My Sunday Skl

Let’s do a quick recap. What does it really mean to preach the gospel? Well we have established in the previous parts that it’s not merely delivering a speech or sharing your own thoughts and opinions. No, preaching the gospel is the sacred duty of communicating the very promises of God as revealed in the Scriptures. This is a divine commandment, and it’s your responsibility to understand and accurately convey God’s message.

In 1 Peter 1:10-12, we learnt that the prophets of old “inquired and searched diligently” about the grace that would come to us through the gospel message. They were not simply recording historical accounts; rather, they were prophesying and ministering about the grace of God – the very essence of the gospel. As Peter states, “they did minister the things which are now reported unto you.”

What then did we recognise? The prophecies and teachings of the Old Testament were unveiling and foreshadowing the grace of God, the person of Jesus Christ, the manner of His redemptive work, and the glory He would ultimately accomplish. The prophets were vessels prepared to receive and proclaim the first whispers of the gospel.

This is precisely the approach the Apostle Paul took in Acts 17:2-3. We see him reasoning with the Jews “out of the Scriptures,” opening up the ancient writings and patiently, methodically presenting evidence that the promised Christ must suffer, die, and rise again. Paul alleged and proved that Jesus was the fulfillment of this long-awaited Messiah.

Now this is key and I want you to pay attention to this. For three consecutive Sabbath days, Paul diligently reasoned, overwhelming minds with proof after proof from the prophetic Scriptures. What can we say from this? He was not seeking to rush people into hasty decisions based on emotion or clever rhetoric. He wasn’t trying to just say, believe in God, then run away. He wasn’t trying to emotionally manipulate them into giving their lives by creating a calming and sober atmosphere with music and sounds. No, Paul labored to build a solid, unshakable foundation of understanding – directly from the holy writings of the prophets. When we evangelize, when we teach, when we preach, let’s keep this also in mind.

Why could Paul do this? Because the Scriptures are not mere stories, fables, or historical records penned by men. They are the very words of God Himself, containing His unfolding promises, precepts, and redemptive plan for humanity. When Paul reasoned in the synagogues, he did so “out of the Scriptures” (Acts 17:2), using God’s own words to unveil spiritual truths and help people understand the promises the Lord had made.

Do you recognise that as a believer, you have been entrusted with this same sacred responsibility – to be a faithful communicator of God’s promises to the world. Just as Paul was divinely strengthened so that “the preaching might be fully known” (2 Timothy 4:17), you too are called to make fully known the content, message, and spiritual theme God has given in His Word.

The True Gospel Unveiled

But what exactly is the gospel you are called to preach? What are these promises you must communicate? At its core, the gospel is the good news of God’s plan and provision for eternal life through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ. It is God’s promise to reconcile fallen humanity to Himself, to offer full forgiveness of sins and free salvation – made possible only through Christ’s atoning death on the cross.

This may differ to a lot of our views of Christianity and how we were raised and as you go out you will see that for many people, the gospel, and the message of Christianity is merely a set of rules or moral principles to follow.  For many people the gospel message comes down to a set of commands and rules for them to follow in order for them to attain eternal life. But we must be sure to not make the same mistake. The gospel is the very heart and embodiment of God’s immeasurable love, mercy and redemptive grace poured out for you. Yes, it is the message that has the power to transform lives, but not just by following a set of rules or commands. It is a message that offers to bring hope in the midst of darkness, and to bring lost and broken people into an eternal, life-changing relationship with their loving Creator.

As you faithfully and boldly communicate the gospel, you will be able to witness firsthand the mighty power of His Word actively at work in the lives of those who hear it. For the gospel is not merely an inert collection of words and principles; it is the living and active spiritual force by which God Himself transforms human hearts, minds, and eternal destinies.

When people are truly confronted with the truth of God’s promises in the gospel, they are faced with the reality of their own brokenness, hopelessness and desperate need for a Savior. But in that same moment, they are graciously offered the hope of redemption, the promise of a new life, and the blessed assurance of eternity in God’s presence – if they will simply place their faith in Christ.

As you hear this, do not just take my word for it. Go find out the truth. Turn this knowledge into experience. Have you ever encountered someone who didn’t simply accept what they were told but diligently sought to verify it for themselves? That’s precisely what the Bereans did, as described in Acts 17:11. They were commended as “more noble than those in Thessalonica” because “they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

Imagine that! These Bereans didn’t simply accept Paul’s teachings at face value; they diligently searched the Scriptures day after day, cross-checking his words against the prophecies of old. And as a result of their diligence, “many of them believed” (verse 12).

As believers, we must follow the example of the Apostles and the Bereans. We must immerse ourselves in the Scriptures, not just reading them casually, but studying them diligently, searching for the truth that lies within their pages.

The Prophetic Witness of Salvation

In Romans 10, Paul draws heavily from the Old Testament prophets to expound on the gospel of salvation. He quotes Isaiah 28:16 in verse 11, saying “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

Paul, like you and I, understood that the message of salvation by faith, the “word of faith” he preached, was not a new invention but rather a continuation of the prophecies found in the Old Testament writings. When he taught about believing in the heart and confessing with the mouth (Romans 10:9-10), Paul was drawing from the very words of the prophet Isaiah. This was the prophetic witness to the gospel he proclaimed.

Moreover, in verse 12, Paul emphasizes the universality of this promise: “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.”

The promise of salvation unveiled in the Scriptures was not limited to a select few but was available to all who would believe – both Jew and Gentile alike. The Scriptures testified to this truth from ancient times, and Paul faithfully proclaimed it, drawing from that prophetic wellspring.

Can you see it now? The gospel message is not some isolated event or human philosophy. No, it is a magnificent tapestry woven through the entire scope of the Scriptures, from the first promise in Genesis to the final revelation in the book of Revelation.

In the beginning, we see the first glimpse of this tapestry in God’s promise to Eve that her seed would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). This proto-evangelion, or first gospel, set the stage for the unfolding drama of redemption.

As we journey through the Old Testament, we encounter prophecy after prophecy pointing to the coming Messiah – His birth, His life, His suffering, His death, and His resurrection. The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and others all contributed threads to this tapestry, each one adding richness and detail to the picture of the Savior to come.

And then, in the New Testament, we see the tapestry reach its climax as Jesus Christ, the Son of God, steps onto the stage of human history. His life, teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection all fulfill the ancient prophecies with stunning precision.

The Apostles, like Paul, recognized this fulfillment and proclaimed the gospel as the long-awaited culmination of God’s redemptive plan. They drew from the wellspring of the Scriptures, expounding the prophecies and showing how Jesus was the promised Messiah.

Was he the only one? Of course not. In Acts 2, the Apostle Peter quotes the prophet Joel, saying, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21, quoting Joel 2:32). Both Paul and Peter, these pillars of the early Church, looked to the same prophetic writings to understand and proclaim the gospel message. They were not peddling new inventions or philosophies; they were faithfully drawing from the wellspring of the Scriptures, unveiling the promises of God foretold by the prophets of old.

The Unity Found in the Gospel

Quick Recap. What happens when you embrace this gospel message? You start pushing commands and rules and doctrines about wearing long skirts and men and women being on different sides of the church? No. When you embrace the gospel message, its transformative power begins to work in your life. The good news of salvation through Christ alone becomes the lens through which you view the world. You are no longer bound by the chains of sin and death, but are set free to live a life of purpose and meaning in Christ. 

As you study the Scriptures and allow the gospel to take root in your heart, you will find yourself growing in your love for God and for others. The divisions and barriers that once separated you from others will begin to crumble, as you recognize the universal nature of God’s love and the gospel’s message of reconciliation.

See, that is one of the most beautiful aspects of the gospel. Its ability to unite people from all walks of life. Just as Paul declared, “there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek,” the gospel transcends cultural, ethnic, and social boundaries. When you embrace the truth of the gospel, you become part of a global family of believers, united by a common faith in Christ.

Imagine the power of this unity. People from diverse backgrounds, once divided by prejudice and misunderstanding, now coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ. The gospel breaks down the walls that separate us, reminding us that we are all equal in the eyes of our Heavenly Father, and that His love and salvation are available to all who believe.

This unity is not merely a theoretical concept; it is a lived reality for those who have experienced the transformative power of the gospel. As you gather with fellow believers, you will find yourself embracing those who were once strangers, now bound together by the cords of love and faith.

This is very key, and has several implications. Have you ever encountered someone who claims that the message of the gospel changes based on the audience? Perhaps they suggest that the way we present the good news should differ when speaking to people of different backgrounds or circumstances. But look, this notion goes against the very heart of the gospel itself, as revealed in the Scriptures.

In Romans 10:12, the Apostle Paul makes a profound statement: “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” Do you see it? The gospel message is not tailored to specific cultures or ethnicities; it is the revelation of the same Lord, who is rich unto all who call upon Him.

When we preach the gospel, we are not preaching our own ideas or philosophies; we are proclaiming the eternal truth of the same Lord, the one who is rich unto all. It is this truth that unites us, transcending individual backgrounds or circumstances.

To the man. To the woman. To the greek. To the Jew. To the tall. To the short. To the rich. To the poor. There is only one gospel message.

The Prophetic Foundation

But where did Paul find this unifying truth? He found it in the writings of the prophets, the very source from which the Apostles drew their teachings. In Romans 10:11, Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah, affirming, “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed” (quoting Isaiah 28:16).

The prophets did not speak of different messages for different people; they spoke of the same Lord, the one who is rich unto all who call upon Him. This truth is woven throughout the Scriptures, from the words of Moses to the prophecies of Isaiah, Joel, and beyond.

Both Peter and Paul, these pillars of the early Church, drew from the same prophetic wellspring to understand and proclaim the gospel message. Whether preaching to Jews or Gentiles, their message was rooted in the Scriptures, revealing the universal truth of God’s plan for salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. 

In Acts 2, Peter quotes the prophet Joel, saying, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21, quoting Joel 2:32). Similarly, Paul echoes this truth in Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

This consistency in their approach is a testament to the power and unity of the gospel message. They did not alter or adapt the message based on their audience; instead, they faithfully proclaimed the same Lord, the one who is rich unto all who call upon Him.

In Acts 10:34, Peter proclaims, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.” This statement echoes the truth found in Acts 15:9, where God “put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.”  

The Apostles understood that the prophets bore witness to this truth – that the gospel message is not exclusive to any one group or people. In Acts 10:43, Peter affirms, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

The prophets did not testify to a fragmented or divided message; they testified to the name of Jesus, through whom all who believe would receive the remission of sins, regardless of their background or ethnicity.

As you share the gospel, my friend, remain faithful to this unchanging message. Do not be swayed by societal divisions or cultural biases. Instead, focus on the same Lord, the one who is rich unto all who call upon Him.

Whether you are speaking to a person of wealth or poverty, a person of influence or obscurity, the message remains the same: the Lord is rich unto all who call upon Him. This truth transcends all barriers, breaking down walls of division and opening the door to the transformative power of the gospel.

The Righteousness That Comes by Faith

Turn with me to Romans 10, where Paul quotes Moses to teach about Christ. “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (v.4). Paul draws his teaching straight from Moses’ description of the righteousness that is by faith (vv.5-9).

He quotes Moses in verses 6-7, “But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way…the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach).” This comes from Deuteronomy 30:12-14, where Moses spoke of the righteousness based on faith in God’s word, not deeds of the law.

Paul explains that this “word of faith” they preached was the gospel of Christ – that if you confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). The righteousness is no longer based on law-keeping but on faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross.

Let’s now revisit the words of the prophet Isaiah, recorded in chapter 52, verse 7: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good things, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” (ESV).

At first glance, this verse might seem like a poetic description of a messenger bringing good news to the people of Zion. But as we’ll soon discover, there’s a much deeper meaning hidden within these words – a meaning that points directly to the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Now, let’s fast-forward to Romans 10, where Paul quotes this very verse from Isaiah. In verse 15, he writes, “And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” (ESV).

Did you catch that? Instead of quoting Isaiah’s prophecy verbatim, Paul subtly changes the wording from “him” to “those.” But this isn’t a mistake or a tampering of the text; it’s a profound revelation of the true meaning behind Isaiah’s words.

You see, the “him” in Isaiah’s prophecy is none other than Jesus Christ himself. He is the one assigned the privilege and responsibility of spreading the good news of salvation. But how does He do it? Through the men and women in whom He dwells!

The feet of “him” become the feet of “those” – the believers who carry His message wherever they go. When you preach the gospel, share the good news of God’s grace and eternal life, you are participating in the very assignment given to Christ.

As Paul so beautifully explains, “How shall they preach unless they are sent?” The answer is found in Isaiah’s prophecy – the feet that bring the good news are the feet of those who are sent by Christ himself.

But there’s even more depth to this connection. Notice how Isaiah describes the feet of the messenger as “beautiful upon the mountains.” Why beautiful? Because the message they carry is one of peace, salvation, and the reign of God. It’s a message that brings hope, joy, and redemption to a world lost in darkness.

And when you consider that this message is ultimately fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the beauty becomes even more profound. The gospel isn’t just good news; it’s the best news the world has ever known – the news that God Himself has come to dwell among us, to save us, and to reign forever as our King.

The Consistent Witness

Do you see the remarkable consistency throughout Scripture? Peter quotes the prophets in Acts 10 to preach Christ. Jesus himself in Luke 24 points to how He fulfilled the Law, Prophets, and Psalms. Paul in Romans 10 methodically works through passages in the Old Testament to unveil the gospel of Christ.

All the apostles did was take the witness already given by the prophets and proclaim that the promised Messiah had come according to those very Scriptures! From Moses to Isaiah to the Psalms, the entire Old Testament bore witness to the coming of Christ, His atoning death, His resurrection, and the salvation He would bring.

The New Testament writers were not inventing a new religion but simply explaining how Jesus fulfilled what was promised long ago in the Jewish Scriptures. As Paul states in Romans 1:2, the gospel was “promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures.” 

This was the climactic event that the prophets had anticipated for centuries! The coming of the Messiah, His atoning death for sins, His resurrection victory over death, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the salvation of the nations – all of this was prophesied and foreshadowed in great detail in the Old Testament. No wonder the apostles were so committed to showing how Christ was the ultimate fulfillment of these ancient promises.

Just look at some of the specific prophecies Jesus fulfilled:

– His birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)

– His suffering and rejection (Isaiah 53, Psalm 22)

– His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:9) 

– His betrayal for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13)

– His hands and feet pierced (Psalm 22:16)

– Soldiers gambling for His clothes (Psalm 22:18)

– His resurrection (Psalm 16:10, Isaiah 53:10-12)

The apostles could point to these and so many more to validate that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah! The Old Testament laid the groundwork, and the New Testament revealed the glorious reality.

So take heart and rejoice in the Lord always, dear reader! The power is within you through Christ testified by the prophets. Laugh, dance, and receive God’s freedom and joy! For as Romans 10:11 declares, quoting Isaiah 28:16, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

You can have confidence that this good news of Christ is the very message promised long ago by the prophets under divine inspiration. Open your heart to believe in Him – the Promised One who came according to the Scriptures, died for your sins, rose from the grave, and now reigns in power! Rejoice in this glorious Savior unveiled on every page of the Bible. He is your reason to laugh and dance in the face of any calamity.

Continuing the Conversation

Remember, this isn’t just ancient history; it’s a living, breathing reality that influences everything we are and all we do. Let’s continue this conversation, diving deeper into the truths of God’s word, and embracing our role in this divine narrative.