The accolades we could heap upon the gospel of Christ are many.  They would have to begin with its saving power.  Paul said that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16).  Countless souls have been saved and the world has been transformed since the gospel was first introduced by Peter in Acts 2.

One of the great benefits of the gospel apart from its saving power is its peace-making power.  Paul described it for us in Ephesians 2.

Ephesians 2:14-17 (ESV)
¹⁴  For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵  by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶  and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. ¹⁷  And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.

The story of the gospel is the story of Jesus, the Son of God.  He is the heart of the gospel (Romans 1:1-3).  It was Jesus who brought peace into the world when He died on the cross.  The greatest peace that came about was the peace between God and man (Romans 5:1), but Paul, in the passage above, is referring mostly to the peace between people, specifically between Jews and Gentiles.  Such is the impact of the gospel.

How did Jesus bring about this peace?  He did it by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, referring to the Law of Moses.  As long as the Law stood, unity between Jews and Gentiles would be impossible, at least on a universal scale.  Jesus, however, abolished it on the cross, meaning, He took it out of the way and opened a path for Jews and Gentiles to be united in one body, that is, the church.

Today, the gospel is still a gospel of peace (Romans 10:15).  Enemies become, not just friends, but brothers and sisters in Christ.  The impressive thing about the gospel of Christ is how it can bring enduring peace.  Yes, enemies are reconciled immediately when they obey the gospel; however, in practical terms, it takes time to develop relationships.  Thankfully, if we live by the gospel, peace with all brethren will eventually become a reality.

The gospel teaches us to love one another, and frames it as a command.  The Hebrews writer simply said, “Let brotherly love continue” (Hebrews 13:1).  The words “let” and “continue” come from one Greek word (menō) that is in the imperative mood, telling us that it is a command.  John, known as the apostle of love because of his extensive writing on the subject, reveals how important it is to love one another in Christ.  Here is an example.

1 John 4:20-21 (ESV)
²⁰  If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. ²¹  And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

We cannot be right with God if we do not love brethren, regardless of the background or ethnicity of that brother.  Furthermore, the gospel teaches us to be kind, longsuffering, forgiving, benevolent, etc.  How can we live by the gospel and not love one another in Christ?  Whether one is Jew or Gentile, black or white, male or female, peace will prevail wherever the gospel is applied.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.