The gospel is the good news of God’s work through Jesus Christ. It tells the story of Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection, and reveals what God has done to bring people into a right relationship with Him.
Paul made a point to emphasize that the good news was for the Jew first and also the Gentile.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is God’s saving power for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek (Romans 1.16).
Paul repeated his emphasis on the gospel for the Jew and the Gentile in Chapter 10.
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10.12-13).
There is much to learn from Paul’s letter to the Romans, but his primary purpose in writing it was to bring unity to a divided church. Jews and Gentiles were separated by cultural differences, and Paul wanted them to understand that both groups had a vital role in spreading the gospel.
When Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, the church had only 200 members in a city of a million people. Beyond reaching the city, Paul also wanted them to join him in his mission to reach Spain.
Their witness was crucial, which he explained in the following verses.
But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?
And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”
So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ (Romans 10.14-17).
Your Story
Rudy Ross came to know Jesus through a diligent search across various interests. One day, he found a Bible that had been left behind in his restaurant and began reading it. Over time, as he continued to engage with the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit worked in his heart, ultimately leading him to the faith that Jesus is the Messiah.
My journey began as an 18-year-old occasionally reading the Bible, combined with a friend’s invitation to attend church. On a particular day, these two elements came together.
While I was in church, the Lord met me, and I surrendered my life to Him, giving me the best life now and forever.
Your story may differ from Rudy’s and mine, but we share a common thread. At some point, we either heard or read the good news of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit made it come alive in our hearts. In response, we put our faith in Him.
This led to a transformation of our hearts, bringing new life here and now, along with the hope of eternal life with God.
If we stop our story here, we risk missing the central message of Paul’s letter to the Romans. Yes, through Jesus’ work, we have been reconciled to God, and yes, the Holy Spirit now dwells within us. But God’s purpose goes beyond this; He calls us to be messengers of the good news.
He wants us to be the “beautiful feet” that bring the gospel of salvation to others. Our role is to share this life-changing message with the world around us.
The Main Thing
Cultural differences between Jews and Gentiles in Rome kept them divided, weakening their witness. In the same way, today’s church can also be divided by cultural differences.
Paul’s message to the Romans teaches us that culture should never take precedence over the gospel.
We must stay focused on what truly matters. As a united church, our mission is to bring the good news of God’s work to a world desperately in need of His love.
Let’s keep the main thing, the main thing.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 