What is the Gospel? Part 2

Yesterday we looked at the message of the Gospel, today it's meaning. Follow along in 1 Cor. 15:1-11.

The meaning of the gospel. What it stands for. (Its implications). I'll point out just two of it's many facets.

Salvation 15:2 being saved; the work God does to rescue us from sin. God knowing us, choosing before all time who would be saved. Renewing the lives of those who respond by faith. Leading us to belief and trust the message of the Gospel. Us turning to God based on the Gospel; turning from sin to God. God freeing us from the penalty of sin – declaring sinners "not guilty". God separating us from the trap of sin. Our continued true belief, remaining saved because God is totally trustworthy – He keeps His covenant all by Himself. God empowering us to live and communicate the Gospel. And God's final removal of all sin from the life and presence of believers (in eternity). It is all of God and none of us; Titus 3:5 He saved us not on the basis of deeds we have done in righteousness but according to His mercy; but don't think we are simply pawns in the hands of God, He uses us as His tools, as Paul says in 15:10. We are like elbow macaroni in the hands of God. Hold a piece of it under a stream of water and you see how it works. We are channels of His love, earthen vessels entrusted with the gloroius gospel.

Reconciliation. 15:1 In which you stand. We cannot stand before a holy God unless that holy God does something about our separation issue, our enmity and hostility made us hostile in heart and mind, alienated from the life of God. Eph. 2:3 we were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest, deserving the full measure of the wrath of God for the sin we have committed. Not only did our hostility keep us from God, the debt of our sin itself did Col. 2:13-15. When we consider the magnitude of what God has done is reconcile us to Himself; making peace through the blood of His cross we are left speechless. Rom. 5:1 having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus. One day, as we see in Rev. 6:16, all who do not believe will say to the mountains and rocks fall on us, hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand? Only those who are standing in the gospel – recipients of God’s gracious and merciful provision - by grace, through faith in Jesus is the only hope of anyone standing in God’s presence without fear.

Tomorrow we'll look at the mission of the Gospel.