Many will say..."Come on Robert, everybody knows that Jesus died for our sins." The "Historical Gospel" is far more than Jesus dying for our sins. It is the "Historical Gospel" because it took place over 2000 years ago. It is a past, one time, historical event. Many refer to it as the "Christ Event." We had nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with the Gospel. What took place in the Gospel was between God and his Son Jesus Christ. We are the benefactors of the Gospel. This Gospel calls into question all religions and all religious doctrines and thought.
To understand the Gospel it must be examined in the background of the Old Testament. The Old Testament is a record of man's inability to please a Holy God. Starting with Adam, man is a sinner. Many of the patriarch's and prophets confessed that they were unworthy sinners. Isaiah confessed that,
"We are all as an unclean thing, and all of our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we do all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" Isaiah 64:6.
This is the plight of fallen man. He is born a sinner and dies a sinner. The question arises, how then can fallen man be saved? If fallen man could be saved by Calvinism or by Catholicism, then there would be no need for the Gospel. If fallen man could somehow earn favor with God and be saved by his works, or by what he has become (predestinated) then there would be no need for the Gospel. The sin is within, therefore the salvation must be without.
Jesus comes into the world as God's new Adam and humanities new representative.
"Therefore as by the offense of one (Adam) judgment came upon ALL MEN to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus Christ) the FREE GIFT came upon ALL MEN unto justification of life" Romans 5:18.
Jesus is God's justifier, Romans 3:26. And who does Jesus justify?
"Now to him that does works is the reward (salvation) not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that does no works, but believes on him (Jesus) that justifies the ungodly, his faith (not his works) are counted for righteousness" Romans 4:4, 5.
How does Jesus justify the ungodly? Jesus in our name and on our behalf, offers to God the Father a life of perfect obedience according to his Holy Law. Jesus does for us that which we cannot do for ourselves because we are sinners. He justifies us and makes us holy and without blame in his sight. We are accepted in the beloved, Ephesians 1:6. No Calvinism, Catholicism, religion needed. We are complete "In Christ" Colossians 2:10.
What about our sins and the sins of the world? If God in the person of Jesus Christ had not defeated sin, death and the devil there would not be any salvation for anyone. Jesus is Lord. If there was one jot or tittle of the law that was not fulfilled, Jesus would not be in heaven at the right hand of God. If there was one sin that Jesus did not atone for, Jesus would not be in heaven at the right hand of God. If Jesus had not defeated death and the devil, Jesus would not be in heaven at the right hand of God. Jesus's acceptance into heaven is our acceptance. We were accepted in him.
The resounding message of the New Testament is that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, Acts 2:36. Jesus has justified the ungodly and has reconciled us and the world unto God.
"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them: and has committed unto us the the word of reconciliation" (which is the Gospel) 2 Corinthians 5:19.
Because of the victorious work of Christ, God is at peace with us and the world, Colossians 1:20. When God looks at us all that he can see is his Son Jesus Christ, "For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" Colossians 3:3. We who are saved have entered into his rest, Hebrews 4:10, and are awaiting his return.
To understand the Gospel it must be examined in the background of the Old Testament. The Old Testament is a record of man's inability to please a Holy God. Starting with Adam, man is a sinner. Many of the patriarch's and prophets confessed that they were unworthy sinners. Isaiah confessed that,
"We are all as an unclean thing, and all of our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we do all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" Isaiah 64:6.
This is the plight of fallen man. He is born a sinner and dies a sinner. The question arises, how then can fallen man be saved? If fallen man could be saved by Calvinism or by Catholicism, then there would be no need for the Gospel. If fallen man could somehow earn favor with God and be saved by his works, or by what he has become (predestinated) then there would be no need for the Gospel. The sin is within, therefore the salvation must be without.
Jesus comes into the world as God's new Adam and humanities new representative.
"Therefore as by the offense of one (Adam) judgment came upon ALL MEN to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus Christ) the FREE GIFT came upon ALL MEN unto justification of life" Romans 5:18.
Jesus is God's justifier, Romans 3:26. And who does Jesus justify?
"Now to him that does works is the reward (salvation) not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that does no works, but believes on him (Jesus) that justifies the ungodly, his faith (not his works) are counted for righteousness" Romans 4:4, 5.
How does Jesus justify the ungodly? Jesus in our name and on our behalf, offers to God the Father a life of perfect obedience according to his Holy Law. Jesus does for us that which we cannot do for ourselves because we are sinners. He justifies us and makes us holy and without blame in his sight. We are accepted in the beloved, Ephesians 1:6. No Calvinism, Catholicism, religion needed. We are complete "In Christ" Colossians 2:10.
What about our sins and the sins of the world? If God in the person of Jesus Christ had not defeated sin, death and the devil there would not be any salvation for anyone. Jesus is Lord. If there was one jot or tittle of the law that was not fulfilled, Jesus would not be in heaven at the right hand of God. If there was one sin that Jesus did not atone for, Jesus would not be in heaven at the right hand of God. If Jesus had not defeated death and the devil, Jesus would not be in heaven at the right hand of God. Jesus's acceptance into heaven is our acceptance. We were accepted in him.
The resounding message of the New Testament is that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, Acts 2:36. Jesus has justified the ungodly and has reconciled us and the world unto God.
"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them: and has committed unto us the the word of reconciliation" (which is the Gospel) 2 Corinthians 5:19.
Because of the victorious work of Christ, God is at peace with us and the world, Colossians 1:20. When God looks at us all that he can see is his Son Jesus Christ, "For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" Colossians 3:3. We who are saved have entered into his rest, Hebrews 4:10, and are awaiting his return.
