man, the power of the gospel is the power of GOD, not of meetings or promises or

prayers: many other items of a similar character should be traced out under this heading.

2. THE TRUE GOSPEL IS IN HARMONY WITH GOD'S WORD.--"Which He had

promised afore by His prophets in the HOLY SCRIPTURES" (Rom. 1: 2). In Eph. 1: the

"gospel of salvation" is called the "word of truth"; in I Pet. 1: 25 we read "the word of

the Lord endureth for ever, and this is the word which by the GOSPEL is preached unto

you"; from a child Timothy knew the "holy Scriptures, which are able to make wise unto

salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (II Tim. 3: 15); "faith cometh by

hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10: 17). Further testimony under this

head should be collected.

While it is of the first importance to know that the gospel preached is the gospel of

GOD, it is surely of the next moment to know that there is an infallible test for this--does

it agree with GOD'S WORD? A book recently published by a D.D. says, speaking of

natural man:--

Test this statement by reading Rom. 3: and let the child come to a conclusion as to

whether this is a part of the gospel of God, or whether it is "another gospel".

3. THE GOSPEL OF GOD IS CONCERNING HIS SON (Rom. 1: 3, 4).--"The spirit

of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus" (Rev. 19: 10). As the body without the spirit is

dead, so would be the Bible without Christ, and so must be the gospel. The true gospel

preaches Christ. Philip in Acts (find the passage) is said in two brief narratives to have

preached Christ, and from the prophet Isaiah to have preached Jesus.  A closer

examination of Rom. 1: 3, 4 will show that the preaching of Christ, if it is to constitute a

complete gospel, will be concerned with:--

(1) Christ as Son of man according to the flesh, and

(2) Christ as "Son of God with power" according to the spirit, and this in

RESURRECTION.

To preach "Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God by mighty works" is only a

partial gospel, and really no gospel at all. To preach that "Christ died for our sins

according to the Scriptures" is but a portion, a foundation, but not a liberating, saving

gospel. We must include Christ RISEN. This gives us a full gospel, this provides the

power, the life, the hope.

Search these things out, remember the three tests:--GOD, HIS WORD, HIS SON.

Learn Rom. 1: 1-3. Read the sermons recorded in the Acts.