“How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.” Romans 10:15
Dear Ones:
The Gospel is a message that is declared to be one which brings peace, glad tidings of good things. Why? Is it because there are material blessings associated with its proclamation? There is not doubt that God does bless us with all things richly to enjoy. But wherein lies “peace,” which is the result of the Gospel’s declaration? It resides in the fact that as its truths are expounded and declared, the Spirit of God moves in the heart and mind of the believer, to bring him or her to faith in Christ. It is when this attitude of faith in Christ alone as the Savior, Redeemer, and Lord, is exercised, that God’s power becomes operative in a life-changing way. That power of God by the Spirit, works to counter that which is contrary to God. First of all, the knowledge of these “glad tidings” brings a person to see, and to realize, not only that he or she is “lost,” a slave to sin and death, but also, that there is NO hope in and of oneself, and in the things and people of this world. You might ask, how is this good news? This knowledge brings us to seek God’s answer to our need, one so great and eternal, that ONLY He can meet it. Thus, the “good tidings of good things” is brought before us, the “good thing” of One who loved us and gave Himself for us, that we might live and not die, eternally. But, we need to ask, “How does this power work?”
In the first chapter of John’s gospel, we find him writing concerning the beginning of the Gospel, the eternal good news of God to men. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (1:1) He goes on to tell us that this world is one plunged in spiritual “darkness,” where the true light which shines upon all men, is singular. That light is the very LIFE of Christ. All other “lights” are hopelessly deficient, for they cannot give LIFE. John calls the Lord Jesus, “…the true light.” (1:9) It is at this point, when we realize according to this gospel that there is a God, and that He is the Creator, that we discover He is also our only Savior and Redeemer, waiting to meet our deepest need, to know Him. What then is to be our reaction to such a revelation of “good tidings?” It is to RECEIVE Him, to open our hearts to let the light of His truth and light come in. It is to embrace Him as the only true and living God, and powerful Deliverer and Light. What then about “power?” Again, how is the Gospel a message of power? John answers our question ever so clearly: “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.” (1:12) The gospel is the power of God unto salvation because God WORKS according to the truths of that gospel to operate in us an eternal work that no man by his own efforts can accomplish. God brings to spiritual birth, the new birth, those who cry out to Him to be saved. Paul put it like this: “…for the same Lord over is all is rich unto ALL them that call upon Him. For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:12,13)
Dear Father, give us to see the blessedness of the power of the Gospel, for in it, those “good tidings,” is found the truths according to which You give power from heaven, power to live, to be saved, forgiven, transformed. Give us grace to respond to the truth of Thy word, believing Thee as our blessed Light and Life, to work in us all of Your blessed will. We praise and thank Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad