Hardly a moment has gone by in the course of this series (from Glory to Grace and now to Peace) when it has not occurred to me that the gospel (good news) ought to receive its due attention. However, such an essential part of this series did not seem to fit most appropriately until confidence could be assigned to God's Word. For if indeed we have acknowledged that His Word is pure and true, then we have also come to discover that His Word is good (Hebrews 6:5). And if we have encountered the good Word, then we must believe that there is good news within it.

Leaving theologians and scholars to wrangle over different gospel messages (Galatians 1:6-9), let us concern ourselves with one that is primary to everything we've covered to date. Quite simply, what is the gospel that saves?

"In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise," Ephesians 1:13

In the beginning, our journey took us through the Riches of His Glory to find a King who was eternal, immortal, true, wise, honorable, and powerful. This was followed by a recognition that He stepped out of that high throne so that the Glory of His Grace could prove Him patient, slow to anger, forgiving, tolerant, merciful, and working on our behalf. But here we gather with, perhaps, an unclear picture of what EXACTLY has been done on our behalf and just what it is that constitutes the "gospel of salvation." For this, you are now invited to read of the greatest story ever told.

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Genesis 1:26-27

"And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, [it was] very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day." Genesis 1:31

"And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Genesis 2:16-17

"And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they [were] naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons." Genesis 3:6-7

"And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where [art] thou?" Genesis 3:9

"And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken." Genesis 3:22-23

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" Romans 5:12

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:4-7

"And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb." Luke 2:21

"This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." I Timothy 1:15

"Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am He. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them." John 18:4-5

"And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?" Luke 22:64

"Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands." John 19:1-3

"And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshiped him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him." Mark 15:19-20

"And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost." Luke 23:44-46

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:3-5

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

"And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of sepulcher, and departed." Matthew 27:59-60

"And behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it… And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." Matthew 28:2,5-6

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Romans 6:4

"And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:" Ephesians 2:6

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." I Corinthians 15:1-4

"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." Colossians 2:10

"In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," Ephesians 1:13

"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, to whom be glory and honor forever. Amen." I Timothy 1:17

Ages of literature and religion have told countless tales of gods and men who never quite offer the hope that is so essential for humankind. One story may tout the glory of their god or the praise of their warriors, but in the end, every happy ending leaves room for a sequel of disappointment. Not the case with our King eternal. For He has given Himself as a ransom for all (I Timothy 2:6). Thus, to be a ransom is to exchange one life for another.

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" Ephesians 1:7

The price has been paid. We need only to believe and trust in the finished work of the cross. Our gospel contract has been signed through the blood of the King.