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 Jews first and also to the Greek.
The gospel is good news, but good news kept secret is not good. The good news of the gospel is that we have a Mediator, Our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One Who paid the debt of sin and restores us to favor with God. There is nothing more good than such news.
The question the catechism now poses is this, “How do you know about the Mediator?” The answer is from the holy gospel. The word gospel means good news.
God in His mercy always announces that good news to fallen sinners. The salvation which He provides in our Lord Jesus Christ is in His heart, and from the moment man fell into sin until the present, even unto the end of the world, God is busy heralding forth this good news by which He saves fallen mankind.
The heart of the gospel and its message is salvation through Jesus Christ.
This, Paul acknowledges in the quotation above. Paul says, the gospel of Christ is the POWER of God unto salvation. The reason for this is because it is the gospel OF CHRIST. God through Jesus Christ ourMediator, has reconciled the sinner unto Himself. Being both God and Man, Jesus was qualified to make this reconciliation. As the angel announced to Joseph at His birth, “She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matt.1:21)” It is good news for “his people”. The Apostle Paul defines these people as “everyone that believeth, to the Jews first and also to the Greek.”
God is very honest with us as He communicates to us the Holy Gospel. He strips us of all pride and self-worth. Only undeserving and unworthy sinners will turn to Jesus by faith and embrace Him as their Savior. The first work of grace in your heart and mine that prepares us for the good news of Jesus is that we NEED Him.
Do you see yourself as a lost sinner, separated from God, worthy of everlasting hell?
God sets forth Jesus in the gospel. He calls you to receive Him and believe in Him as your Mediator.
Additional Info
- Date: 9-February
Kortering, Jason L.
Rev Jason Kortering (Wife: Jeannette)
Ordained: September 1960
Pastorates: Hull, IA - 1960; Hope, Walker, MI - 1966; Hull, IA - 1970; Hope, Redlands, CA - 1976; Loveland, CO - 1979; Grandville, MI - 1984; Minister-on-Loan (Hope PRC, Walker, MI), Singapore - 1992
Emeritus: 2002
Died and entered glory: Dec.20, 2020
Website: www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?speakeronly=true&currsection=sermonsspeaker&keyword=Rev._Jason_KorteringContact Details
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State or ProvinceMI
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CountryUnited States