Romans 1:2: Which He Promised Beforehand Through His Prophets In The Holy Scriptures

Romans 1:2
[2] which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, (ESV)

There is almost nothing more disappointing than having someone promise something that they never deliver on. When I was a small boy there was a man that used to stop by the house to visit my father. Every time he came he promised me that he was going to bring me ice cream. I looked forward to his every visit. The problem is, he never brought me ice cream. Here I am, decades later. Still no ice cream.

Paul is speaking about something that was promised. What exactly is he talking about? We find out as we look at the last part of the first verse of Romans 1. Paul declared in the opening verse that he was "set apart for the gospel of God," and today's verse picks up at the end of that phrase and describes this "gospel" as being that which was promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures.

The gospel simply means good news. We know that the good news Paul was speaking about was that Jesus Christ has come into the world to save sinners. In the Old Testament the people knew that they needed a sacrifice for their sins. The whole system of animal sacrifice was a picture of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ that was to come.

The prophets spoke for hundreds of years about the good news of Jesus Christ's coming. Unlike so many promises made by many people the prophets word was kept. This gospel is worth the wait. This gospel is worth dying for. This gospel is for you and me. We can celebrate the goodness of God. He keeps his promises.

Have you received the good news of the gospel? God has promised that all who place their faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ will be saved. Like Paul, you can share what has been promised. Tell someone today!

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