<\/p>\n
What the Gospel Is<\/strong> 2. The Source of the Gospel<\/strong> 3. The Function of the Gospel<\/strong> The Content of the Gospel<\/strong> Now brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you The Uniqueness of the Gospel<\/strong> gospel is absolutely essential. It is the power of God unto salvation! Placing trust and hope in The Scope of the Gospel<\/strong> The Proper Response to the Gospel<\/strong> The Results of the Gospel<\/strong> Peter 1:2), and endure faithfully to the end (Romans 8:29-30). John the Baptist understood this The Bible clearly indicates that God \u201chas set a day when he will judge the world with justice by Conclusion<\/strong> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What the Gospel Is When reading through the New Testament, one quickly notices the exhilaration and passion with which…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":321,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jesuspaidinfull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/399"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jesuspaidinfull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jesuspaidinfull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jesuspaidinfull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jesuspaidinfull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=399"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jesuspaidinfull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/399\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":401,"href":"https:\/\/jesuspaidinfull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/399\/revisions\/401"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jesuspaidinfull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jesuspaidinfull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jesuspaidinfull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jesuspaidinfull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nWhen reading through the New Testament, one quickly notices the exhilaration and passion with
\nwhich the apostle Paul preached the gospel (e.g. Romans 1:14-17; 1 Corinthians 9:16).
\nLikewise, anyone in the company of Christians for some time will surely hear phrases such as
\n\u201cgospel ministry\u201d, \u201cgospel-centered\u201d, \u201cpreach the gospel\u201d, \u201cbelieve the gospel\u201d, and \u201cthe power
\nof the gospel\u201d. It is easy to see that the gospel is of utmost importance to the Christian. Why is
\nthis true? What exactly is the gospel and why does it carry so much significance?
\nThe word \u201cgospel\u201d, which literally means \u201cgood news\u201d, has traditionally been defined in three
\ndifferent ways. First, in the broadest sense, the gospel is the entire body of all infallible, divine
\ntruth. In this sense, everything in the Bible is considered to be gospel truth. The second use of
\nthe term is a bit narrower. The first four books of the New Testament, which chronicle the life,
\ndeath, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, are commonly described as \u201cthe four gospels\u201d. This is
\nthe sense in which the average American is typically most familiar. The third usage of the word
\n\u201cgospel\u201d refers specifically to what is often called \u201cthe gospel of Jesus Christ\u201d, \u201cthe gospel of
\nGod\u201d, or \u201cthe gospel of salvation\u201d. This application of the term \u201cgospel\u201d, which is the narrowest
\nand most focused of all, is far and away the most prolific use in the New Testament, as well as in
\nChristian preaching, writing, and testimony. The gospel of Jesus Christ is of tremendous
\nimportance, because it is the message to mankind of salvation from sin and reconciliation to
\nGod.
\nSince sacred Scriptures declares the gospel in its most narrow sense to be the most important
\nmessage a person could ever know and embrace, it is essential to develop a strong understanding
\nof \u201cwhat the gospel is\u201d. We will do this through a brief presentation of the necessity, source,
\nfunction, content, uniqueness, and scope of the gospel as well as the proper response to the
\ngospel and the results of it.
\nThe Necessity of the Gospel
\nOne does not have to read far into the Bible to find man\u2019s dire need for the gospel. In the first
\nchapter of the first book of the Bible, we see that God created humanity in His image, and man
\nhad a perfect relationship with God (Genesis 1:26-27). Despite these prime conditions, the first
\nman and woman, Adam and Eve, soon afterward sinned, that is, they disobeyed God (Genesis
\n3:6). Their sin became a prototype for humanity in that every person who has ever lived has
\nlikewise disobeyed God in sinful rebellion (Romans 3:23). Since God is completely holy (Psalm
\n5:4) and cannot tolerate sin (Habakkuk 1:13), transgression has placed man under the wrath
\n(John 3:36), curse (Galatians 3:10), and eternal condemnation of God (Romans 5:12, 18).
\nTo make matters worse, when Adam and Eve sinned, human nature became wicked and corrupt
\nto the point that people no longer retain the independent ability or desire to seek, serve, worship,
\nand love God (Ephesians 2:1; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:11). The mind of man became hostile
\ntoward God and unable to submit to or please Him (Romans 8:7). He is a self-declared enemy of
\nGod (Colossians 1:21). In this condition, a man\u2019s efforts to please God are futile, and he has no
\nability to overcome sin and change his own life (John 15:5) in order to come out from under the
\ncondemnation of God and acquit himself from the sentence of eternal conscious punishment in
\nhell (Matthew 25:46).<\/p>\n
\nIf the story ended here, it would be a sad one indeed, but God loved His creation too much to
\nallow the entire human race to be separated from Him for all eternity. Despite the fact that there
\nwas nothing lovely in man and no ability in man to reconcile himself to God, it pleased God to
\nexpress His love toward us by providing a way to be declared righteous in His sight.
\nIn fact, God loved the world so much that He planned the redemption of man \u201cbefore the
\nfoundation of the world\u201d (1 Peter 1:18-21). In order to both exact His justice and exercise His
\nmercy, there was only one way for God to provide salvation to mankind: to supply a worthy
\nsubstitute who would adequately pay the penalty for sin, which is death (Romans 6:23). God did
\nthis by sacrificing His own Son, Jesus Christ, who was \u201cdelivered over by the predetermined
\nplan and foreknowledge of God\u2026nailed to a cross\u2026and put\u2026to death.\u201d (Acts 2:23). So, the
\npurposes of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were sure because \u201cHis works were finished from
\nthe foundation of the world\u201d (Hebrews 4:3).
\nFurthermore, since the plan of redemption began before the foundation of the world, its subjects
\nwere chosen before the foundation of the world. \u201c[God] has saved us and called us with a holy
\ncalling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was
\ngranted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity\u201d (2 Tim 1:9). Therefore, since all of those who will
\nbe saved were chosen \u201cin Him before the foundation of the world\u201d (Ephesians 1:4), God\u2019s plan is
\nas unshakable as God Himself.
\nOne may ask, \u201cWhy does the gospel matter if God elects people to salvation from eternity past?\u201d
\nWhile it is true that the election of God is by grace, it is also through faith in Jesus Christ, who is
\nrevealed in the gospel. So, the gospel is tremendously important, since it communicates who
\nChrist is and what He has done for sinners. After all, \u201cHow will they believe in Him whom they
\nhave not heard?\u201d (Romans 10:14).
\nJust as God wasted no time in planning for the provision of the forgiveness of sin, He likewise
\ndid not waste any time in communicating His provision to lost humanity. Soon after sin was first
\ncommitted in the garden, the gospel, in its seed form, was also revealed in the same garden. The
\nfirst mention of the promised Messiah came immediately after the first sin (Genesis 3:15). For
\nthe next four thousand years of history, faithful servants of God looked forward to the One who
\nwould come to save them from their sins as prophesied: \u201cHe was pierced through for our
\ntransgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon
\nHim, And by His scourging we are healed.\u201d (Isaiah 53:5)
\nFinally, a little over two thousand years ago, the promise was fulfilled when the source of the
\ngospel Himself came to save His people from their sins. \u201cBut when the fullness of the time came,
\nGod sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those
\nwho were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.\u201d (Galatians 4:4-5)<\/p>\n
\nGod desires all people everywhere to hear, receive, and submit to His great and glorious gospel.
\nHe could have chosen to divinely communicate the good news through dreams and visions. He
\ncould have decided to use majestic angels to promote His plan. He could have selected to deliver
\nthe message Himself. But He didn\u2019t. Instead, He chose ordinary human beings to be the
\ninstruments that would preach, teach, and witness the gospel to the world.
\nThe gospel message is the divinely ordained vehicle by which God brings reconciliation and
\nredemption to the world. It is the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ\u2026a message of hope to
\npeople without any. Jesus said that His purpose for coming to earth was \u201cto seek and to save that
\nwhich was lost\u201d (Luke 19:10). So we ask the question, \u201cHow did He save people?\u201d From the
\nWord of God, we know without a doubt that people are saved by grace alone through faith alone.
\nTherefore, the next logical question we could ask is, \u201cHow do people come to faith in Christ?\u201d
\nThe Bible states that the gospel is the vehicle by which God brings people to faith in His Son, so
\nleading people to faith in Jesus is the very function of the gospel. Paul wrote, \u201cfaith comes from
\nhearing\u2026and the message is heard through the word of Christ\u201d (Romans 10:17).
\nThe gospel is not just any good news, \u201cit is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who
\nbelieves\u201d (Romans 1:16). Notice that not everyone who hears the gospel is automatically saved;
\nit is only those who embrace the gospel through faith. People must believe the gospel and
\nconsequently place their faith in Christ to be saved. So, the gospel plays a very key role in
\nsalvation. It literally brings us to a place where we can hear the truth of God and receive it by
\nexercising faith in Christ. The apostle Paul wrote:
\nBut we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord,
\nbecause God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through
\nsanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. It was for this He called you
\nthrough our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2
\nThessalonians 2:13-14).
\nRemember that God has planned the redemption of His elect and chose them to be in Christ
\nbefore the foundation of the world. This fact does not in any way nullify the necessity of the
\ngospel, which is able to bring about faith in the hearer. On the contrary, it guarantees the
\neffectiveness of the gospel, since, without exception, God always brings about His purposes. \u201cSo
\nwill My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without
\naccomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.\u201d (Isaiah
\n55:11)<\/p>\n
\nThe gospel demonstrates the power of God in that, through the efficacious work of the Holy
\nSpirit, it enables faith to be activated in the hearts of sinful, rebellious people. It is a mighty
\ndeclaration of who Christ is and what He has done. It uncovers our selfishness while
\nilluminating His perfect love. It exposes our sinfulness while magnifying His perfection. It
\nreveals our inability to save ourselves while boldly proclaiming how He came down and
\nfearlessly conquered death. Paul gave a brief outline of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8:
\n2008 Bible Baptist Church<\/p>\n
\nreceived and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are
\nsaved\u2026Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures\u2026He was buried\u2026He
\nwas raised on the third day according to the Scriptures\u2026
\nAs Paul has indicated, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are foundational to the gospel
\nmessage. The gospel makes it abundantly clear that there can be no forgiveness of sins apart
\nfrom the death and resurrection of Christ. Paul declared to the Corinthians, \u201cAnd if Christ has
\nnot been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.\u201d (1 Corinthians 15:17). In the book
\nof Romans, he wrote, \u201cHe was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our
\njustification\u201d (Romans 4:25).
\nWhile it is true that the death and resurrection are the critical to the gospel, there are several
\nother important facts that must be believed in order for one to truly grasp the significance and
\ncontent of the gospel. First, Jesus is God. If He was not God, He could never adequately pay the
\npenalty for sin. The psalmist wrote, \u201cNo man can by any means redeem his brother or give to
\nGod a ransom for him\u201d (Psalm 49:7), yet Jesus came to \u201cgive His life a ransom for many\u201d (Mark
\n10:45). He could do this as God, since His life was of infinite value. Second, Jesus was a
\nperfect, sinless man. He \u201cknew no sin\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:21), \u201ccommitted no sin\u201d (1 Peter 2:22)
\nand had no sin in Him (1 John 3:5). This was also necessary, since He had to perfectly fulfill the
\nLaw (Matthew 5:17) as a man in order to be a valid substitute (1 Peter 3:18) and acceptable
\nsacrifice (Hebrews 9:26). Third, the most fundamental confession undergirding the gospel is
\n\u201cJesus is Lord\u201d (Romans 10:9). As Lord, He created all things (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16),
\nsustains all things (Colossians 1:17), owns all things (Acts 10:36), and rules all things (Psalm
\n103:19; Hebrews 2:8). Therefore, He has authority over our lives and we owe Him complete
\nallegiance, obedience, and worship.
\nSo, the gospel that brings salvation contains a number of key aspects of the person (God, perfect
\nman, Lord, Savior, and substitute) and work (perfect life, death, and resurrection) of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n
\nIn today\u2019s pluralistic, postmodern culture, the common consensus would lead one to believe
\nthere is no such thing as absolute truth and all paths lead to the same place for those who are
\nsincere. Unfortunately, people who do not oblige to this worldview are labeled as \u201cintolerant\u201d.
\nHowever, it is essential to reject any and all self-constructed worldviews and theologies crafted
\nby mere human beings on the basis of their own desires and logic. God\u2019s judgments are far
\ngreater than that of man. Paul writes, \u201cOh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge
\nof God! How unsearchable His judgments and His paths beyond tracing out! \u2018Who has known
\nthe mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?\u2019\u201d (Romans11:33-34).
\nHow ignorant and arrogant it is for man to think that he can devise his own way to heaven when
\nthe God of the universe has clearly communicated His way to us in holy Scripture. In God\u2019s
\neconomy, there is only one gospel and one Savior. Jesus said, \u201cI am the way and the truth and
\nthe life. No one comes to the Father except through me\u201d (John 14:6), so clinging to that one, true
\n2008 Bible Baptist Church<\/p>\n
\nany other so-called \u201cgospel\u201d is futile, hopeless, and damning to the soul. Paul stated it best when
\nhe wrote the following words:
\nI am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the
\ngrace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — which is really no gospel
\nat all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to
\npervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should
\npreach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally
\ncondemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is
\npreaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally
\ncondemned! (Galatians 1:6-9)
\nPaul\u2019s words to the Galatians ought to be taken seriously. His view of the gospel was extremely
\nnarrow and well-defined, and he tenaciously defended the gospel against any attempts of
\nalteration and modification. In order to exhibit as much emphasis as possible, Paul repeated the
\nsame statement twice: anyone holding to and promoting a false gospel will be eternally
\ncondemned. Why was Paul so rigid about the gospel? Because there is only one gospel that
\nwields the power to save people from sin, death, and hell, and there are many, many lost souls at
\nstake. Furthermore, all other \u201cgospels\u201d rob God of the glory, honor, and praise that He deserves.
\nRomans 6:23 says, \u201cthe wages of sin is death\u201d, and Christ Jesus is the only one who could and
\ndid die for the sins of the world. He is the only Savior and Lord. Only He is able to save us
\nfrom our sins, because His divine life was uniquely worthy enough to pay the eternal punishment
\nfor sin. No religious figure or person could ever pay our sin debt for us. Jesus alone died for sin.
\nHe died on a cross, and three days later, rose from the dead and proved that He was who He
\nclaimed to be! Mohammad, Buddha, and all other religious figures are still in the grave, but
\nJesus Christ has risen and is alive! And for that reason, the Bible says, \u201cSalvation is found in no
\none else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved\u201d
\n(Acts 4:12). So, all roads do not lead to heaven. Jesus is the only way.<\/p>\n
\nIn taking a look at the scope of the gospel, we must examine the question of whether the gospel
\nof Jesus Christ is for everyone. In other words, can anyone be exempt from the gospel? How
\nabout the heathen in the jungles of Africa? How about the people who lived before the birth of
\nChrist? Is the gospel also necessary for their salvation too?
\nJesus commanded His disciples to \u201cgo into all the world and preach the good news to all
\ncreation\u201d (Mark 16:15). If the heathen in Africa does not need the gospel, then would it be
\nnecessary for us to fully obey Jesus\u2019 command? As we have seen in the previous section, there
\nis simply no other way to be saved (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). The reasoning is quite
\nstraightforward; since Christ is the only one who is able to pay for our sins, everyone needs the
\ngospel of Christ to be forgiven.
\nMoreover, entertaining the question of whether the gospel was necessary for people prior to the
\ntime of Christ is in essence calling the immutability and justice of God into question. Numbers
\n2008 Bible Baptist Church
\n6
\n23:19 says, \u201cGod is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should change His
\nmind.\u201d Additionally, Romans 2:11 states, \u201cGod does not show favoritism,\u201d so could it be
\npossible for God, who is completely just, to have different criteria for different people?
\nAbsolutely not! Paul stated:
\nIt was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the
\npromise\u2026but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who live
\nby the law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless\u2026the promise
\ncomes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all
\nAbraham\u2019s offspring\u2026 (Romans 4:13-14, 16).
\nAbraham is a great illustration of the fact that salvation has always been by grace through faith.
\nThis is a timeless and boundless truth. There are no limits to the gospel and no one is exempt.
\nIn fact, everyone who has ever lived or ever will live has the responsibility to believe and receive
\nthe gospel. Many people speculate that people born into Hindu families in India and Buddhist
\nfamilies in China, where the gospel is sparse, have much less potential for placing their faith in
\nChrist than people born in America, where the gospel is prevalent. From a human standpoint,
\nthis conjecture sounds reasonable, but it cannot stand against Biblical testimony. On Mars Hill,
\nPaul explained how God gives all people the best possible opportunity to be saved:
\nFrom one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole
\nearth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they
\nshould live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for
\nhim and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. (Acts 17:26-27)
\nIn the section above entitled \u201cthe source of the gospel\u201d, we saw that Christ was foreordained
\nbefore the foundation of the world, and the elect were chosen in Him from all eternity. Those
\nbefore Christ looked forward to the coming of the Messiah in faith, and those after Him, look
\nback to His coming in faith. Either way, salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The
\npayment He made for sin atoned for past, present, and future sins.<\/p>\n
\nHearing and understanding the gospel does not automatically classify someone as \u201csaved\u201d.
\nWhile it is true that Jesus \u201cis the atoning sacrifice\u2026for the sins of the whole world\u201d (1 John 2:2),
\nit is not true that everyone\u2019s sins have been paid for by Christ. In other words, simply hearing
\nthe gospel does not magically erase one\u2019s transgressions. To be efficacious, the gospel must not
\nonly be heard; it must also be received with humble, repentant faith. Otherwise, it is of no value.
\nThe writer of Hebrews said, \u201cFor we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did;
\nbut the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it
\nwith faith.\u201d (Hebrews 4:2)
\nHumility is the precursor to what is known as \u201csaving faith\u201d. To be saved one must first realize
\nthat he is a helpless sinner who does not deserve God\u2019s grace. This realization must lead the
\nsinner to abandon all hope of ever saving himself. The Bible describes the unsaved man as
\n\u201cwretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked\u201d (Revelation 3:17), and he must see himself as such.
\nGod requires that we come to Him humble and broken, casting ourselves solely on His mercy.
\n2008 Bible Baptist Church
\nWe must be humbled to the point of full submission to and dependence on Him. Only when we
\nfall on our faces, beat our breasts, and say, \u201cGod, have mercy on me, a sinner\u201d (Luke 18:13) will
\nwe be in a position to really trust Christ.
\nThe injunction of the gospel to the individual sinner is to \u201crepent and believe\u201d (Mark 1:15). But,
\nwhat does it mean to believe and repent? As one would expect, the term \u201cbelieve\u201d includes the
\nacceptance and trust of the contents of the gospel message (John 8:24). To trust Christ as Savior
\nmeans to trust in His person and work, to truly believe that He is God incarnate, fully God and
\nfully man. He came from glory, descended to earth, lived a perfect life, paid the penalty for sin
\nwith His blood through a substitutionary death on the cross, and rose victoriously from the grave.
\nBut belief is not just a simple acceptance of facts. Even demons have this type of \u201cfaith\u201d. James
\nwrote, \u201cYou believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that– and shudder\u201d
\n(James 2:19). So, belief is more than mere agreement or intellectual assent to truth; it is a trust
\nthat initiates action and changes your life (James 2:17).
\nNext, one must understand that true faith is also repentant faith, and the gospel always calls for
\nrepentance. James wrote, \u201cget rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly
\naccept the word planted in you, which can save you\u201d (James 1:21). There is no doubt that the
\ngospel calls the sinner to surrender his life to Christ in humble repentance. This is a crucial point
\nthat needs to be emphasized strongly, since it is largely absent in today\u2019s evangelism.
\nContrary to what some may think, the command to repent does not mean that the sinner must
\nfirst completely reform his life before coming to Christ. If that were the case no one would ever
\ncome to Christ. The sinner simply does not have the ability to clean himself up and the greatest
\namount of will power will never be enough. Through the proclamation of the gospel, God
\nHimself gives man the gift of repentance. The fruits of repentance (i.e. forsaking of individual
\nsins) are a result of salvation, not as a means for it (see section below on results of the gospel).
\nTo repent means to have a change of mind and to turn around. In other words, it involves a
\nturning from sin and a turning to God. It is, in essence, the heart\u2019s desire to submit to Christ\u2019s
\nauthority. So repentance is the willingness and commitment to obey God and live for His glory.
\nIn this sense, repentance is mandatory for salvation. Paul left no one exempt when he wrote,
\n\u201cEveryone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.\u201d (2 Timothy
\n2:19).
\nAny invitation to salvation that does not include repentance is in essence an invitation to use
\nChrist for eternal life while continuing in sin. The gospel was never a call to half-heartedness;
\nthe proposition of Jesus Christ is always \u201call or nothing\u201d. The gospel summons people to love
\nand honor Jesus more than anything else or anyone else. Repentance requires that all interests,
\npleasures, and desires be subordinate to love for Him. In its truest sense, repentance is not about
\nrestricting the sinner from sin, it is about giving God, the Lord and King of the universe what He
\ndeserves, our heart-felt gratitude, our worship, our lives! So, in its essence, to surrender to Him
\nas Lord is to humbly repent and truly submit to Christ as Sovereign King and Master. It is living
\nfor His glory in such a way that we joyfully obey Him and comply with His rule as He leads our
\nlives and conforms our ways to His.<\/p>\n
\nHow important is the gospel and what is at stake? First and foremost, God\u2019s glory is at stake.
\nContrary to what many people believe and espouse, salvation is not about man. Although the
\ngospel promises benefits for the individual, these benefits are merely the byproducts of salvation.
\nThe true heart of salvation is God receiving the glory that He deserves from man. God has
\npurchased souls by His own blood, and the only way they could be freed from the pangs of sin,
\ndeath, and hell is through the gospel. Jesus Christ loves the world so much that He has redeemed
\nindividuals by paying the ultimate ransom. He gave His life for theirs, and He deserves to
\nreceive His purchased possession. This is the primary essence of the gospel. Accordingly, Paul
\nstated that Christ died so that \u201cthose who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him
\nwho died for them and was raised again\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:15). In other words, our grand
\npurpose in life is to glorify Christ. Elsewhere Paul wrote, \u201cIf we live, we live to the Lord; and if
\nwe die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord\u201d (Romans 14:8).
\n\u201cSo we make it our goal to please Him.\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:9). \u201cSo whether you eat or drink or
\nwhatever you do, do it all for the glory of God\u201d (1 Corinthians 10:31). As we saw in our section
\non \u201cthe necessity of the gospel\u201d, unbelievers have no ability or desire to please God (Hebrews
\n11:6). So, we must understand that the primary purpose for salvation, and therefore the gospel
\nthat brings salvation, is the glory of God.
\nAs stated above, salvation does carry benefits to the individual as well. Although these benefits
\nare secondary to the glory of God, they should not be minimized. The first obvious benefit is the
\ngift of grace which provides the ability and desire to glorify God in all things. This transforming
\ngrace, which is given to all believers, is known as the new birth, and everyone who receives the
\nnew birth is \u201cborn again\u201d. So, what is the new birth and what does it mean to be born again?
\nWhen God effectually calls His elect through the gospel message, He gives them the gifts of
\nfaith and repentance in order for the gospel to take root. Peter illustrates this well. In his first
\nepistle, he writes to \u201cGod\u2019s elect\u201d (1 Peter 1:1), \u201cwho have been chosen\u201d (v.2). He then proceeds
\nto speak of God\u2019s grace toward them: \u201cIn His great mercy he has given us new birth into a living
\nhope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (v.3). So, this new birth that Peter
\nspeaks of provides a living hope to the believer, but how does God accomplish this? Peter
\nexplains that God graciously gives the new birth through the gospel: \u201cFor you have been born
\nagain, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God\u201d
\n(v.23). In the new birth, the Holy Spirit sanctifies the individual for obedience to Jesus Christ
\n(v.2) by giving him a new heart and indwelling him forever (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Paul explains
\nhow belief in the gospel results in being indwelt with the Holy Spirit:
\nAnd you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the
\ngospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal,
\nthe promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the
\nredemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.
\n(Ephesians 1:13-14)
\nThe presence of the Holy Spirit, along with the new nature given in the new birth, enables the
\nbeliever to do the good works he was created to do (Ephesians 2:10). The fact that it is God who
\nworks in the believer to accomplish His purposes (Philippians 2:13) guarantees that they will
\nbear fruit (John 15:8, 16), be progressively sanctified throughout life (1 Thessalonians 5:23; 1<\/p>\n
\nwhen he challenged hypocrites to \u201cproduce fruit in keeping with repentance\u201d (Matthew 3:8). So,
\nas a tree bears fruit, repentance unto salvation (i.e. total submission and surrender to Jesus Christ
\nas Lord) yields the fruits of repentance (i.e. good works and a changed life).
\nWhen a person truly receives Christ through saving faith, many other things happen as well.
\nSince the purpose of this essay is not to elaborate on them, we will simply provide a short list of
\nsome of them. When the gospel is believed, God applies Christ\u2019s payment for sin (ransom) to
\nthe sinner (redemption), declares him righteous (justification), removes all eternal punishment
\n(propitiation) and forgives\/covers all sin (atonement), credits the person with the righteousness
\nof Christ (imputation), reconciles and restores the broken relationship (reconciliation), delivers
\nthe sinner from the power of sin and Satan (deliverance), gives him a new heart (regeneration),
\nindwells him with the Holy Spirit (baptism of the Holy Spirit), makes him a child of God
\n(adoption), and grants him the promise of eternal life (assurance). Does that sound like a lot?
\nThere is more! At the moment of justification, He begins a life-long process called sanctification
\nin which He refines us into the image of His Son until the day we die. On that day, we will be
\nperfectly glorified, and meet Him face to face. What an awesome gift from an awesome God!
\nThe gospel is indeed a message of eternal life (John 3:16; 1 John 2:24-25), but what is eternal
\nlife? Many people would describe it as living forever in heaven. Although it is true that
\nbelievers will live forever in heaven, the term \u201ceternal life\u201d contains far more significance than
\nthe quality and quantity of our lives. The apostle John described Jesus Christ as \u201cthe true God
\nand eternal life\u2026which was with the Father and has now appeared to us\u201d (1 John 5:20; 1:2). So,
\neternal life, in its purest sense is Jesus Christ Himself. Therefore, anyone who has Christ has
\neternal life and to have eternal life is to have Christ. Furthermore, having Christ is having God
\nthe Father (1 John 2:23) and God the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14).
\nThis implies that those who truly trust in Christ as Lord and Savior enjoy a personal relationship
\nwith Him (i.e. they know Him and He knows them). In His gospel, the apostle John wrote, \u201cNow
\nthis is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have
\nsent\u201d (John 17:3). So, Jesus Christ is eternal life and to have eternal life is to know Him.
\nEternal life is far richer than simply going to heaven for eternity. It is embracing and intimately
\nknowing the One who Himself IS eternal life. However, it is true that believers will inhabit
\nheaven for eternity, since they will be with Jesus and that is where He is. Once we have the
\nproper perspective, we can look forward to Heaven, which is a glorious place where believers
\nwill worship God for eternity in sinless perfection.
\nIt is important to understand that true submission to Christ leads to an intimate knowledge of
\nwho He is and who we are in relation to Him. But remember, there is a big difference between
\nknowing about somebody and knowing somebody! What is at stake if someone doesn\u2019t know
\nJesus Christ? The apostle Paul answered this question with the following words: \u201cHe will punish
\nthose who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished
\nwith everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of
\nhis power\u201d (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). Notice how Paul equates knowing God with obeying the
\ngospel of Jesus. The gospel is of utmost importance, since it is the gateway to knowing Christ
\nand being in His presence. The only other alternative is everlasting destruction. Everyone who
\nrejects the gospel of Jesus Christ will be shut out from His presence punished for all eternity.
\n2008 Bible Baptist Church
\n10
\nIn the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus also spoke of the consequences of rejecting the gospel. There
\nHe promised that He will proclaim the following words to anyone who has never repented and
\nplaced their faith in Him: \u201cI never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!\u201d (Matthew 7:23).
\nAgain, all unbelievers will be cast away from the loving presence of Jesus for all eternity,
\nbecause they have not known Him. Instead of spending eternity worshipping Him in heaven,
\nthey will eternally experience the wrath of God in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-14).
\nTherefore, the gospel has crucially important implications. Sadly though, although many
\nChristians claim to believe that the gospel is \u201cthe power of God for salvation\u201d (Romans 1:16),
\nthey present it in a man-centered, weak, or watered down fashion. While the Bible plainly
\nteaches that the sole requirement to be saved is to trust Christ as Lord and Savior, the
\n\u201cinvitation\u201d to \u201ctrust\u201d or \u201caccept\u201d Him is often given in a vague manner. Christians need to take
\ntime to thoroughly explain the gospel when evangelizing, but unfortunately, many never do. If
\nthe gospel is not explained and understood, false conversions happen more frequently as a result
\nof superficial and misinformed decisions. As a result, churches become filled with deceived but
\ncomfortable people who will one day stand at the gate of heaven saying, \u201cLord, Lord, did we
\nnot\u2026\u201d (Matthew 7:22) only to hear Him reply, \u201cI never knew you. Away from me, you
\nevildoers!\u201d (v.23). If anything in the Bible is frightening, this is it\u2026people who claim the name
\nof Christ, go to church, and even do ministry, all the while living their lives with a false hope,
\nbecause they never really knew Jesus.<\/p>\n
\nthe man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead\u201d
\n(Acts 17:31). Although one day everyone will unmistakably see His Lordship, only those who
\nsubmit to His Lordship while on earth will be saved. Everyone else will remain in their sins and
\nsuffer eternal punishment (John 8:24, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).<\/p>\n
\nThe gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of tremendous significance. It is the good news of who
\nChrist is and what He has done\u2026a powerful message that exposes man\u2019s sinfulness and need for
\nthe Savior\u2026the only message that enables people to come to true, repentant faith in Christ. The
\ngospel is an unchanging declaration and a mighty invitation to know and embrace Jesus Christ.
\nSince, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men\u2026Christ’s
\nlove compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all
\ndied. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves
\nbut for him who died for them and was raised again\u2026 if anyone is in Christ, he is
\na new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who
\nreconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
\nthat God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins
\nagainst them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are
\ntherefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through
\nus. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who
\nhad no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of
\nGod. (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)<\/p>\n