What is the gospel? There is something inside me that loves to pick up books with that kind of title, in the hope that they weed out unsound doctrine.
Specifically I look for a faithful description of sin and the wrath of God, and a clear exposition of justification by faith alone. So I was hit between the eyes when I read Paul’s opening to Romans, the book which defines the gospel most systematically.
He uses the key phrase ‘the gospel’ (1:2) in the opening verses but then defines it as ‘… concerning his (God’s) Son.’ What follows is a description of the wonder of Jesus. He was ‘descended from David’ (1:3) – He really is the Davidic Messiah the Scriptures promise over generations, truly human, with Abraham and David, as well as Bathsheba and Rahab in his line of descent. Real flesh and blood, tears and hunger, identifying Himself fully with frail humanity. And He is also ‘the Son of God in power’ (1:4) following His resurrection from the dead.
