“Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand” (Romans 15:20,21).

In our text, Paul rightly alludes to the fact that the gospel is the foundational belief of the Christian. Throughout the New Testament, the preaching of the gospel (as it relates to personal salvation) has three great emphases: First, it deals with the historical truth of Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection (I Corinthians 15:1–8); second, it explains the nature of Jesus Christ as Lord and King; and third, it exhorts man to turn from sin and accept forgiveness through the work of Christ (Acts 13:38,39).

This foundational message was no different in the Old Testament. In fact, the last portion of our text is quoted from Isaiah 52:15 in the beginning of the majestic description of the suffering and eventual triumph of our Lord on the cross. “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin. . . . He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:10,11).

These eternal truths of the gospel are still as true today as in ancient days. If anyone who reads these lines has not heard it before, it could become foundational to his salvation. For a Christian, it must become foundational in his ministry to others. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). KBC