For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 

Principle 5: Know and Guard Gospel Truth

The Gospel is a magnificent and powerful message. Many millions, convinced by the Holy Spirit of its truth (Joh 16:8), have received Jesus Christ as their Saviour, experiencing great joy. Further, they have the remarkable blessing of “living out” the gospel in all aspects of their life (Php 1:27), coupled with a divine responsibility to know and guard its truth.

The earliest evangelists declared its truth in the form of short and simple public messages focussed on the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Saviour, examples include:

• Peter’s proclamation; “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2:38)
• Peter and John; “teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” (Acts 4:2)
• Philip: “proclaimed to them the Christ.: (Acts 8:5)
• Philip: “preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12)

Later, Paul led by the Holy Spirit defined it as “Christ Crucified”(1 Cor 1:23) and “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,” (1Cor 15:3-4).

Each of these examples shows us that the fundamental truth of the Gospel is there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

This short reflection demonstrates that God clearly and repeatedly defines the truth of the Gospel in the Bible. It also shows that every Christian must study the Bible to successfully defend it.

I believe the Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated he valued the message of the Gospel (and the Bible) when while dying in agony, He fulfilled Bible prophecy (Psa 69:21) by saying “I thirst” (Joh 19:28). This shows us that nothing could or would stop Him from demonstrating its truth.

They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink. Psalm 69:21

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. John 19:28-29

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 2:5-6