“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV
Welcome to the 14th weekly devotional of the year. This week, we ended our series on the gifts of the Spirit and started a discussion on the Gospel.
On Monday, we learnt about one last gift of the Spirit: the working of miracles. Christianity is rooted in the miraculous events surrounding Jesus’s death and resurrection, and Jesus promised that signs and wonders would follow all who believe in Him (Mark 16:17-18). The apostles demonstrated that miracles happen through faith in Jesus, not personal holiness (Acts 3:12). Just like other gifts of the Spirit, our faith in what Jesus has done is what qualifies us to work miracles. Jesus mentored His disciples in the miraculous, showing that He wants us to do the same (Matthew 14:26-29). Miracles are still available today—walk in faith and expect God’s power to work through you.
On Tuesday, we learnt that the Gospel is not about what we must do but about what Jesus has already done for us (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is not a message of condemnation (John 3:18), but the good news of salvation through Christ. The Gospel is the only way to salvation, not just one of many options. It is not a system of rules or self-denial, but the power of God through Jesus’ death and resurrection. One of the marks of Christian maturity is the ability to discern between what is true and what is almost true. We must guard against distortions of the truth and stand firm in the true gospel.
Wednesday’s article reminded us that the Gospel is the good news of God’s love and redemption, not condemnation. Humanity was doomed by sin, but Jesus’ death and resurrection provided the way to eternal life (Romans 5:12). The story of salvation is one of man’s utter helplessness and the sufficiency of God’s grace. Salvation is a free gift of grace, not something we can earn through works. The Gospel is for everyone who believes, making them justified before God, clothed in righteousness, and sealed with the Holy Spirit as proof of new life in Christ (Romans 5:1-2). Our response should be to believe, rejoice, and share this life-changing message with others.
On Thursday, we learnt that the Gospel is the central revelation of Scripture. The Gospel was not an afterthought; it was God’s redemptive plan from the very beginning. Once a mystery, this plan was progressively revealed throughout Scripture and made clear through Jesus Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible tells one story: redemption through Christ (Romans 16:25-26).
We rounded off the week on Friday as we discussed the glory of God in the gospel. In the Old Testament, God’s glory was often displayed in dramatic forms like clouds or fire, but in the New Covenant, we see His glory revealed through Jesus, who is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature (John 1:14; Hebrews 1:3). By the resurrection of Jesus, God not only demonstrated His sovereignty over death but also gave us the guarantee of eternal life. Through the Holy Spirit, the glory of God is not only something we behold in the person of Christ, but something that becomes a living reality in our lives as we follow Him.
Dear believer, take a moment to reflect on the gift of salvation and share the gospel with someone.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Bible Reading Plan: Judges 15-19; Mark 4: 35-5:43