What gospel is the apostle Paul talking about? There’s a marvellous summary of it in his first letter: “To wait for [God’s] Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thes. 1:10). Let’s consider this summary phrase by phrase.
1. The gospel is about a person.
The message is about a person who is unlike any other person who has ever lived—Jesus is God’s Son from heaven. Paul has come to know Him and he wants to introduce Him to others. The gospel is about Jesus and what He is able to do for you.
2. The gospel is about His resurrection.
The gospel declares that Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead. Because Christ has conquered death, He is uniquely positioned to bring men and women into life. The promise of Jesus is that your death will not be the end of your life, but entrance into a new life that has been opened up through His resurrection.
3. The gospel is about His ability to deliver us. Every person is faced with “the wrath to come.” This involves God judging every life, punishing every sin, righting every wrong, eradicating all evil from His universe, and destroying all sinners in the lake of fire. No pain, loss, injury, or grief can compare to this experience and Paul says, “Jesus rescues us from it.” That’s the gospel.
God calls people through this same gospel today. And as you believe the gospel message, you too will find that you are loved, chosen, saved, and sanctified by God.
Have you heard this gospel message before?
What is your response to it?
You Are Called
Written by: Colin Smith
Read by: Sue McLeish
