We've seen in previous articles that our salvation is entirely by God's grace toward us for the sake of the redemption accomplished for all by Jesus Christ when He suffered and died upon the cross for the sins of the world. And this grace is received and becomes our own, not by our own works or deeds, but solely through faith in Christ Jesus which God creates in us.
But how does God offer and give us His grace?
Even though Jesus Christ fulfilled all righteousness for us, suffered and died for the sins of all mankind and rose again in triumph, His atonement would have little benefit to us if God did not reach out to us and communicate and share with us the good news that our sins are paid for in full and that through faith in Jesus we have forgiveness, are accepted as children of God and have a place in His everlasting kingdom.
The Bible teaches that God offers, gives and assures to people the forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation which Christ won for all by His innocent sufferings and death on the cross through certain means: namely, through His word of the Gospel, Christian Baptism and the Lord's Supper. It is through these means that God the Holy Spirit graciously makes known to us God's gift of salvation in Jesus Christ and assures us that, for Christ's sake, we are forgiven of all sins and have everlasting life in heaven.
That is why Jesus commanded His disciples to go into all the world and "preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15); to "teach [disciple] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20); that "repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations" (Luke 24:47); and to observe His Supper and so proclaim His death and remember Him and the sacrifice He made to redeem us from our sins (1 Corinthians 11:23ff.).
The Bible says: "From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15); "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17); "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:4-7); "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16); "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:26-28); and "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).
What is the Gospel?
The Gospel is the good message and announcement that Jesus Christ, God's only-begotten Son made flesh, suffered and died and made atonement for the sins of the world, and then rose again in victory. It is God's good news to you and to me that, because of what Jesus did for us when He shed His blood and died upon the cross for the sins of all, our sins are paid for in full. It is God's word offering forgiveness and life everlasting by which he reaches out to us in mercy and with pardon and forgiveness toward us.
The Bible tells us: "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:19); "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16,17); "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" (Ephesians 1:13); and "And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh" (Ephesians 2:17).
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel to the paralytic when He said, "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee" (Matthew 9:2); and to the woman who anointed Jesus' feet, when He said, "Thy sins are forgiven" (Luke 7:48).
And so, the Gospel is the means whereby God offers, gives and assures to you and to me the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting which Jesus won for all by His holy life and innocent sufferings and death upon the cross in our stead. The Holy Spirit, working through the Gospel, creates and sustains faith in our hearts whereby we believe and trust that God forgives us, accepts us as His own dear children and gives to us the everlasting joys of heaven.
Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer and the pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Rogers. He may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 08/17/2016