The Short Gospel

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul gave us a very short Gospel, ‘Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.  This is my Gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal.’ ¹

#  Why David?

Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we can be confident about our own resurrection into eternal life, but why do the verses mention David?  God promised David an Offspring, One [Jesus Christ] who will sit on David’s throne eternally. ²  

#  Why did it take so long for Jesus to come?

If it is true that God promised Jesus would come, why did it take such a long time before He came?  At least 1,000 years passed between David and the coming of Jesus.  At least 4,000 years passed from the time God promised the serpent (Satan) that ‘…He [Jesus] will crush your head….’ ³

#  God illustrated that salvation would be by grace and faith.

• God created the Jewish nation from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, gave them the Covenant and blessed them.  Despite God’s care, they eventually messed up and were exiled twice.  With their history God illustrated that no one can be saved by keeping a law.  Man’s uncircumcised heart makes it impossible.  
• Salvation would be by grace and faith.  That would ensure that the strong and disciplined are not advantaged above those who struggle to keep laws.  Once the message was very clear, so obvious that no one could miss it, because the Israelite kingdom was terminated, God could take action.  ‘But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.’ ⁴  
• Salvation would be by grace and mercy alone, ‘But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions, it is by grace you have been saved.’ ⁵

Conclusion

Short Gospel, long Gospel.  It does not matter.  It remains a wonderful Gospel of hope and grace for anyone who believes it.

References

1. 2 Timothy 2:8-9  
2. 2 Samuel 7:13  
3. Genesis 3:15b  
4. Galatians 4:4-5  
5. Ephesians 2:4