The Gospel Defined
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" - 1 Cor. 15:3-4
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" - 1 Cor. 15:3-4
The Gospel
- The Gospel speaks of Christ’s death for our sins. His burial, and His resurrection on the third day as the only way for salvation. (I Cor. 15:1- 4; Acts 4:12; I Tim 2:5)
- Christ’s death is vicarious (2 Cor. 5:21; I Pet. 2:24), is an atonement (Rom. 5:11); is a propitiation (1 Jn. 2:2) and brings reconciliation between God and man (Eph. 2:18).
- Christ’s bodily resurrection (Lk. 24:39; Mt. 28:9; Jn. 20:5-7) guarantees that all believers will one day be raised from the dead (Rom. 8:11; I Cor. 15:20-23) to be with Christ forever.
- Salvation is available for all but is enjoyed only by those who believe the gospel (Jn. 1:29; Titus 2:11; Rom. 10:13; Rev. 22:17).
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." - Rom. 1:16
Salvation, Sanctification and Glorification
"Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." - Rom. 8:30
- A man is saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ apart from any works of merit of the sinner (Jn. 3:36; Eph. 2:8-9).
- A saved man is a child of God (Jn. 1:12), receives a new life (2 Cor. 5:17), is sanctified (I Cor. 6:1 1), is justified (Rom. 5:1), and finally is glorified (Rom. 8:30) to be with Christ forever.
- A Christian is sanctified positionally in Christ, progressively as he obeys the Scriptures, and completely when he sees Christ either at death or at His coming (I Cor. 1:2, 30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Jn. 17:17; 1 Thess. 4:3-7; Heb. 12:23; I Jn. 3:2).
