THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
1 COR 15:1-5
For our first devotion on the website, it is fitting and proper for us to look first at the topic that is the centerpiece of all time and eternity, dear to the heart of our Heavenly Father, and is the basis of our salvation.
Let’s read 1 Cor 15:1-5
For us to be “saved”...”born again” is called redemption...to “redeem” something means to “buy back with the purpose of setting it free”
Now: Redemption, as spoken of in the Bible, has three distinct aspects:
1. The Work of Jesus Christ FOR us (Titus 3:3-8/Eph:2:8) It’s the Root! Jesus’ “work” FOR us is called in the Bible, The Gospel. l...The Gospel is:
The life, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ...nothing more, and
nothing less!! It took Jesus 33 years to produce the Robe of Righteousness
through his spotless obedience unto God FOR us; however, it took His Death
to make it AVAILABLE to us...remember the garden of eden!
Note: Remember, this “work” FOR us was accomplished by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit... what a team!!! A “perfect team” produces a “perfect work”...the Work = Our Salvation! You and I were not involved, never made a contribution to this team or to their work... Jesus lived the life I could not live, and died the death I should have died, and set me free... or, redeemed me!!!
Remember: This “work” of Christ is perfect, it’s a past, historical event, it happened one time, and it stands alone without any need whatsoever...it’s Meritorious!!!
2. The Work of the Holy Spirit IN us ( 2 Peter 1: 3-11/Eph 1:13-14) It’s the Fruit!!!
Jesus Won the Spirit for us and gave Him to us (Acts 2:31-32)...He has come
to live IN us...He has created a New Nature IN us....this event, this happening,
this process is called in the Bible “sanctification”.. This word actually means to “set apart”...it’s the process by which The Holy Spirit makes us “righteous”...
being “righteous” means that we are being conformed to an image of God’s
standard...Righteousness, in the Old Testament, meant The fundamental
Character of God...therefore, the new testament definition of righteousness
means conformity to the standard decreed by God.
Note: Now, remember that this “work” by the Holy Spirit “IN” us is accomplished by
the Holy Spirit working WITH us as we cooperate... the “Product” is, therefore, not perfect because “we” are involved; the work is present, on-going and it cannot stand alone but must have Jesus to “mediate” or “deliver” it unto the Father for us... this “work” is “typed” for us in the Old Testament by the office of the High Priest that took the person’s sacrifice, prepared it properly, and offered it to God in Heaven.
3. The Work of the Holy Spirit THROUGH us (Eph 2:9/...5:1,2) as you read the scriptures, look at anything you are told to do, not do, as regards others and you can see clearly what the work of the Holy Spirit Through you will do, has come to do, etc .
Anything we do should be done in “loving response for what Christ has done FOR us”
Now, never confuse #1 with #2 & #3....#1 is All of God’s power...Rom 1:16,17....#1 is the Gospel...this is what we are to preach and teach in order for people to be saved...#1 is Root....#2 & #3 are FRUIT of #1...The Gospel produces Fruit!!!
For us to be “saved” we must hear the Good news of the Gospel, we must believe this news, we must place our “faith, our trust” in this work of Christ FOR our Salvation!!!
To Believe in Jesus, means that we have heard of the life He lived on our behalf, we accept that no less than His perfect life is acceptable unto God the Father for Salvation, and we place our Faith and hope in the Life, the Death, and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ for our Eternal Salvation!!!
#2 & #3 are the result of our “Belief, our Faith, our Trust”...
Faith that Saves you will also be lived out in works in loving response. Those around us will clearly see that the new life we are living is in direct contrast to the old life we lived before salvation. James 2:14-26 is the most clearly taught cooperation between “faith and works” in the New Testament!!
Lastly, always remember that our Father wants our hearts. The scripture teaches that we are to “do good works” in loving response for Jesus’ great life, death, and resurrection. We are not to work for acceptance; we are to work because of acceptance! Redemption, salvation, means the restoration of mankind to a right relationship with God, with his neighbors, and with the entire creation of God!!
To conclude, read Romans 3:21-26, for
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