B. The Gospel Explained

THE GOSPEL: A RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD

When previously discussing the nature of sin, it was pointed out that every person has sinned and therefore can no longer make a claim to being righteousness in the eyes of God. Simply stated, we read these words in scripture:

“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE (Romans 3:10)

The issue therefore is not how much a person has sinned but whether or not a person has sinned at all! The fact that both scripture and personal experience teach us that all have sinned necessitates the need for all to be saved by receiving forgiveness of sins and the gift of righteousness which come through faith in Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul affirming that all have sinned also explains that we cannot earn this righteousness by keeping Gods law:

But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:21-23)

In the following verse, Paul again explains this crucial aspect of the gospel message. Using himself as an example of what it means to receive the gift of righteousness from God through faith in Jesus he writes:

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith (Philippians 3:7-9)

Here the apostle Paul emphasizes the value of this righteousness when he says he has given up everything to gain it, and counts all else in his life as rubbish compared to being found in Christ where he receives the righteousness given by God on the basis of faith. The apostle explains that this righteousness is not his own, that is, it is not something he has earned or merited by keeping the law but it has come to him from God as a gift of God’s grace through faith in Jesus.

In the epistle to the Romans the apostle Paul contrasts the sin of Adam, which resulted in condemnation to all men, with the salvation obtained by God’s grace in Jesus Christ, which results in justification and the free gift of righteousness for those who place their faith in Jesus.

But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 16 The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. 17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:15-17)

The apostle continues this comparison of Adam and Jesus stating that because of Jesus obedience in going to the cross those who believe in him are justified and “made righteous” in God’s sight.

So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:18-19)

The apostle Paul states again the vital truth that salvation is a gift from God received through faith when he writes to the believers in Ephesus saying:

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

On the other hand, Paul refers to his fellow countrymen the Jews as an example of the tragic mistake made by many who try to establish their own righteousness before God by trying to keep Gods law or do good works rather than receiving the gift of righteousness given by God to those who put their faith in Jesus. Paul writes:

Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:1-4)

The question naturally arises, how can God grant to sinful men the perfect righteousness that is required for them to be reconciled to Him? How can He be a just judge and still consider a sinner as righteous in His eyes? God in His mercy and grace has allowed His Son Jesus, who lived a perfectly sinless life, to take the sins of the world upon Himself to the cross of Calvary, and there to pay the penalty of death for those sins when He was crucified on the cross. By paying the debt of sin Jesus made it possible for sinful men to be forgiven and declared righteous by God. Paul explains this in two places saying:

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, …For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-3)

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

The offering of the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross of Calvary for the sins of the world is the basis of the New Covenant. The animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant pictured the coming sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, who once and for all made atonement for sin. Consider Jesus words at the last supper when he explained this truth,

And while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:26-28)

The apostle Peter who was present at the last supper later reminded his readers of the true significance of the crucifixion of Jesus when He said,

… He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross (1 Peter 2:24)

As was briefly mentioned earlier the apostle Paul explains , metaphorically speaking, that each one of us has something he called a “certificate of debt” which lists all of our sins, and declares us guilty of breaking God’s law. Unless that certificate of debt is totally wiped out, and all our sins are forgiven, we have no hope of being reconciled to God. On the cross, the debt of sin was wiped away, when Jesus bore the sins of the world, and the perfect righteousness which one needs to live with God forever was purchased and can be ours as a gift from God through faith in Jesus!

When you were dead in your transgressions…, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14)

Paul explains that when this “certificate of debt” is taken out of the way then we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins, through the death of Jesus and the shedding of His blood.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. (Ephesians 1:7)

The Bible teaches us that the wages of sin is death. But Jesus gave His body and shed His blood, pouring out the life of His sinless soul, to suffer the penalty of death in our place that we might be forgiven and declared righteous before the throne of God. This is how we can be delivered from the penalty of sin and it is the essence of the Gospel message!

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

THE GOSPEL: THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF GOD

The good news of the gospel is salvation from sin. We have just learned how God has provided for man to be delivered from the penalty of sin, now we will mention briefly how God has provided for man’s deliverance from the power of sin. Sin can corrupt and enslave the heart like a cancer of the soul. Forgiveness of sin without the power to overcome sin would only be a partial salvation. God has provided the means through which the power of sin can be broken and a new life can begin to emerge. The apostle Paul writes that the believer in Jesus Christ becomes a new creature!

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

When Jesus spoke to a man named Nicodemus he explained the need for men to be born again spiritually.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; {2} this man came to Him by night, and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” {3} Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” {4} Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” {5} Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. {6} “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. {7} “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ {8} “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:1-8)

The apostle Peter also spoke of the new birth when he wrote:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, {4} to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, {5} who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5)

When a person becomes a Christian, they are born again and start a new life in Jesus Christ. This begins a process of renewal that will transform the heart and ultimately the life, delivering the believer from the bondage of sin and opening the door for one to experience the abundant life that Jesus came to give. Empowered by God the believer begins to yield to God’s Word and to His Spirit, laying aside the old sinful man within and putting on the new man in order to become the person God wants him to be, and in the process beginning to experience the blessing of a changed life. The apostle Paul wrote of these things explaining:

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, {6} whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:5-6)

I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. {2} And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom 12:1-2)

… in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, {23} and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, {24} and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

By means of a spiritual rebirth the believer can begin the process of renewal and transformation of mind and heart that will break the power of sin and reverse the corrupting effects it has produced in the heart. This process of renewal and transformation is called Sanctification in the Bible and we will discuss it in more depth under the Library topic “The Will of God”. With a spirit set free by sins forgiven, and with the start of a new spiritual life the believer can begin to experience real victory over the power of sin while standing firm in the grace of God!

THE GOSPEL: THE ONLY WAY TO GOD

When one considers the nature of salvation, then the reason for the exclusiveness of God’s provision of salvation in Jesus through the Gospel becomes clear. The only person who can qualify to bear the sins of the world is the one who Himself was sinless and perfectly righteous. Jesus, God’s Son, was the only one to have ever lived a sinless life. Just as the Old Testament lambs were required to be without blemish, only the perfect “Lamb of God” Jesus Christ was acceptable to God the Father as a sacrifice for sin. Other world religions require that men earn or merit their own salvation. True biblical Christianity recognizes that no man is able to do this and sees in the sacrifice of Jesus for the sins of the world the only means for man to be forgiven, declared righteous and be saved.

The apostle Paul declares in the strongest terms possible that any other “gospel” message which claims to offer another way of salvation, no matter who delivers it, must be rejected.

But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. {9} As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8-9)

Jesus Himself taught on more than one occasion that there is only one way of salvation.

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. (John 14:6)

“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. {14} “For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

The apostle Peter stated this truth in unmistakable terms when he said,

“…there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:8-12)

We have learned what it means to receive the righteousness of God through the forgiveness of our sins, so that the penalty of sin can be nullified. We have touched on God’s provision for the sinner who has been saved by grace to begin to break the power of sin through sanctification, and the fact that Jesus is the only way of salvation has been made clear. Let’s now focus on what one must do to receive this gift of God’s love and grace. How does a person receive the Gospel message? Please continue on to the next page to learn more.