The Gospel

“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scripture”

This simple statement, summarily called the Gospel, is good news for sinners. It is the power of God on display for all and the power applied for all those who believe.  Power that will save anyone from eternal hell and judgment, anyone who will entrust themselves to the One who died for our sins and was raised.

This statement teaches us a great deal about God and ourselves.

“Christ DieD” Teaches us about God.

God, who knows no beginning or no end… who eternally exists in three persons, God, the Father, God, the Son and God, the Holy Spirit…

God who created all things through His spoken Word and who has revealed Himself in creation…

God who describes Himself in the Bible when He says “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished” (Exodus 34:36-7, NASB)…

is God of the heavens and the earth who has ultimately revealed all of His fullness in the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who became man.

“Christ died” teaches us that God loves.  God is merciful and kind and willing to rescue sinners from death and judgment by sacrificing His own Son in our place to atone for our sins.  God loves and has made peace between Himself and those who believe in Him.

“Christ died” also teaches us that God is just and the Judge.  He will by no means leave the guilty, in their sins, unpunished. If He was willing to pour out His wrath on His Son, how much more will He pour out His wrath on those who reject His Son?

“Christ died for our sins” teaches us about ourselves.

God is holy and perfect, but we are a sinful people.  We dishonor God and often walk in rebellion against God and against His Word.  We live our lives according to our own wisdom and desires and reject how God teaches us to live in the Bible.  And our sinful rebellion makes us deserving of God’s holy judgement.  

God has determined that all sin deserves death… so much so that Christ died in order to save those who believe in Him. Nothing less than the death of Christ was sufficient to save sinners from eternal judgment and condemnation.

“He was raised” Teaches us about the grace of God and the Power of God.

When the Father raised the Son from the dead, He made known that the sacrifice of His Son was sufficient to atone for our sin.  The wrath of God poured out on His own Son was accepted by the Father on our behalf.

When God raised His Son from the dead, the grace of God was seen on full display. God was willing to rescue sinners from death and judgment.

And when God raised His Son from the dead, we saw the power of God on display.  God is able to not only save sinners and rescue them from death and judgment, but God promises to raise us up from the dead, all those who turn to His Son in faith.

So, according to the love of God and grace of God, and also according to the command of God, turn away from your sin and your sinful ways, and come to Christ, trusting in His sacrifice alone as sufficient to pay for your sins and reconcile you to God.