A Small Story: When I Tried to Earn It
Years ago, I measured my faith by rules. I tried to be perfect so God would accept me. I judged others because I was hard on myself. It was heavy. It was joyless. I called it holiness, but it was bondage.
Then Romans 1:16 felt new to me: “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation.” Power. Not performance. I saw John 3:16–17 again. God gave His Son. He did not send Him to condemn. He sent Him to save.
That shift set me free. I still believe in obedience. But obedience flows from Jesus’ finished work, not toward it. Grace leads. Change follows.
What Is the Gospel?
1) The Gospel of the Kingdom
“Jesus came… preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God… ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14–15, NKJV).
He said, “I must preach the kingdom of God… for this purpose I have been sent” (Luke 4:43, NKJV).
The Kingdom Gospel declares that God’s rule has broken into the world through Jesus. We enter His Kingdom by repentance and faith. It is about a King and a reign, not a club of perfect people.
2) The Gospel of Christ’s Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Paul summarized it this way: “Christ died for our sins… was buried… and rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:1–4, NKJV).
This is the center. Jesus did what we could not do. He lived sinless, took our place, and defeated death.
The Purpose of the Gospel
“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation… For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith” (Romans 1:16,-17, NKJV).
“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son… For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16–17, NKJV).
The Gospel is not a list of moral behaviors. The Gospel is a Person and His finished work. We are saved by believing in Jesus His death, burial, and resurrection not by fixing ourselves first. When people believe, lives change.
The Problem of Misunderstanding Sin
“Hamartia” means sin as a condition. “Hamartiai” are sins as acts. The Gospel deals with the root, not only the fruit (John 16:7–8; 1 John 3:4).
“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7, NKJV).
Hot-button issues often distract us politics, media outrage, and outward debates about adultery, abuse, abortion, sexuality, divorce, and more. These are real pains and real choices, but they are not the Gospel. They are fruits of a deeper problem. If we only fight the symptoms, we miss the cure.
Here is the cure: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV). Jesus takes our condition and gives us His righteousness.
How Sin Entered and Where It Came From
“Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin” (Romans 5:12, NKJV). Adam believed the lie. Fellowship broke. Death and disorder followed.
Where did sin come from before it entered our world? Scripture shows a spiritual rebellion. An exalted being’s heart was lifted up in pride (Ezekiel 28:12–17). Isaiah pictures the same fall with the “I will” declarations (Isaiah 14:12–15). Jesus names the devil “a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). The devil does not create. He perverts what God created good. Sin arose from an immaterial realm, then touched our material world when humanity agreed with the lie.
Summary: Origin-spiritual pride and deception. Entry-Adam’s agreement. Result-alienation, death, creation that groans. Hope-Christ, the “last Adam,” brings righteousness and life to all who receive Him (Romans 5:17–19; 1 Corinthians 15:22).
The Power of the Gospel
“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, NKJV).
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5, NKJV).
The Gospel changes us from the inside out. It is not behavior modification. It is new birth, new heart, new Spirit. Think of a light switch. The switch does not create the power. It connects to it. Faith does not manufacture righteousness. It receives Christ’s righteousness and His power to live.
A brief story: A man told me he kept trying to “be better” and kept failing. He thought God was done with him. Then he heard the Gospel simply. Jesus carried his sin. Jesus was enough. He believed. Shame lost its grip. He still had battles, but he fought them from acceptance, not for it. Peace moved in. Habits started to break.
Practical Application
- Believe in Jesus’ finished work. Trust His death, burial, and resurrection.
- Reject legalism. Do not make outward rules the doorway to God.
- Focus on the heart. God starts inside. Fruit follows root.
- Live the Gospel. Share it with humility. Avoid pride and condemnation.
Summary
- The Gospel is the power of God (Romans 1:16–17).
- Misunderstanding sin leads to bondage and legalism (John 16:7–8; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
- Salvation is a gift, not behavior modification (John 3:16–17; Titus 3:5).
Key Scriptures (NKJV)
- Romans 1:16–17; John 3:16–17; 2 Corinthians 5:21
- Mark 1:14–15; Luke 4:43; 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
- John 1:29; Titus 3:5; 1 Samuel 16:7; John 16:7–8
- Romans 5:12; Ezekiel 28:12–17; Isaiah 14:12–15; John 8:44
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