The Gospel for Real Life

1. The Gospel is More Than a Ticket to Heaven

“The reality of present-day Christendom is that most professing Christians actually know very little of the gospel, let alone understand its implications for their day-to-day lives.”

Beyond Fire Insurance. Many view the gospel as merely a means to avoid hell and gain heaven, a kind of "fire insurance." This limited perspective neglects the gospel's profound impact on our present relationship with God and our daily lives. It's not just about escaping eternal punishment; it's about experiencing God's love and acceptance now.

Spiritual Poverty. Many believers live in "quiet desperation," feeling guilt-ridden and insecure, despite their faith. This stems from a truncated view of the gospel, seeing it only as a door to enter Christianity, not as the foundation for daily living. They are like the former slave who inherited a fortune but asked for fifty cents, unaware of the riches available to them.

Unsearchable Riches. The gospel offers "unsearchable riches" far beyond mere salvation. It addresses our deepest problems—guilt, condemnation, and alienation from God—and provides a basis for daily acceptance and a transformed life. It's not just about what happens after death, but about how we live now, empowered by God's grace.

2. Sin's Depth Demands a Radical Solution

“Our need is not to be measured by our own sense of need, but by what God had to do to meet that need.”

Original Sin. Our sinfulness is not just a matter of individual actions; it's rooted in our fallen nature inherited from Adam. This "original sin" means we are born with a bent toward evil, making us by nature objects of God's wrath, even before we commit any personal sins.

Personal Transgressions. We compound our sinful condition with our own daily transgressions, both outward and inward. Even our best deeds are tainted by selfishness, pride, and other "refined" sins. We fall woefully short of God's perfect standard of loving Him with all our heart, soul, and mind, and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

God's Holiness. God's holiness is not just moral purity; it's His absolute separation from sin. He cannot tolerate or condone it. His holiness demands that sin be punished, and this is why the cross was necessary. It wasn't just a nice gesture; it was a radical solution to a radical problem.

3. Christ's Perfect Obedience is Our Righteousness

“He not only perfectly obeyed the Law of God, He always desired to do so.”

Active Obedience. Jesus not only died for us, but He also lived for us. His entire life was one of perfect obedience to God's Law, fulfilling every requirement that we have failed to meet. This "active obedience" is credited to us, making us righteous in God's sight.

Passive Obedience. Jesus also suffered the full penalty for our sins, enduring God's wrath on the cross. This "passive obedience" was not a passive act, but a deliberate choice to bear the consequences of our disobedience. He suffered what we should have suffered.

Union with Christ. Christ's obedience and suffering are effective for us because of our "union with Christ." We are legally united to Him, so that His life and death become ours. When God looks at us, He sees us clothed in the perfect righteousness of His Son.

4. Justice and Mercy Meet at the Cross

“The cross, then, is an expression of God’s wrath toward sin as well as His love to us.”

God's Inflexible Justice. God's justice demands that all sin be punished. He cannot simply forgive without satisfying His own righteous standard. There is no tension between justice and mercy with God; both are fully expressed at the cross.

Christ's Satisfaction. Through His death, Jesus fully satisfied God's justice on our behalf. He bore the full brunt of God's wrath that we deserved. Because of this, God's justice toward us is satisfied, and we are no longer under condemnation.

Harmony of Attributes. At the cross, justice and mercy are reconciled. God's justice is honored, and His mercy is fully expressed. This is a testament to God's infinite wisdom and love, providing a way for us to be both forgiven and righteous in His sight.

5. Christ Emptied the Cup of God's Wrath

“Jesus exhausted the wrath of God. It was not merely deflected and prevented from reaching us; it was exhausted.”

The Cup of Wrath. The "cup" in Scripture is a metaphor for God's judgment and wrath against sin. Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross, drank this cup in our place, enduring the full fury of God's wrath.

Propitiation. Christ's death was not just a deflection of God's wrath; it was a propitiation, meaning He exhausted it. He bore the full brunt of God's judgment, so that there is nothing left for those who trust in Him.

God's Love. The Father initiated this act of propitiation out of His great love for us. It was not a reluctant act, but a demonstration of His mercy and grace. The cross is the ultimate expression of both God's wrath against sin and His love for sinners.

6. Our Sins Are Removed, Not Just Forgiven

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

The Scapegoat. The Old Testament scapegoat, which carried away the sins of the Israelites, is a picture of Christ. He not only bore our sins on the cross, but He also carried them away, removing them from God's presence and from our own consciences.

Complete Removal. God has put our sins behind His back, blotted them out, remembers them no more, and hurled them into the depths of the sea. These are not just metaphors; they are assurances of the complete and permanent removal of our sins.

Expiation. Christ's work of expiation is the removal of our sin. It accompanies propitiation, which addresses God's wrath. Both are necessary for our complete salvation. We must believe that our sins are not just forgiven, but also removed, so that we can live free from guilt.

7. Ransomed from the Curse, Adopted as Sons

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.”

The Curse of the Law. We are all under the curse of God's Law because we have failed to obey it perfectly. This curse brings separation from God and the prospect of eternal judgment.

Redemption. Christ redeemed us from this curse by becoming a curse for us. He paid the ransom price, freeing us from the condemnation of the Law. This is not just a legal transaction; it's a personal act of love.

Adoption. Through redemption, we are adopted into God's family as sons and daughters, with all the rights and privileges that come with that status. We are no longer slaves, but heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.

8. Reconciliation: God's Initiative, Our Response

“God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.”

Enmity with God. Our sin has made us enemies of God, objects of His righteous hatred. We are alienated from Him, and we are powerless to reconcile ourselves.

God's Initiative. God took the initiative to reconcile us to Himself through the death of Christ. He did not wait for us to change; He made the first move, bridging the gap of alienation.

Our Response. We are called to "be reconciled to God," to receive His work of reconciliation. This involves acknowledging our sin, accepting Christ's sacrifice, and living in a way that honors Him. Our reconciliation is permanent and eternal.

9. Justification: Declared Righteous by Faith

“For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.”

Righteousness from God. We cannot earn a right relationship with God through our own efforts. Instead, God provides a righteousness for us through faith in Jesus Christ. This is not our own righteousness, but Christ's righteousness imputed to us.

Justification by Faith. Justification is God's declaration that we are righteous in His sight, not because of our good works, but because of Christ's perfect obedience and sacrifice. It is received through faith, which involves renouncing any trust in our own goodness and relying entirely on Christ.

Peace with God. As a result of justification, we have peace with God. The war is over, and we are no longer under condemnation. This is not just a past event; it's a present reality in which we can rejoice every day.

10. Faith is a Gift, Not a Human Achievement

“Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

Spiritual Death. Before we become believers, we are spiritually dead, unable to respond to God. We are blinded by Satan, enslaved to our sinful natures, and hostile to God.

The New Birth. God, through His Holy Spirit, gives us spiritual life, enabling us to see our need for a Savior and to believe in Christ. This is the new birth, a sovereign act of God that precedes and results in our faith.

Faith as a Gift. Faith is not something we generate on our own; it is a gift from God. It is part of the whole salvation package that God gives to us through the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit. We are not saved by our faith, but through faith, which is a gift.

11. Children of God: A Present and Future Reality

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!”

Born of God. We are not only adopted by God, but we are also born of Him, receiving a new spiritual life and a new nature. This means we are not just legally related to God; we are also vitally connected to Him.

Adoption as Sons. We are adopted into God's family as sons and daughters, with all the rights and privileges that come with that status. We have access to Him as "Abba, Father," and we are heirs of His kingdom.

Future Hope. We look forward to the day when we will be fully conformed to the likeness of Christ, both in spirit and in body. This is our ultimate hope, and it motivates us to live for Him now.

12. The Gospel's Power Extends to the Ends of the Earth

“All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.”

God's Plan. God's plan is that all nations will be blessed through Christ. This is not just a promise for the future; it's a call to action for us now.

The Great Commission. Jesus commanded us to make disciples of all nations, bringing people under His authority and sharing the gospel with them. This is our task, and it is to be carried out to the ends of the earth.

Our Role. We are not to be a terminus point for the gospel, but rather a way station in its progress to the ends of the earth. We are to be actively involved in spreading the gospel, whether through prayer, giving, or going. The gospel is not just about God and me; it's about God and the world.

Last updated: January 20, 2025