Now that we have learned to start influencing people towards Christ and to share our testimony, we must know the gospel message in order to share it with others. First of all the gospel is about Jesus Christ (Mark 1:1; Philippians 1:27). It is the word of truth (Colossians 1:5). Some of the components of the gospel are judgment (Romans 2:16), the grace of God (Acts 20:24), salvation (1 Corinthians 15:1-2; Ephesians 1:13), going to heaven (Colossians 1:5), and the lordship of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:3-5). Basically, the simple gospel message is that we are in danger of the judgment of God because of our sin, but God offers grace that leads to salvation and going to heaven. We make a commitment to the lordship of Christ and then are saved. It is for this reason that Paul teaches that believing the gospel leads to salvation (Ephesians 1:13).
The gospel involves two parties. First it is about Christ, that is about how he provided for our salvation. Therefore, to study how the work of Christ provided for our salvation is to study the gospel message. We are taught that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and that sin leads straight to hell (Matthew 5:29-30; 2 Peter 2:4-11). In fact, to keep “the whole law and yet stumble…in one point” is to “become guilty of all” (James 2:10). God cannot tolerate sin and he cannot leave sin unpunished (Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 7:9-11; Habakkuk 1:13; Romans 1:18-20) to do so would be unjust. Sin had to be judged and yet God is full of mercy (Luke 6:36; Hebrews 2:17) and love (John 3:16; 1 John 4:8). The situation is made difficult because all of mankind is so sinful (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8). We caused a great tension for God. Many often complain, “How could God condemn people to hell?” We should actually look at ourselves and say, “How could we be so selfish to sin against a holy and loving God and complain that he gives people what they deserve and yet gives them a way out?”
Because God is perfectly holy and just and yet at the same time so loving and compassionate, the sinfulness of man created such a tension for God. How could God remain just and yet let so many sins that justly deserve punishment to go unpunished? However, how could God remaining loving and give no opportunity for redemption or salvation from eternal punishment? In order to pay the price for man’s sins, it had to be a man that died. It is for this reason Jesus came to earth. Also, in order for him to pay for the sins of others, he had to be without sin himself otherwise he would be paying for his sins (Leviticus 22:21; 1 Peter 1:19). It is for this reason that Paul said, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Plus, how could one man die for the sins of all mankind unless that man created all mankind. It is for this reason that God had to become a man and die for the sins of man (Colossians 1:13-20).
The life, death, and resurrection of Christ exemplified the perfection of God. God remained perfectly just by punishing sin and yet perfectly loving by paying for it himself. It is amazing to think about the ramifications of it. It is such an amazing story. His death purchased our salvation (Colossians 1:19-23). His resurrection accomplished our salvation (1 Peter 1:3-5). Salvation from the punishment of our sins is offered through the work of Christ. The last part of the gospel message is how do we receive that salvation? In the next lesson we will discuss the answer to that question.
