The Gospel

(Updated 04/21/2026)

The first eleven chapters of Romans serve as a theological gateway to the rest of the inspired Scriptures. In this magnum opus among his thirteen epistles, written to the beloved saints in Rome (Romans 1:7), the apostle Paul provides one of the most concise summaries of the gospel in the New Testament, emphasizing the necessity of justification and its inseparable connection to the resurrection.

Who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. — Romans 4:25 NKJV

Paul writes that Jesus was “delivered up because of our offenses” (paraptōmata, “trespasses”). Although Pontius Pilate handed Him over to be crucified (Mark 15:15), it was ultimately God the Father who delivered His willing Son to death to bear the penalty for the sins of the elect (Romans 8:31–33), thereby satisfying His righteous wrath (1 John 4:10). He was then laid in a new tomb—but not for long.

Three days later, on the first day of the week when Christians gather (John 20:1), God raised Jesus from the dead. Paul emphasizes that Jesus was “raised because of our justification.” The resurrection—witnessed by many (1 Corinthians 15:5–8)—vindicated the work of Christ and secured our justification, expressed in the noun dikaíōsis (“acquittal” or “justification”) and the verb dikaioō (“to declare righteous”).

This gracious act occurs when the Holy Spirit accompanies the gospel message with life (John 6:63). In response, the elect repent (metanoeō, “to change one’s mind”) and believe in God, who delivered up Jesus Christ and raised Him from the dead. As a result, God imputes His righteousness to our account, legally acquitting us of the penalty and guilt of sin and declaring us righteous in the courtroom of heaven.

Now that is truly good news!