For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. -Romans 1:16
The Gospel is often referred to as ‘the good news,’ but it is much more than that to those who believe its message! It is a conduit of power and a manifestation of God’s authority over all things.
At the heart of the Gospel is a word that truly captures the entirety of our Christian faith: “salvation.” This word has a profound and all-encompassing meaning that is central to your walk with Christ.
The Greek word for salvation is “Soteria,” and it goes far beyond what some might think. It means to be saved, healed, delivered, and protected. It signifies wholeness and restoration in every area of your life: spirit, soul and body. That is why salvation is often referred to as the great, all-inclusive word of the gospel, gathering unto itself all the redemptive acts.
If you listen to a sermon on what Jesus accomplished at the cross, you may hear some big words like justification, redemption, propitiation, imputation, sanctification and glorification. It can seem a little confusing. But what those redemptive acts mean is that when we put our faith in Jesus, we are made right with God, just as if we’d never sinned. Jesus’ righteousness is credited to us and we are no longer enslaved to repeating our past failures and mistakes. Instead, we become more like Jesus as the Holy Spirit empowers us to grow in faith and holiness, and when our time on earth is done, we will experience eternal life with God.
The message of the Gospel isn’t simply a story to read or rulebook to follow. It is real, it is powerful, and it transforms lives. Please don’t settle for just part of what the Gospel has to offer you when salvation, healing, deliverance, and protection are all available. Embrace the fullness of God’s redemptive love today!