"DISOBEDIENCE TO THE GOSPEL" (Pastor Tom Henry) ~ 12/16/25

“Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1)

“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?” (Romans 10:16)

A number of important facts are revealed in Paul’s statement in our second text, in which he makes reference to Isaiah’s complaint, which was recorded over seven centuries before. Clearly, he realized that he and the Prophet Isaiah shared the very same concern, though their ministries were separated by well over seven hundred years.

One important fact to note is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ did not begin with the coming of Christ and the New Covenant Revelation. Isaiah prophesied of the coming of Christ as the Suffering Substitute. In fact, the text that Paul here referenced is the first verse of that familiar 53rd chapter of his prophecy. He also proclaimed the Gospel of Grace most powerfully in Chapter 55, where he spoke of Christ as the Mediator of the New Covenant, which he refers to as “the sure mercies of David.” (Isa. 55:1-7)

Thus, another important fact that our two texts reveal, is that Isaiah’s “report,” and Paul’s “Gospel” are one and the same thing. “They have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, who hath believed our report?” There has ever been but one Gospel, and it is called “The everlasting gospel.” This proves that there has ever been, but one means of salvation. What the Apostle Paul called “My gospel” (II Tim. 2:8) was also Isaiah’s gospel. More importantly, it is God’s Gospel, for it is “the gospel of God.” (Rom. 1:1) It is not only that “which he had promised afore by his prophets” (Rom. 1:2), but also that which He Himself preached. (Gen. 3:15) Paul had just before our text (Vs. 15) taken a word from Isaiah 52:7, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that published peace; and that bringeth good tidings of good.” Paul renders it “How beautiful are the feet of those that preach the Gospel of Peace…” The first “beautiful feet,” if you will, were God’s “feet,” for it was He who first preached the Gospel of Redemption to our fallen parents in the garden.

He not only preached that a Redeemer was coming, but He also demonstrated the method of redemption and reconciliation by shedding innocent animal blood. He replaced the “fig leaves” of their own works with the skins of the slain animal sacrifices. This same sort of demonstration continued thereafter and was later codified in the ceremonial law, in which those animal sacrifices were as bloody fingers pointing to the shedding of Christ’s blood as the one sacrifice for sin.

Yet another important truth that is revealed in these texts is that the “good news” (that’s what “gospel” means) comes to us as an imperative. The Gospel of Jesus Christ comes to sinners not only as a gracious appeal, but as a Divine command. Isaiah said, “They have not all believed.” Paul said, “they have not all obeyed.”

Why does God send forth His Gospel (of grace) in the form of a command? Because believing the Gospel is not optional. “He that believeth not shall be damned.” “He that believeth not shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” It comes as a command because God comes to man not as his equal. Sovereigns do not beg, they demand. They may be kind and gentle in manner, but what they “ask” of their subjects best be treated as a command, for to ignore it will be considered insubordination. “God…commandeth all men every where to repent.” (Acts 17:30) “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:14, 15)

We see in this 10th chapter of Romans, that obedience is faith incarnate. (Vs. 9, 10) “The word of faith that we preach” is this: “That if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” This Israel refused to do in gainsaying disobedience. (Vs. 21) Let none of us do as they did.