Romans 1:1-4, What is the Gospel?

Romans 1:1-4 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 

The gospel was “promised afore” by the prophets. It was not a new message. The gospel was first declared by God in the Garden of Eden after the fall of man in Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

The gospel message was first published by the written testimony of the prophets in the Old Testament consisting of 5 books of the Law (Genesis to Deuteronomy), 12 historical books (Joshua to Esther), 5 wisdom books (Job to Song of Solomon), 5 books of Major Prophets (Isaiah to Daniel) and 12 books of the Minor Prophets (Hosea to Malachi). The theme was concerning God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus confirmed this in Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Jesus is indeed the Son of God. The greatest proof of His deity was His resurrection from the dead after 3 days. And the physical manifestation of His resurrection life, Paul was an eye-witness.

1 Corinthians 15:1-8 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Resurrection from the dead was the greatest miracle that Jesus performed during His earthly ministry. Jesus caused Lazarus to rise from the dead after he was dead for four days. This true event was recorded in John 11. Jesus demonstrated that He is the Son of God when He raised Lazarus from the dead. The gospel is the solution to man’s greatest problems of sin, sorrow and death. May the Lord help us to share it with someone today.