Gospel: What is the most hidden part of it?

The apostle Paul shows us this important truth.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

³ But if OUR GOSPEL be HID, it is HID to them that are lost:

⁴ In whom the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which BELIEVE not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. [Emphasis added]

The word gospel itself is very important.  It is the correct translation of the compound Greek noun EUANGELION which means gospel or good news.  EU means good and ANGELION (where we get the word angel) means message. It is literally a good message or good news. So, exactly what is this good news? It is the fact that God took the initiative to do something wonderful about all mankind’s sin problem. Perhaps the best one verse summary of this is this one, one I often quote.

2 Corinthians 5:21

²¹ For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]

It is this that seems to be foolishness to the unbelieving world of mankind.

1 Corinthians 1:18

¹⁸ For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. [Emphasis added]

Please note that in 2 Corinthians 5:21 he doesn’t say—that we might be forgiven of our sins. This is because that is what Christ accomplished on the cross when all the sins of THE WORLD were paid for.

John 1:29

²⁹ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of THE WORLD. [Emphasis added]

I John 2:2

² And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of THE WHOLE WORLD. [Emphasis added]

For more information about this, please see my article about it—

Atonement: In what sense did Christ atone for our sins?

It is now the righteousness of Christ that one needs for salvation, not the forgiveness of sins. What Christ accomplished at the cross now makes it possible for God to save people when they believe Christ paid the penalty for their sins. It is because of what HE accomplished that salvation can be a gift, something “religion” works hard to hide.

For more information about this, please see my articles about it on this website. Here are links to some of the articles—

Forgiveness: When does it get provided?

Forgiveness: What should we conclude about it from Scripture?

Forgiveness: How complete is it?

Forgiveness: What is the “gotcha” passage?

Forgiveness: Are the sins of everyone forgiven?

Romans 6:23

²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. [Emphasis added]

What people have such a hard time accepting is the fact that it is truly a GIFT and NOT a wage. It is free! People are prone to think salvation is something that must be earned.  But our apostle Paul states the truth of the matter so plainly.  But people need to believe it—

Ephesians 2:8-9

⁸ For by GRACE are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God:

⁹ NOT of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]

This is such a marvelous truth.  It is truly amazing and sad to see so many people reject this.  There are other passages that tell us the same thing but in different words.

Romans 4:4-5

⁴ Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

⁵ But to him that worketh not, but BELIEVETH on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [Emphasis added]

People often get confused about this when they don’t realize that it is the apostle Paul who is OUR apostle, not James, John, or anyone else. These others were commissioned with a different message, even a different gospel. If you have questions about this, please see my articles about it—

Gospel: Is OUR gospel in “the four gospels?”

Gospel: Is ours in the gospels? II

Romans 11:13

¹³ For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I [Paul] am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [Emphasis added]

You’ll find a whole article on this website about that last phrase. Unfortunately, the church of today does not “magnify” Paul’s ministry and message.  Instead, they focus on Peter’s words or something else, causing people to believe it’s all the same. What confusion this has created! Here’s the link to my article about this statement Paul made about his role in our lives.

Paul:  Who exactly is this man to us? 

Then there are others that are related to this subject—

Peter & Paul: Was their message the same?

Paul: What’s so special about his teaching?

Paul: Do we make too much of him?

It is Paul who rightfully said his message had been a secret, a mystery to all the prophets of old.

Romans 16:25-26

²⁵ Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

²⁶ But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. [Emphasis added]

The word “prophets” is mistranslated! In the Greek text in which the apostle Paul wrote it this is an adjective [prophetic], not a noun.  The “prophets” wrote nothing about this truth. Otherwise verse 26 contradicts verse 25.

This was even true of the apostles.  None of them knew anything at all about this.  When Christ first spoke of being crucified the apostles tried to talk him out of it, even Peter!

Matthew 16:21-22

²¹ From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be KILLED, and be raised again the third day.

²² Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. [Emphasis added]

This work Jesus had come to do had been a mystery, a secret.

Mystery: Why does it continue to be one to so many?

The reason Satan has worked so hard to keep it unknown is because of its extreme importance for gaining a clear understanding of the main purpose for Christ’s coming.

Mystery: What is The Key to Understanding the Bible?

Without understanding this principle, the Bible appears to be contradictory. Haven’t you ever heard people claim that it is? It isn’t, but apart from understanding this that Paul spoke of as a mystery, people are prone to misunderstand many statements in their Bible.  And, of course, the misunderstanding produces misapplications of many important truths. For instance, the apostle Paul teaches that personal “works” are not at all necessary for one’s salvation.

Again, Ephesians 2:8-9

⁸ For by GRACE are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ NOT of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]

But James says something entirely different.

James 2:20

²⁰ But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? [Emphasis added]

To this day there are millions of churchgoers who believe their works contribute to their salvation and entrance into Heaven. But it is the apostle Paul who tells us something entirely different.

Romans 4:4-5

⁴ Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

⁵ But to him that WORKETH NOT, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his FAITH is counted for righteousness. [Emphasis added]

People will even think you’re a heretic if you speak or teach this.  But here it is in the Pauline writings of your Bible.  Our personal works of righteousness have absolutely nothing to do with our attainment of salvation.

Titus 3:5-7

⁵ NOT by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration [PALINGENESIA = PALIN means again, and GENESIA means generated or born], and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Then we’re told of the ultimate Source of this.

⁶ Which he [God the Father] shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

⁷ That being justified [judicially made righteous] by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope [ELPIS = hope or confidence] of eternal life. [Emphasis added]

We have this “hope,” this confidence of our salvation because it doesn’t depend on us but on Christ Who did all the work that made it possible. We even have hymns about this.  You’ve probably heard the one entitled Jesus Paid it ALL. That ALL, that “WORK” Christ did was His death, burial, and resurrection. When people don’t have this confidence, it is usually because they think their salvation is something they’re having to work to achieve.  They’re not confident because they never think they’ve done enough.  Their problem is that they haven’t, and they never will! That’s because their salvation isn’t dependent upon them but Christ who died and arose from His grave to provide it for them. Without Christ’s work in this, man was in a hopeless and helpless situation.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel [good news] which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ DIED for our sins according to the scriptures;

⁴ And that he was BURIED, and that he ROSE AGAIN the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]

It is this work and this work alone that provides a person with salvation. As we’ve already noted twice in this article, our works of righteousness have no part in this.  It is Christ’s work in His death, burial, and resurrection that make a way for our salvation.  Such has always been the case.

John 14:6

⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. [Emphasis added]

Acts 4:12

¹² Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name [speaking of the identity of Jesus as the promised Messiah] under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. [Emphasis added]

Here’s the link to my article about this—

Jesus Christ: What does it mean to believe on His name?

Before Christ went to the cross and arose, salvation simply demanded that a person believe what God had told them about it. The salvation of Abraham has been provided as an example of that.

Romans 4:1-6

¹ What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

² For IF Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

³ For what saith the scripture? Abraham BELIEVED God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

⁴ Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

⁵ But to him that WORKETH NOT, but BELIEVETH ON HIM that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

⁶ Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness WITHOUT works, [Emphasis added]

Do you think you’ll ever be good enough for God to save you and grant you entrance into Heaven? Answer: Only if your faith is in God through Jesus Christ to provide it. Depending on your own righteousness for your salvation puts you on a foundation of shifting sand. Here’s how our Lord expressed this to the people of Israel in the time of His earthly ministry. Could they do this or anything perfectly? Of course not! No one could!  But if they lived in faith working to do these things they’d been told, ultimately, they’d be saved.

Matthew 7:21-27

²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

²⁴ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

²⁵ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

²⁶ And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

²⁷ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. [Emphasis added]

The foundation for anyone’s salvation at any time in history has always been the Lord Jesus Christ. Such is even the case for any rewards of Christ we’ll ever receive.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

¹⁰ According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

¹¹ For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

¹² Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

¹³ Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

Here he speaks of when the works, the productivity of believers will be evaluated to determine the rewards they are due to enjoy in Heaven.

¹⁴ If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

¹⁵ If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. [Emphasis added]

But to qualify for any of these rewards, a person must be saved. Therefore, it is the truth of our gospel message by which people can be saved that has been hidden. Actually, it has been “hidden” in plain sight. Our Bible declares it openly. I speak of this gospel message often on this website.

Again, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]

It is THIS truth that is hidden from so many.  It has been “religion” that has done the most work in hiding it, always making an issue of man’s works rather than the one work Jesus Christ performed through His death, burial, and resurrection. The righteousness man produces on his own isn’t good enough. He needs this one work of Jesus Christ credited to him for salvation to occur. It is as a Roman jailer was once told— If he and his household would believe this simple truth, they’d all be saved.

Acts 16:26-31

²⁶ And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

²⁷ And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

²⁸ But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

²⁹ Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

³⁰ And brought them out, and said, Sirs, WHAT must I do to be saved?

³¹ And they said, BELIEVE ON The Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. [Emphasis added]