Gal 2:20-21
What is the glorious truth of the Gospel? Before we can
answer that we need to understand something about the Gospel. There are two
foundational principles of the gospel we recognize as the pillars to the
Christian faith! The 1st Pillar it’s by the grace of God! Paul wrote in Eph
2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your
own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may
boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which
God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. The 2nd Pillar is the
death and resurrection of Christ! This is a vital truth, because if it isn't
true, than what Paul writes scares me to death; he wrote in 1 Cor 15:17 “And if
Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your
sins.” Without these two principles the gospel is nothing but a gospel created
by man for man. [Gal 1:6-9]. SEE! Jesus came to sinners [bad people] Listen to
the heart of Paul as he deals with his dilemma of sin “Wretched man that I am!
Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus
Christ our Lord!....” Rom 7:24-25
• That He
would consider the rebellious sons and daughters of Adam a hope of eternal
life.
• That I
have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
• That I
have been born again by the finishing work of the cross.
• That it
was the power of God unto salvation that I’m declared His own [declared
righteous].
Paul wrote in Romans 1:16-17 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel,
for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew
first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed
from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by
faith." We come to a letter where there was a lot of confusion for the
early church! Was it by works? Or was it by the grace of God through faith that
we are declared His? According to this letter Paul wrote to the church….a born
again Christian is someone who has been transformed by the power of God for the
glory of God.
WHAT IS THE GLORIOUS TRUTH FOUND IN THE GOSPEL?
1. THAT I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED TO MY SIN AND SELF (v20)
“I have been crucified with Christ” This is our victory over
sin and death….this is required for a Christian to see the Kingdom of God. This
is a powerful portion of scripture basically is telling us that justice has
been satisfied and the Christian is forever free from any further penalty of
sin. It required someone to show grace and for someone to take our place in the
courtroom of God. If you were to look at Rembrandt’s painting of The Three
Crosses, your attention would be drawn first to the center cross on which Jesus
died. Then as you would look at the crowd gathered around the foot of that
cross, you’d be impressed by the various facial expressions and actions of the
people involved in the awful crime of crucifying the Son of God. Finally, your
eyes would drift to the edge of the painting and catch sight of another figure,
almost hidden in the shadows.” Art critics say this is a representation of
Rembrandt himself, for he recognized that by his sins he helped nail Jesus to
the cross. Paul washer said "God saved you for Himself; God saved you by
Himself; God saved you from Himself." It was my sin your sin that held Him
there! As Isaiah said “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was
crushed for our iniquities;….” Isa 53:5. This had to be done in order for me
[us] to be set free from the bondage of sin. As Paul wrote in Rom 6:6-7 “We
know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin
might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For
one who has died has been set free from sin.”
WHAT IS THE GLORIOUS TRUTH FOUND IN THE GOSPEL?
2. I HAVE ESCAPED THE WRATH OF GOD AND ETERNAL TORMENT.
(V21)
Why do I say this?By what we read at the end of (v21) “for
if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” This portion
of scripture can be better translated “Christ died needlessly” Think about it!
If there was another way to solve the sin problem God would have done that
don’t you think? The greatest example of this is Jesus praying in the garden
before His death. Jesus said in Luke 22:41-42 “And he withdrew from them about
a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if you are
willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be
done." Those that insist you can earn salvation by their own efforts
undermine the foundation of true biblical Christianity and render Jesus’ death
as unnecessary. Which according to the Gospel of Jesus the wrath still abides
upon you! John 3:16-18 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that
the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned,
but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed
in the name of the only Son of God.
It’s not Jesus plus this, that and the other….It’s Christ
alone by the glory of God alone, through faith alone. “And there is salvation
in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by
which we must be saved." Acts 4:12. Christ came to do a work that none of
us could ever do ….Meaning the ability to achieve eternal life for sinful man
and woman. There is nothing I can do to add to the grace that has already been
given in Jesus Christ my Lord. I can’t achieve, strive, or become a Christian
apart from the saving work through Jesus Christ and Him crucified. That’s why
we can read in the same letter…..“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law
by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged
on a tree" Gal 3:13.
The gospel is everything and it’s complete for those
who put repent and put their faith in the Saviour. All the glory to Him….as the
Hymn writer wrote “Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson
stain, He washed it white as snow.” If this isn't true then the wrath of God still abide upon
us! If this isn’t true then Jesus was liar and a lunatic and this statement is
false and a waste of time...“by canceling the record of debt that stood against
us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” Col
2:14. But! I know that Jesus was no lunatic or are a liar. Why? Because I’m
here [you’re here] as proof to His wonderful grace found in Christ. A Gospel
that finished with these precious words….. “it is finished”
J C Ryle said
“Christ’s death is the Christian’s life. Christ’s cross is the Christian’s
title to heaven. Christ “lifted up” and put to shame on Calvary is the ladder
by which Christians “enter into the holiest,” and are at length landed in
glory. It is true that we are sinners–but Christ has suffered for us. It is
true that we deserve death–but Christ has died for us. It is true that we are
guilty debtors–but Christ has paid our debts with His own blood. This is the
real Gospel! This is the good news! On this let us lean while we live. To this
let us cling when we die. Christ has been “lifted up” on the cross, and has
thrown open the gates of heaven to all believers.” That’s the glorious truth of
the GOSPEL!.....................SDG
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