The Gospel is a Report to be Believed

The Prophet Isaiah opens his great proclamation of the Gospel of Christ thousands with these words:


Isa 53:1 

Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

Isaiah proclaimed the substitutionary death Isa 53:5, burial Isa 53:9 and resurrection Isa 53:10 - and so much more as well. He called this message a report to be believed. 


The Apostle John also calls the Gospel a report to be believed:


John 12:37-38 

³⁷ But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, ³⁸ that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:       “ Lord, who has believed our report?      And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?”

Further the Apostle Paul also quotes Isaiah when he explains how one "obeys" the Gospel, which is to believe the report you have heard.


Rom 10:14-17 

¹⁴ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?¹⁵ And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:       “ How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,      Who bring glad tidings of good things!” ¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “LORD, who has believed our report?” ¹⁷ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Verse 16 is most often translated with the phrase "not all obeyed the Gospel" and this has led to confusion. Find a view of the Greek of this verse here. The word translated "obey" in the NKJV and many other translations is actually upēkousan: "I listen, harken to, obey, answer"actually.

Clearly there is no reason from the immediate context to think this word is being used to indicate obedience to a command, call or any other type of order.


The Gospel is a report which is proclaimed, heard and believed. It is not a call to service. It is not a question about if Jesus is your King, Lord of your life, Master or any other question. The Gospel is a report to be believed.