Gospel: God Worked.

In the Gospel, God worked. The Gospel can be condensed into 4 power-packed verses in the book of Romans. You ready? It's Romans 3:23-26.

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." Romans 3:23-26 (NASB)

meh. it's like one of the many verses we just read and overlook. But these verses clearly outlines why God has worked, what was it He worked, the resultant of His work and what our response is toward that work that He did. In short, in the Gospel, God worked, Jesus paid the price in full, His blood appeased God's holy wrath toward sinners and we are justified as we put our faith in Him and His complete and perfect work on the cross.

Sounds pretty low level isn't it? But it's exactly this that we so desperately need! Our assurance should have never depart from the work that is already completed on the cross. We have chosen instead, to place our assurance in the things we do as Christians, the duties, obligations, service, the battles against our old selves, trying not to sin or break God's law, etc, etc. Now, the problem occurs when we find ourselves simply, unable. (But that is reserved for another time.)

to be continued...