better than Jesus Christ has come to save sinners.
Romans 10:13–15 (ESV) — 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV) — 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
That is “God’s Story,” “The Good News,” “The Gospel.” It’s found in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament, as the Old Testament pointed to the work of redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ and the New Testament declares what Jesus Christ has accomplished.
Isaiah 40:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
Isaiah 53:6–10 (ESV) — 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lordshall prosper in his hand.
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (ESV) — 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
Let us be grateful for the Gospel and never be ashamed of declaring the accomplishment of salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
