The Gospel Explained

By Benjamin H. Liles

          Look to the mountains-- the feet of one bringing good news and proclaiming peace! Celebrate your festivals, Judah; fulfill your vows. For the wicked one will never again march through you; he will be entirely wiped out. ~ Nahum 1:15, Holman Christian Standard

          Paul said, when addressing the church in Rome, "And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" (Romans 10:15, Berean Study). To make this as strong a point, in a brief message, Paul is saying that the words which he uses are to help in bringing salvation. And at the same time he's reminding us of One who came and gave that good news first.

          It started with a man who walked the dusty streets of Israel for three years. He was an itinerant preacher, a man of God. He stood up for the downcast, the outcast, the broken-hearted, the diseased, and the plagued. Everywhere He went life-changing things happened: the blind received sight, the lame walked, He announced the good news, which is "The Kingdom of Heaven is come near!" (see Isaiah 35:5, Matthew 10:7, and Matthew 11:5). This man was Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, the Son of God.

          But really, in this portion of Romans, Paul is talking about how Israel rejected the gospel. Those that Jesus truly came to restore was ALL of Israel and not merely a few people here and there. How much more different would it have been had everyone believed and been saved from sin and death? But the truth is that not everyone would respond to the gospel of Jesus the Messiah.

          When He came it was to suffer under the Law. It was to put on display sin and death, making them foot stoold for His feet. He now holds the keys to death and Hell. It is why He told Peter, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:18-19, Berean Study).

          As Christians we have a right standing with Jesus and the Father. Those who refuse to hear His words, and allow Him the right into their lives refuse to have a relationship with the One who gave them life. These are not only handed over to sin and death, but in a manner of speaking are bound over until the fullness of His Church are come in. At which time He will return and get His elect, thus coming back to judge the nations.

          Friends, time is short and the time is now. We never know, truly, when the Lord is coming back. We need to be ready in our faith, to endure the trials that are now here and even coming. some of us will endure to the end, and others will lose their footing. But we shall all see Him coming on the clouds. Can and will you endure? I believe you can. The gospel which saves also keeps us in Him. As Jesus once said, "and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:28, New American Standard).

          Father, I thank You for Your holiness. It shows me I need to be holy as You are. It means I need to not watch and walk in the ways this world does. I am now made new in You and Your ways. You sent Your Son to heal and forgive. To me it means I not only have access to You, but I can know You and walk with You. I want this all the time. Even when I misstep I praise and worship you. Your ways are far better than mine. You are ever near in times when I need You. And I will always be in need of You. Thank You. I love You. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.