Paul wrote near the end of his life of service to our Lord Jesus and the gospel:
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24 (ESV)
The foundation of the Good News about Jesus Christ is that it is based on God’s mercy and unmerited favor or grace from top to bottom. The gospel is the opposite of the Law, which offers salvation based on our performance of its rules and regulations. In fact Jesus taught that the Law actually demands much more than mere outward observance. It includes an even more impossible demand – obedience from the heart. For example, Jesus taught that it is not enough to merely abstain from adultery: one must not even entertain lust in the heart! (Matthew 5:28) Paul clearly taught that no one, except the One named Jesus, was able to fulfill these rigorous requirements.
God’s purpose for the Law was to convince us of our desperate need for his help. (Galatians 3:22-25) The Law justly condemned all of us lawbreakers to death. Jesus came as God’s innocent Lamb to take the punishment for our disobedience of the Law upon himself. By causing our condemnation by the Law to fall upon Jesus and by allowing him to take the full brunt of God’s righteous wrath against that sin, our heavenly Father broke the power of sin and death over all the descendants of Adam who will put their trust in Christ. Jesus’ death and resurrection perfectly fulfilled the Law on our behalf.
In other words, with the Law, we get what we deserve; whereas, with the gospel of grace, we receive what Jesus earned.
For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. Romans 10:4 (NLT)
Jesus lived a perfect life of dependence upon, obedience to, and delight in the Father. He joyfully partnered with the Holy Spirit and fully surrendered to his Father’s will all the way to his death on the cross. By paying the penalty for our transgressions of the Law that he perfectly kept, the Bible says that Jesus made a way of escape for us.
Those who put their faith and allegiance in Christ and trust in what he did for us are released from the Law’s power to condemn. Free from the threat of eternal condemnation, we enter a new life based on God’s grace and the power of the indwelling Spirit.
Paul put it like this:
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 8:1-2 (NLT) Jesus said it as follows:
I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. John 5:24 (NLT)
This makes the gospel the best news ever! It’s almost unbelievably wonderful! Almost…
Don’t be among those who reject God’s promise of eternal life because it seems too fantastic. Realize, along with countless others, that the gospel is true. It’s wonderful, and it will change your eternal destiny.
Do you believe it? Have you received it? Are you experiencing it?
Prayer
Jesus, I come to you now to ask your forgiveness for trying to live without reference to you. I have stubbornly done things my own way, but now I see my error. I need you and the forgiveness you offer. Forgive my sins and come into my life. I give you my life to do with it as you choose. I now belong to you. Have your way with me. Holy Spirit, come to dwell in me and change me from the inside out. Fill me to overflowing so I can tell others about you. Help me to be fearlessly loyal to Jesus and declare his name to others. Amen.
