Deeper Reflection
The upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations give us an excellent opportunity to proclaim the Gospel in both word and deed. In our Devotional Journal series this week, we will be taking a deeper dive into the significance of the Gospel.What exactly is the Gospel? Some will say, it’s the message of the Four Spiritual Laws, Bridge to Life or the Three Circles. These are concise presentations of the Gospel, which are great to learn and share. But they are not the Gospel itself.The word “Gospel” is derived from the old Anglo-Saxon word “godspell” which means “good story”. It is translated from the Greek word euanggelion which means “Good News”. Why is the Gospel Good News? Mainly because, as we learn in verse 1, it is the Gospel of God!The Gospel of God shows God’s purpose through the generations – He promised the Gospel through the prophets (v.2) long before it was fully revealed. The Gospel of God also demonstrates God’s power – in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead (v.4). Even today, God miraculously gives life to the spiritually dead! The decaying and dark parts of our lives can receive His wholeness and healing. That’s great news!Because the Gospel is from God and accomplished by God, it is a Gospel of grace. By grace, we Gentiles (non-Jews) are included within the Gospel (Eph 3:6) and get to be part of God’s family. By grace, we are now ministers of the Gospel (Eph 3:7), who welcome others into the family. What a glorious Gospel!