Years of blogging experience have taught me that my view count always suffers when I write about either Biblical Creation or the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, I never was one to seek popularity…
How is the gospel of Jesus Christ significant to us, and what are the benefits it offers? My answer, or part of it, is based on Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born (1 Corinthians 15:3-8).
1: WE CAN BE FREE OF THE PENALTY FOR SIN
Trusting in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and in his resurrection for our salvation, is the Biblical way to eternal life. Numerous efforts have been made by enemies of this gospel to wipe it from history and the minds of men. Despots, communists, atheists, Leftists and even large organizations purporting to be spreading the gospel have been attempting to destroy it. Why is the sacrifice of Christ so important, and why is his death so vital?
Our sin has separated us from a perfect holy God, because he cannot tolerate sin. He can’t wink at it or ignore it and live with it, and contrary to popular belief here in the woke twenty-first century, he doesn’t change his views to suit ours. Neither do his standards evolve. God will not populate his heaven with people who are opposed to his ways-this is simple logic, besides Biblical truth. The end product of sin, according to Old and New Testament scriptures, is death, both physical and spiritual. This fact affects us all, no matter how good we may think we are: none of us can match up to God’s standards. God has to be true to his own nature, and he can’t deny his justice any more than he can deny his love.
However, God loved his creation, fallen though it is, and had a plan to destroy sin and ultimately its outcome, death. God’s plan was to send his son to earth as a man, and to die as a perfect sacrifice for sin. Only Jesus Christ could fulfill that mission, because only he was sinless and perfect. When he died on the cross he satisfied God’s holy justice, and paid the penalty, the “price” of our sin.
This doesn’t mean we don’t sin any more, it means that there’s nothing standing between us and our creator, except our own reluctance, and determination to continue in sin. If we turn from our sin we’re completely forgiven and in a right relationship with God. Paul said:
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8: 1).
Jesus said “Whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11: 26). He did NOT say “whoever believes and goes to XYZ church and gives at least ten percent of their income…”! I’m not saying that we can live however we want to live and get away with it-we can’t-but if we turn from sin and to him we are completely forgiven.
2: OUR SIN WAS BURIED WITH CHRIST
“…He was buried…”
Jesus “became sin” for us. He was buried in a tomb, contrary to many modern attempts to write another version of his life. You don’t bury someone who isn’t dead. His disciples witnessed his death, and the Roman guard sealed and guarded the tomb, at the request of those who wanted him dead and who gloated over his death. They would have all ensured that he was dead and buried, and had the disciples attempted to claim that he was resurrected when he wasn’t, the authorities would have displayed the body for all to see.
Our sin was buried with him, and baptism is symbolic of our association with him, and with the burial of our sin and our past sinful lifestyle.
3: WE CAN HAVE NEW LIFE NOW, AND ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST
“…he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…”
The doctrine of the resurrection of Jesus has been under constant attack, even from within the church. No wonder, because it’s one of the most essential doctrines, perhaps the most essential. Without it the gospel is empty. The resurrection of Jesus demonstrates his power over death, his divine nature, and his ability and willingness to give us eternal life with him as he promised very clearly many times. It’s the resurrection which gives us hope for the future, and which puts our earthly life into its proper context and perspective. Our present physical body is very temporary and weak, but our resurrected body will be full of eternal life force. Again, his resurrection was foretold in Old Testament Scriptures (see Acts 2: 27 – 31 and 13:34 – 37, with Psalm 16:10).
4: HE DEMONSTRATED HIS POWER OVER DEATH
“…and that he appeared…”
Paul listed those who had seen Jesus alive after his resurrection. Paul was the last to see him. Those who went about spreading the good news had nothing to gain except persecution and death. Yes, people do give their lives to become martyrs to other religions, but no-one will die for something he knows is untrue. Neither did they kill in order to spread their beliefs or agenda. Instead they risked and in many cases lost their own lives.
The gospel is the most significant good news you could ever hear, so long as you accept it and live it yourself.
Fuel for Faith 