What is the Gospel? Part 2

God’s Answer:

The Bible is a manual for our life, as many have said, but it is more than that, so much more. It is all encompassing, for every aspect of our life. One thing the Bible is, a love letter written to the people of God. The answer to our question asked above, God answers in His book to us. The Bible is the living breathing, infallible, inerrant word of God. John 1:1 tells us “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”, this verse specifically speaks to the deity of Christ, but I want you to also take away the supreme importance of the Word of God.

Now, what is God’s answer to our problem? He gives us the answer in His Word. The answer is two-fold, part one is that He set aside a people for Himself before the foundation of the World. Part two is the life, work, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I do not want to spend too much time on the first part, seeing as I plan to write ample amounts about the predestination of God’s elect in due time. However, I will expand upon it for the sake of this discussion and provide adequate context. For most of this explanation, I will simply let the Word of God speak.

Paul in his epistle to the Ephesians is encouraging a church in hostile territory, surrounded by pagan gods and idolatry that is heavily permeated to the core with sexual immorality. Sound like any place you’ve heard of? Paul, in the first part of his letter explains many truths of the Gospel to give the people hope and to help them understand how they can apply the second part of his letter, which is about walking as a Christian. The following is a direct quote from Ephesians 1, verse 3 through verse 14.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (4) For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love (5) he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— (6) to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (7) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace (8) that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, (9) he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, (10) to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

(11) In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, (12) in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. (13) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, (14) who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

I really want you to sit with me here for a moment, re-read verse 4 and just stop to think. “He [God] chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” Now this message was for believers in Ephesus from Paul but still applies to all believers today. The intentionality of such an order, to be chosen before the creation, to be held as holy, to be held as blameless. Truthfully, I can’t wrap my head around that fully, I see the wickedness of my own heart, how could a righteous and just God do such a thing. For so long these words hollowed me out to my core, as God’s grace in my life cultivated my faith, I couldn’t bring myself to understand why. It made no sense; I do not deserve this. That, my friends, is a man-centered thought. The answer is not man-centered but God-centered, Christ is the answer. Why would God save a remnant? For His son, Christ is the answer. God has laid out His plan so that a people would be given as the Church, the Bride of Christ, to His son. Therefore, Jesus would be glorified on all Heaven and Earth. Christ is the answer to “Our Problem”, His life, work, death and resurrection delivered us from the wrath of a righteous God and secured our justification by His blood. In Christ we are free from our chains, in Christ we are no longer slaves to death, in Christ we are sons of the Most High God.

Part three will focus on the nature of the atonement, the Crucifixion of Christ and how His blood paid our ransom, once and for all. If you have questions please, I urge you to continue your reading, do not let the sun go down on the desire to know more.

To Christ be the Glory.