There are a number of churches in our community. If you were to compare them all, I’m sure you would find a significant number of differences among them, whether it is in organizational structure, worship style, or interpretations in certain areas of teaching. But one thing unites every true church, and therefore all who believe in Jesus, the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As I write this article, I am returning from a trip to Mexico to visit members of our family. While there I had the opportunity to minister God’s Word several times to diverse groups of individuals. One thing I observed is that regardless of the language barrier, or the difference in socio-economic status, or church affiliation and practice, each of us who have come to faith in Jesus Christ shared a common commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the way it is supposed to be. The New Testament demonstrates that from the earliest days the church of Jesus Christ exists with diversity, both within each local congregation, and among the various congregations that make up the overall body of Christ. It also makes clear that these diverse bodies of believers are to be united around the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul’s letter to the church in Rome made this abundantly clear.

After 25 years of planting churches in the eastern Mediterranean Paul had set his sights on Spain, and Rome was on the way. Up to this point the base of operations for his ministry had been his home church at Antioch. But reaching beyond, to the “uttermost parts of the earth,” required a new base of operations, and Rome was to be that base. The problem was, the church in Rome was not sufficiently united. The differences that existed between the majority Gentile believers and the minority Jewish believers left the church disjointed (see Romans 9:30-31; 10:11-13; 11:11-24; and chapters 14 & 15). So Paul wrote this letter to unite the church in Rome around the gospel, both his mission to take it to Spain, and their mission to spread it in Rome.

The power of the gospel is the central theme of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, what we call the book of Romans. Consider this theme as Paul laid it out.

I.THE LETTER OPENING (1:1-17)

– The Theme of the Letter (1:16-17)

II. THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL: JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH (1:18-4:25)

The Bad News: The Universal Reign of Sin (1:18-3:20)

The Good News: Justification by Faith (3:21-4:25)

III. THE ASSURANCE OF THE GOSPEL: THE HOPE OF SALVATION (5:1-8:39)

The Hope of Glory (5:1-21)

Freedom from Bondage to Sin (6:1-23)

Freedom from Bondage to the Law (7:1-25)

Assurance of Eternal Life in the Spirit (8:1-30)

The Believer’s Security Celebrated (8:31-39)

IV. THE THEOLOGICAL BASIS OF THE GOSPEL: THE PROBLEM OF ISRAEL (9:1-11:36)

V. THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE GOSPEL: CHRISTIAN CONDUCT (12:1-15:13)

The Heart of the Matter: Total Transformation (12:1-2)

Humility and Mutual Service (12:3-8) Love and Its Manifestations (12:9-21)

The Christian and Secular Rulers (13:1-7)

Love and the Law (13:8-10)

Living in Light of the Day (13:11-14)

A Plea for Unity (14:1-15:13)

VI. THE LETTER CLOSING (15:14-16:27)

Paul’s Ministry and Travel Plans (15:14-33)

Greetings (16:1-23)

(Outline from Doug Moo, with one modification)

The gospel is first and foremost the good news that God has acted in Christ to care for our sin problem so that human beings can be justified “before God,” “reconciled” to him, have a secure hope for ultimate salvation, and be transformed in all their thinking and acting. It provides salvation for “everyone who believes” as God brings guilty sinners into relationship with himself and destines them to eternal life when they believe in his Son, Jesus the Messiah. (Doug Moo) Have you believed? Would you?

If you are part of a local gospel believing church, I hope this will encourage you to do your part in keeping your congregation united around the gospel. I also hope this will encourage you to appreciate the other congregations in our community who share your congregation’s commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week’s column comes from Pastor Doug Packard of First Baptist Church, Lock Haven.