Godspel

16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

- Romans 1:16-17, TNIV

Gospel. godspel. Good News. From god “good” + spel “story, message”. What is it about the Biblical story that makes it so good?

“I am not ashamed of the gospel,” says Paul in Romans 1:16-17. “Because it is the power of God that brings salvation… for in the Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed.”

All of our lives are a story, and it is in this continuity that we can make sense of things, find meaning and purpose through the passage of time, a constant thread that runs across every minute, hour, day, month, year. Knowing where people have come from and where they are going can be a powerful thing. For it gives meaning to those who are trying to know us. It gives others a context as to who we are, and why we are the way we are.

Perhaps this is why the Scriptures were given to us in the form of a story. For a story doesn’t just describe to us what God is like. It isn’t an apology defending God’s character, His goodness, mercy and righteousness.

The Scriptures draw us into the narrative, into history. It shows us the Creator’s purpose – that it hasn’t changed one bit since “the beginning”. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is faithful to keep His promises. We see it through the Israelite’s deliverance from Egypt. Their journey through the wilderness and into the Promised Land. The prophets that were the voice of the Lord during those times when every man did what was right in their own eyes.

And there was Jesus Christ, who came in flesh and did all the things he did that we may know the Father – that we may know that He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes shall not perish but have eternal life.

"I had always felt life first as a story - and if there is a story there is a story teller," said G.K. Chesterton.

The story of Jesus Christ alone is given to us four times. One by Mark, another by Matthew the tax collector, another by Luke the doctor, and yet another by John. Such emphasis!

What is it about this story that makes it good news? It has the power to save us, says Paul. But the question is, from what are we saved from?

It’s good news because in the Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – from first to last, from beginning to end. The righteous will live by faith. Does the Biblical Story, this “good news”, form the substance upon which my faith stands?

I'm a pilgrim still on this journey of disocvery. May this story make me ready to give a defense for the hope that I have. One step at a time, one chapter at a time, one day at a time, Amen.