Jesus Christ - The Gospel
Jesus Christ is the gospel. The gospel is not simply a set of static propositional truths to be affirmed. The gospel is instead embodied in the dynamic person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is the fullest expression of God’s love. Jesus, who was the exact representation of God Himself (Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:3), came as a man (Phil. 2:6-8), lived a perfect life (1 Pet. 2:22-23), offered His body as an unblemished sacrifice for our sins (Rom. 5:8-10), bore the full weight of the Father's wrath (1 John 4:8-10) and victoriously conquered death through His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-11). He now sits in glory at the right hand of the Father interceding on behalf of His people (Heb. 4:14-16).
The gospel calls us to look to Jesus Christ alone for their salvation and sanctification (Acts 4:12; Heb. 12:2). The gospel rescues us from a life of sin and rebellion (Rom. 6:1-6) as well as a life of self-righteous religion and legalism (Gal. 2:15-3:3) which both equally separate all of humanity from a perfect and holy God (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). The gospel purchases us and cleanses us by the blood of Jesus to be stirred to glorify God through our lives (1 Cor. 6:19-20; 2 Cor. 5:14-21). The gospel transforms us to deny ourselves and compels us to give our allegiance fully to following Jesus Christ (Luke 9:23-26; 14:25-33).
A Christian is someone who by faith confesses this Jesus as Savior, Lord and King and by faith seeks to live according to this gospel.
God’s story is still unfolding and He has called us to be a part of this story through Jesus Christ by His precious gospel. Before Jesus returned to the Father’s side in heaven, He promised to continue His gospel work on the earth through the church (Matt. 16:18; 28:18-20).