The Value of the Gospel

The apostle Paul referred to the glorious gospel of Christ (2 Cor. 4:4) as a treasure in earthen vessels (2 Cor. 4:7). Compared to his physical body which easily broke as a clay jar would, the revealed truth Paul held was everlasting (Rev. 14:6) and of infinite value. The gospel of Christ is so valuable that Paul wrote, “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:8). As the Jewish people had the great privilege of having the Old Testament, the oracles of God, entrusted to them (Rom 3:1-2). In delivering the New Testament, Paul recognized the great honor that he—along with the other apostles and prophets of the first century—had who “were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel” (1 Thess. 2:4).

Since the gospel of Christ is unsearchable in its value, we must exercise the greatest care and responsibility in defending it. In His application of a parable Jesus asked, “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” (Lk. 16:11). Paul was set for the defense of the gospel (Phil. 1:7, 17). The gospel is the good news that Jesus died for our sins (1 Cor. 15:3; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 Jn. 4:10), shedding His precious blood (Mt. 20:28; 26:28; Heb. 9:22), and rose again to give us justification and eternal life (1 Pet. 1:3; 3:21; Rom. 4:25). The gospel is God’s power to salvation (Rom. 1:16). If men will receive God’s engrafted word, it is able to save their souls (Jas. 1:21).

The gospel has always been brought to the lost by human agency. God does not appear directly to the sinner to tell him the gospel; instead, He commissions His people to go speak to the lost: “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:14). The apostles were to go into all the world with the gospel (Mk. 16:15). When human authorities charged them not to preach the gospel of Christ, they affirmed their commitment to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). They knew the value of the gospel was greater than their own physical lives on this earth. Thus, they did not stop, but rather daily preached Christ, both publicly in the temple, and privately in every house (Acts 5:42). They were determined to follow the Lord’s command to carry the gospel to every nation (Mt. 28:19). They would replicate this command to all who became disciples (Mt. 19:20). Thus, we today are to carry the gospel to the world in following the commands of Jesus. We have the complete word of God fully delivered to us today in the words of the Bible (Jude 3; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3). How do we value the word of God? Do we respond with joy to the message—which opens up the kingdom of heaven to us—so much so that we would give up whatever is needed for it (Mt. 13:44-46)? Are we intent on making this amazing treasure we have found available to those who do not know about it?