The Gospel Brings Life & Light

Romans 1:14-17 - "I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. ¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
¹⁶ For 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.”

Paul understood the importance of the gospel message. He considered it an obligation or his duty to tell everyone about God's great salvation in Christ. Why did Paul give it such great importance? It was the power of God that brings salvation. It reveals the righteousness of God.

The preaching or sharing of the gospel should be natural outcome of our relationship with Jesus the Christ.

Matthew 5:13-16 - " “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds^(E) and glorify your Father in heaven."

Salt doesn't work to be salty. It is naturally salty. We as well do not need to work to be salty, but it should be natural outcome of our relationship with God. We know that salt penetrates things. It penetrates food and enhances the flavor. It preserves meat and other things. It gets into wounds and brings healing. It gives life.

We in turn need to be these things. We should have an impact on the lives of those around us for the good. We should be enhancing peoples lives. We should be preserving the world from by holding back sin by being righteous and bringing other to righteousness. We should bring healing and health to those around us.

Matthew 5:14-16 - " “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

 We are to be the light of the world not a light but the light. There is only one light which is the light Jesus Christ. We don't have to work to be a light. We have the light. We just need to let the light shine out of us. It is unreasonable to hide the light. It is unreasonable to hide anything that you prize. If yon have new shoes or new dress, you want people to notice. If you have a new car or a big house, you want people to see it. If you have recently become engaged, you want everyone to know. If you have just had a child, you don't close it in a dark room, but you show him off. We have the greatest gift of all, let us show it off.

The preaching of the gospel is demanded and commanded of us by God.

Paul said, "For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!"

Paul understood the principle taght in Ezekiel 33:1-9. You are held accountable for the sinner going to hell if you do not tell them of Christ's salvation, and warn them of their sinfulness. Paul says, woe is me if I do not. 

James even goes farther to say in James 5:20. whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover a multitude of sins.