What the Gospel Is (Pasche, F.E.)

"I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." Rom,. 1:16.

What is the Gospel? The Gospel is the glad tidings of the grace of God in Christ Jesus. The Gospel is the joyful message that the God of heaven had compassion on us, His fallen creatures, and sent a Savior to save us from our sins. The Gospel is the won­ derful story of Jesus Christ, telling us who He is, how He came into this world, what He did and taught, for what purpose He suffered and died, and how He rose again and ascended to heaven. The Gospel tells us that the Son of God suffered the punishment which we had deserved on account of our sins, that He won for us forgiveness of sin and righteousness before God, and that God the Father accepted the work of His beloved Son by raising Him from the dead and crowning Him with honor and majesty. The Gospel tells us that Jesus Christ merited the righteousness for us which avails in the sight of God and that He prepared everlasting man­ sions in heaven for us, and it invites, yea, urges us to look to Him and be saved by Him. The Gospel says: “The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” The Gospel tells us: “God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have ever­ lasting life.”

So the Gospel brings Christ and His salvation nigh unto us. Christ has earned eternal salvation for us, the Gospel brings it to us, and faith receives and holds it ■—•surely a plain, simple, and direct way to heaven!

Come, then, to Christ just as you are, with all your sins. Forgiveness, pardon, grace, His eternal kingdom with all its riches, is yours free of charge, without money and without price. Is not that the sweetest story ever told? What message is sweeter to the prisoner than the news of his pardon and freedom? We verily have a glorious Gospel, and we may well say with St. Paul: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.”

Prayer.

Merciful God, with a solemn oath Thou hast promised and said: “As I live, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” I take comfort in Thine only-begotten Son, mine only Redeemer, Justifier, and Mediator, who by virtue of His obedience, suffering, and death has regained Thy favor for me and has given me, who believes in Him, power to be and remain Thy child and an heir of salvation. He is the Water of Life, which alone can give health to my soul. Amen.

I heard, the voice of Jesus say, Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one, Stoop down and drink and live. I came to Jesus, and I drank Of that life-giving stream;

My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,

And now I live in Him.