Charles H. Spurgeon cautions, "Lovers of Jesus should be ashamed of being ashamed." May we declare with Paul the Apostle, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. . ." (Romans 1:16a). Dr. Vance Havner explains, "The fact that the gospel is not popular is all the more reason for preaching it. The very fact that men cannot endure sound doctrine is all the more reason for seeking that they get it. It is not our responsibility to make it acceptable; it is our duty to make it available." Paul provides the following clear definition of the gospel: "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

There are three things to notice about the gospel of Christ.
Note the supernatural principle of the gospel of Christ. ". . . for it is the power of God to salvation. . ." (Romans 1:16b). Peter declares, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

Note the superabundant promise of the gospel of Christ. ". . . for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" (Romans 1:16c). Do you remember the popular song from the 1960s "What the World Needs Now"? It includes this line "No not just for some but for everyone." Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:16-17). Dr. Horatius Bonar penned these words in 1881 as part of a communion hymn: "Upon a life I did not live, upon a death I did not die; another's life, another's death, I stake my whole eternity."

Note the superior practice of the gospel of Christ. "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith'" (Romans 1:17). Luke prefaces Jesus' Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector with these words, "Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others" (Luke 18:9). Paul, a former Pharisee, makes a clean break with his past when he writes, "not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith" (Philippians 3:9).

The gospel principle is the power of God to salvation; the gospel promise is for everyone who believes; and the gospel practice is by faith. What our world needs now is the gospel of Christ!

Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, of Robertsdale is the author of "Don't Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah."