The Gospel of Jesus Christ pt.3

 The character of humanity...

     I think to grasp and appreciate the gospel, we must not only understand the character of God...but also our own character. Generally, what the bible has to say about us in often not flattering or pleasant...but it's accurate. Humanity is morally corrupt, but before man fell into sin our original state was noble however that present state is desperate. The bible teaches us that although humankind was created good (Genesis 1:26,31) all humans have fallen into spiritual death (Ephesians 2:1). We are by nature morally corrupt, inclined toward evil and hostile toward the righteous God. The bible teaches us that our inward moral corruption leads us to commit acts against the righteous standard of a holy, just and loving God. All of us without exception are sinners, both by nature and deeds that with have done. All of us stand guilty and condemned without excuse before God...prove of this lies in Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". It is comforting to know that God is holy and righteous, because it would be terrifying if the omnipotent ruler of the universe were evil. To most men however the absolute goodness of God may be disturbing...If God is good, what will he do with those of who are not? What will a good and righteous God with a people who are self-centered, inclined to evil and disobedient? If the judge of all the earth deals with us on the basis of justice, shouldn't He condemn us all? How can God be just, yet pardon those who should be justly condemned is probably the greatest of all religious dilemmas. The answer. That's the greatest of dilemmas that can only be found in the gospel. If God acts according to His justice, then the sinner must be condemned. If God pardons the sinner, then His justice is compromised. In justice, God condemned humanity and demanded complete satisfaction for our crimes against Him. In love, God took humanity upon Himself through the Son Jesus Christ...bore our sin, suffered the penalty we deserved and died in our place. The same God whose justice demanded satisfaction for our sin made satisfaction by offering Himself in our place...this is what makes the gospel truly good news. 

     Jesus Christ was our substitute. Upon the cross, Jesus Christ, the Son of God offered Himself as a sacrifice for His people's sin. On the cross our sins were put upon Christ for Him to bear...He suffered our curse and was forsaken by God and suffered the wrath of God and died in our place. Not only did Christ die for the sins of His people, but He raised (The Resurrection) on the third day. If he had not been raised then the gospel would have been proven a myth and our faith useless, but since Christ's resurrection is a historical fact, it validates everything that He both claimed to be and to do on our behalf. 

The resurrection is proof that Jesus is the son of God. John 2:18-19

The resurrection is proof that God accepted Christ's death as full payment for our sin. Romans 4:25

The resurrection is proof of the believer's future resurrection. John 11:25

The resurrection is proof that the world has a Lord and a Judge. Acts 2:36 and Acts 17:30-31

     Our response to this good news should be repentance. What is true repentance? It's the spiritual about-face and is an essential piece of saving faith that without Christ we are lost.  It means we must make changes in our thinking (Psalm 51:3-4) It means we must make changes in our emotions (2 Corinthians 7:9) We must make changes in our actions. (Acts 26:20) 

    With repentance comes saving faith. The bible defines faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1) Faith is more than a belief in the existence of God...it involves a trust, confidence or reliance upon His character and the truthfulness of His word. (James 2:19).  With regard to the gospel, genuine faith involves believing in and relying on what God has revealed about Himself, about us and about His work of salvation through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. To believe is to be fully assured that what God has promised through Jesus Christ, He is really willing and able to perform. The following verses are a good representation of what God has promised...

John 3:16

John 1:12

John 5:24