The gospel is
exceptionally most important communication of God to
man. In Jesus, who is God the Son, The gospel of Jesus
Christ is the summary explanation of who he is and what he accomplished for us.
The word gospel literally means "good news". It's good news because
it's an answer to our basic problem.
Gospel is the revelation of God’s love and sacrifice that saves us from God's
righteous judgment upon sinners.
In short, the Gospel is
the life-altering news that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man,
lived a sinless life under the Law, died for sinners and rose again to
reconcile them to himself, eternally victorious over every enemy that stood
between God and man. Paul said “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you
of the gospel I preached to you…… By this gospel you are saved … that
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he
was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the
Scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
In this study we will
explore the practical issues surrounding, Redemption, Repentance,
Reconciliation, Restoration, and Resurrection. The Five major words that we use
to summarize the Gospel on what happened when Jesus died will help us to
understand how desperately poor we are by nature and how rich we can become by
‘the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ'.
1.
Redemption.
The Bible teaches that
sin not only separates sinners from God but imprisons them. They are ‘slaves of
sin' (Romans 6:17). What is more, sinners are not merely the captives of a
sinful principle, but they are in ‘the snare of the devil, after being captured
by him to do his will' (2 Timothy 2:26). Most people reject this, but every
sinful habit confirms its truth. Jesus said that he had come to ‘give his life
as a ransom for many' (Mark 10:45). His death on the cross was the
essential ransom price so that God's justice could be satisfied and the sinners
in whose place Jesus died set free.
The Bible sees sin as a
debt owed by the sinner to God, but those on whose behalf Jesus died receive
not only ‘redemption through his blood' but also ‘the forgiveness of sins'
(Ephesians 1:7). In the death of Jesus the believer is cut loose from the
double burden of guilt and debt and is freely and fully forgiven — forever. When
a ransom has been paid, the captives are set free, or redeemed, and this is
what happens to those for whom Jesus gave his life. The apostle Paul says that
Jesus ‘redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us'
(Galatians 3:13). By nature we are under the ‘curse' of God's holy law, which
pronounces us guilty in his sight. Jesus was under no such curse, yet in order
to satisfy the demands of divine justice he bore the curse of the law in full.
The ransom price to bring redemption to helpless sinners was nothing less than
his death in their place, and he paid it in full, setting prisoners of sin free
to live in a way that is pleasing to God.
The Bible Dictionary
describes redemption as “the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ and our
deliverance from sin”. The biblical concept translated as
redemption refers to the practice of purchasing a slave in order to free
him from slavery. In this sense, Christ has purchased us through His atoning
blood and frees us from our bondage to sin (1 Peter 1:18–19). Another
definition of redemption is “to repurchase something previously possessed and
subsequently lost. Redemption is thus
God’s way of reclaiming his children from the fall of man by sacrificing
Christ’s redeeming blood as reparation for their repossession.”
Redemption simply is
reestablishment of Christ’s ownership of our lives. Redemption is a past,
present, and future activity. When Jesus died on the cross, he paid the penalty
owed for our sin, breaking its power to condemn us now and forever. Through
humility and repentance, we must examine our attitudes, actions, and
intentions, allowing Christ to redeem them (to own them), and make them new.
This is a process we must undertake every day of our lives, until we are fully,
perfectly redeemed in his eternal presence.
2. Reconciliation
Reconciliation means
bringing together those who are separated for one reason or another. By nature
and choice we are all separated from God because of our self-centred rebellion
against his authority and our determination to go our own way. As Jesus put
it, ‘The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather
than the light because their deeds were evil' (John 3:19). The Bible also says
that because of sin God has become man's enemy: ‘For the wrath of God is
revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men'
(Romans 1:18).Yet God has taken the
initiative and done something astonishing to enable man to be at peace with him by dealing with the
root cause of the rift — human sin.
In the death of his
Son, God not only punished human sin but also satisfied his own righteous judgment,
and in this he way removed the barrier separating him from sinners. This is why
the apostle Paul writes, “ For if, while we were God’s enemies, we
were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having
been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10) and tells us,
‘But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought
near by the blood of Christ.' (Ephesians 2:13). At the precise
moment Jesus died, God provided an amazing visual aid to illustrate this. In
the temple in Jerusalem, the focal point of the nation's worship, a
richly-embroidered veil or curtain separated the ‘Holy Place' from the ‘Most
Holy Place', the inner sanctuary that represented God's presence. As Jesus drew
his last breath, “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from
top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split' (Matthew 27:51). This miracle
was a sign that, whereas under the old religious system the high priest alone
could enter the symbolic presence of God, and then only once a year, the death
of Jesus had removed the sin barrier between God and man. Now, all those for
whom he died could be reconciled to God without any mediator. This why Bible
says ‘Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter
the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way opened
for us through the curtain, that is, his body” (Hebrews 10:19-20).
3.Repentance
Jesus’ death on the
Cross doesn’t automatically save and forgive everyone. Repentance
is the key to achieving the maximum blessings through both redemption and
resurrection. Redemption is a key component of repentance. Although Jesus died for all people’s sins,
they cannot receive God’s forgiveness and pardon unless they personally receive
this forgiveness through repentance and faith in Jesus. If they refuse, God is
heartbroken and they will not be saved. Repentance is more than confession. It
is being truly sorry for the
way we lived and forsaking all the sinful ways. “God commands All men
everywhere to Repent!” (Acts. 17:30) “He that conceals his sins shall not
prosper; but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.” (Prov. 28:13.)
I heard a story about a
man was condemned to death for a violent crime. His friend was able to obtain a
pardon from the governor. For some strange reason, the condemned man refused
the pardon. A special court was called to decide the case. The decision was
“The pardon was valid only if the condemned man would receive it. Because he
has rejected it, the pardon cannot take effect.” The man was executed. Nobody
was sadder than the friend who had tried so hard to save him.
“Let the wicked forsake
his way, and the evil man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord, and He
will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isa.
55:7). Jesus said; except you repent, you will all likewise perish (Luke. 13:3,
5).
4.Restoration
Restoration, like
redemption, is a process. I believe God desires all broken relationships to be
mended, and for all broken and hurting people to have a renewed sense of
purpose, unity, and joy in the body of Christ. The restoration process should
always seek to restore that which was lost first: a personal sense of identity
and purpose in Christ. No one sins without first forsaking his or her identity
in Christ and call to live in him. Restoration of identity and purpose begins
in the repentance phase of the process by addressing those areas in a person’s
life that do not match up with God’s character, will, or truth. In the
redemption phase we seek to bring those areas from darkness to light so Christ
can renew and redefine them. Restoration of self finds its completion when one
is able to authentically accept who one is in Christ, and who Christ is calling
him or her to be. At this step in the restoration process, one should see
evidence of authenticity, humility, and a renewed passion for holiness. Sin never
hurts only the sinner; it hurts everyone in relationship to the one who sins.
Family, friends, and communities all can be affected. Restoration in terms of
relationships is largely given, not earned. Someone who has offended another
can work hard to repent, change, grow, and build trust, but restoration of
relationship with the offended is a gift of grace and trust.
There is no greater joy
than this to see sinners repent, people redeemed, and relationships restored.
As you navigate people through the deep waters of sin, repentance, redemption,
and restoration, prayerfully remember the words of Solomon, “Trust in the Lord
with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways
acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5, 6).
Romans 5:1 say
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ.” The word Justification comes from the law courts. It
describes what happens when a judge declares that the prisoner before him is
not liable to any penalty demanded by the law and is to be treated as though he
had never broken it. Yet, as sinners stand condemned by a God whose eyes are
‘too pure to look on evil' and who ‘cannot tolerate wrong' (Habakkuk 1:13,
NIV), how can we possibly be declared ‘Not Guilty' in his sight and treated as
though we had never sinned? Jesus provides the answer. His perfect life met all
the demands of God's law — he was ‘holy, innocent, unstained, separated from
sinners' (Hebrews 7:26) — and his death paid in full the penalty that God's law
demands. Jesus was punished as though he had never been holy, so that those in
whose place he died could be treated as though they had never been unholy. God
declares a person righteous on the basis of the life and death of his Son, who
was acting on that person's behalf. This is why the apostle Paul claims,
‘Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ' (Romans 5:1). The justified sinner is brought
into God's favour and family and received as though he had met all the demands
of God's holy law. To be justified means to be made right with God for time and
eternity.
What is more, the
justified sinner receives eternal life immediately. When one of the criminals
crucified alongside Jesus turned to him in faith, Jesus promised him, ‘Truly, I
say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise' (Luke 23:43, emphasis
added). Their bodies would soon be buried, but the spirits of the sinner and
his Saviour would by then be in heaven. Left to ourselves, how poor are we? We
are exposed to God's righteous anger, spiritually dead, prisoners of Satan and
sin, helpless captives, hopelessly in debt to God, sworn enemies of our Creator
and guilty without excuse or escape. How rich can we become because of Jesus'
death? We can escape sin's death penalty, find favour with God, be set free
from prison, escape from our self-imposed captivity, have all our sins
forgiven, have spiritual peace and be right with God for ever.
5.Resurrection
“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of
those who have fallen asleep. Since death came through a man, the resurrection
of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all
will be made alive” 1 Corinthians 15:20-22.
Now, no man would
dispute that all men die sooner or later. We also know that the Bible
plainly speaks of a great day of judgment coming upon the world. The Bible speaks of physical death, spiritual death
and eternal death. All men die physically because they are the sons of Adam.
All men are born spiritually dead because of Adam's original sin. If physical
death overtakes a man while he is still in the condition of spiritual death, he
will experience eternal death which the Bible describes as eternal punishment,
separated from the presence of God. The moment a person dies physically, the
soul departs the body and goes either into the presence of God or into hell to
await the final Day of Judgment. That is the reason why the Bible tells us
"...it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes the
judgment." If a person
is not prepared for the final Day of Judgment, they have every reason to fear
death.
Death is the enemy of
man; but it is the glory of the Gospel of Jesus that it teaches us how we may meet
this last enemy with triumph. When Jesus Christ was on his way to the grave of
Lazarus, he proclaimed, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one
who believes in me will live, even though they die; 6 and
whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26) When
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life,” He was claiming to be the
source of both. There is no resurrection apart from Christ, and there is no
eternal life apart from Christ. Beyond that, Jesus was also making a statement concerning
His divine nature. He does more than give life; He is life, and
therefore death has no ultimate power over Him.
Resurrection of Jesus made all the difference in the
world. The death of the body, some day, is strangely linked, in a way that we do
not fully comprehend, with the death which is at work in our inner lives, right
now. That is, death is all one thing, whether it takes place and affects the
physical body some day, or whether it is taking place within the spirit of man
today. It is all of a piece. And that inner death is what we experience in a
thousand ways - sometimes as loneliness, bitterness, emptiness, despair,
depression of spirit, and sometimes it is malice and resentment and violence.
Whatever it may be, it is not what God intended for man. It is an enemy which
has seized man and lives with him and haunts him in everything he does. The
glorious hope as it is in Jesus, is that Jesus Christ, in dying and rising from
the dead, that he defeated it by his risen power. And the result is peace instead of restlessness,
acceptance rather than guilt, love in place of lust or hate, power to replace
weakness, joy for mourning, beauty for ashes, hope for despair, courage in
place of cowardice, and cleansing from all dirt and filth of spirit.
The reason Jesus Christ
means so much to the world is because he brought mankind a great new hope- The
hope of life beyond the grave. He robbed death of its sting and the grave of
its victory. He brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. 2Tim.1:10.
Until Jesus Christ came, men died without hope. Death was feared, for death was
an enemy. Men hated it, fought against it, and dreaded its arrival. Jesus
promised a life of endless bliss and joy, a life where there would be no more
pain, sickness, and death. Never before had men heard of such a glorious
resurrection and a life of endless bliss with Christ. A life with Christ in
place where there would be joy unutterable and peace indescribable.
In his great chapter on
the Resurrection, the Apostle Paul taught: about the Resurrection Body
He said “But someone
will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they
come?” ……………, There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly
bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor
of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of
splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs
from star in splendor. So will it be with the resurrection of the
dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised
imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it
is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it
is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a
spiritual body. …………. I declare to you, brothers and sisters,
that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the
perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We
will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in
the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will
sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”
(1 Corinthians 15:35-52).
The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its
perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even
as we now are at this time. . . . And even there shall not so much as a hair of
their heads be lost; but everything shall be restored to its perfect frame.
this mortal body is raised to an immortal body, that is from death, even from
the first death unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting
with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and
immortal, Bible says "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven
with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and
the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall
be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: so
shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:16-17).
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