MY GOSPEL

Rom. 2:16

Morning Meditation

"In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel."

Paul personalized the gospel in this verse. He called it “my gospel.” There are reasons for this. Before we look at the reason Paul called it “my gospel” let’s examine the gospel itself.

THE DEFINITION OF THE GOSPEL

It helps greatly when the Bible defines it’s doctrines. In this case the Bible does. The place where this definition is found is in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"

This is a definitive statement. A lot of professing Christians want to put baptism and the Lord’s Supper in the definition of the gospel. But Paul very definitely does not include these ordinances.

He defines the gospel as (1) How Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. (2) And that he was buried. (3) And that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. These three things define the gospel according to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 

To add anything to this definition is to pervert the gospel. Galatians 1:6-9, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." A curse is placed on the person who adds anything to the gospel as it is defined in the Word of God and preached by Paul and the Apostles.

Paul made it clear that he did not add baptism to the gospel he preached. 1 Corinthians 1:17-18, "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

The power of the gospel is brought out in Romans 1:16, "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."

The gospel is the POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION. God has chosen through the gospel to save the believer. John 1:11-12, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"

The gospel has no power in an unbelieving heart. It is like the atomic bomb. It is powerless unless it is armed. Repentance on the part of the sinner is a prerequisite to salvation. Faith in the gospel arms the gospel and it is the dynamite of God to save the believer. The gospel believed will blow a sinner right out of the gambling boats here in Bossier City. It will tear one loose from any other sin that is going on in the life.

THE INCARNATION OF THE GOSPEL IN THE MAN OF GOD

Paul spoke of the gospel as being “my gospel.” Some have tried to give this another meaning. There is no other gospel. The gospel Paul preached is the same gospel that Jesus preached in Mark 1:14-15, "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

The gospel literally becomes a part of the man of God who has been called of God to preach the gospel.  Peter called it “partaking of the Divine nature.”

Philippians 1:21-23, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:" Paul had seen the other side. He tells us a little about it in 2 Cor. 12:1-10.

Paul called the gospel “my gospel” because it had become the one dominant thing in his life. One could not be around Paul without hearing the gospel.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White