THE GOSPEL IS A DIVINE REVELATION
Matthew 16:16-17
Morning Meditation 7/11/2014
"And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."
The word "revealed" translates "apokalupto" and means, "to uncover, lay open what has been veiled or covered up; disclose, make bare; disclose what before was unknown." Jesus said the Father had done this. Jesus said this made Peter a happy man. One who receives the good news of the gospel is a happy man. I have seen this in church and in home over and over again when one would receive Christ as a personal Saviour. I had a preacher friend tell me as a young preacher, "Don't lose your shout." I was constantly running over and rejoicing in the Lord. It was not put on. It was the real thing. The Lord was working in my life and I knew it and rejoiced that He would bless such a person as I. Let's notice what the Gospel is--
IT IS CALLED THE GOSPEL OF GOD
Romans 1:1, "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,"
John Gill says on this: "the excellency of which Gospel is signified by its being called "the Gospel of God": he is the author of it; his grace is the subject of it; and he it is who commits it to men, qualifies them for the preaching of it, and succeeds them in it."
IT IS CALLED THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
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."
Christ's character and work, including His life, death, and resurrection is the brightness, or the flashing out, of the glory of Divine love and power.
Just like the gospel originates in the Father, it also originates in the Son, and it originates in the Holy Spirit because He it is that regenerates at the point of our faith in Christ.
IT IS CALLED THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD
Acts 20:24, "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." The grace of God is God's power operating in love and mercy on our behalf. This grace was manifested in Jesus Christ, His Son. There is no love that exceeds the Love of God in Christ for His creatures who have alienated themselves from His favor. Grace is God's approach to saving the lost sinner. For salvation to be secure grace had to be the way. Therefore God in His great heart of love stooped from heaven to earth in the person of His Son, became a man, and did in life what man could not do, be perfect, and then offered Himself on the cross as a payment for our sins so that sinners like us could be saved totally at His expense. Someone hold my mules!!! Hallelujah!!!
IT IS CALLED THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION
Ephesians 1:13, "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"
This verse defines when the Holy Spirit comes into the believer. The gospel is called "The gospel of your salvation" because it becomes a part of us when we believe. We are partakers of the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4). The Holy Spirit is the seal of our salvation. This means the Holy Spirit takes up His abode in our lives and makes our body His temple. When we are saved, salvation is ours.
IT IS CALLED THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM
Mark 1:14, "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,"
Some claim that "The gospel of the kingdom" is different from the gospel that we preach today. This is superimposing one's theological views upon Scripture. There is one gospel that saves and it is called by several different names but it is the same gospel that is the "power of God to everyone that believeth."
Jesus speaks to Nicodemus in John 3:5, "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." One cannot be born again unless he believes the gospel. The entrance into the kingdom of God is to believe the gospel.
There are many other things the gospel is called like "The everlasting gospel" (Rev. 14:6); and "The gospel of the glory of Christ" (2 Cor 4:3-4).
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White
