Beyond Sunday: The Gospel in Advance

[Editor's note: Beyond Sunday is a Monday refresher to carry you through the week.]

Focus Verse of the Week

The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ”All nations will be blessed through you.” (Galatians 3:8)

Commentary

Christ was the first preacher of the Gospel that ever was. He first preached it to Adam and Eve in the garden, and afterwards to Abraham. It was Gospel, it was good news to Abraham because the Messiah should spring from him, and all nations be blessed in him. He rejoiced at it, and by faith saw Christ’s day and was glad—particularly of that part of the Gospel concerning justification by faith. That was preached unto him; and before his circumcision, of which that was a sign that the righteousness of faith should be upon the uncircumcised Gentiles.

This was before the law of works was given on Mount Sinai, and long before the doctrine of justification by faith was preached unto the Gentiles, and they enjoyed the comfort of it. This is the Gospel, and it is no new doctrine, nor different from what was so early taught. The sum and substance of which lies in these words, “in you shall all nations be blessed.”

(Adapted from John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible.)

A Thought to Keep

The scarlet thread of Christ’s sacrifice runs through the entire Bible. God’s plan for redemption was no afterthought. He loved us and made us His own.