August 26, 2018
Philippians 1:6 The Passion Translation (TPT)
6 I pray with great faith for you, because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this glorious work[a] in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you[b] and will put his finishing touches to it until the unveiling[c] of our Lord Jesus Christ!
The gospel isn’t simply the power of God to save us; it’s the power of God to transform us once we’ve accepted Christ. That is a major paradigm shift that is taking place inside not only our congregation here but the church today. One that I am so so grateful for.
So the essence of the Gospel is this –
By God’s grace everything that Jesus deserved was given to us and everything we deserved was received by Him.
The Radical Exchange!!!
Jesus was punished that we might be forgiven (Is. 53:4–5)
Jesus was wounded that we might be healed (Matt. 8:16–17)
Jesus was made sin with our sinfulness that we might be made righteous with His righteousness (Is. 53:10; 2 Cor. 5:21)
Jesus tasted death for us that we might share His life (Heb. 2:9)
Jesus was made a curse that we might receive the Fathers blessing (Gal. 3:13–14).
Jesus endured our poverty that we might share His abundance (2 Cor. 8:9 [2 Cor. 9:8; Deut. 28:47–48])
Jesus endured our shame that we might share His glory (Matt. 27:35–36 [Heb. 2:10])
Jesus endured our rejection that we might have His acceptance
I am a recipient of EVERYTHING He deserved because what He did was final and satisfactory to the Father. His work was finished. His performance was a PERFECT 10!
We no longer are measured by our behavior and no longer put our confidence in our performance but 100% of our trust and confidence toward our Father is in the PERFECT performance and eternal accomplishment of Christ on that cross 2000 years ago. That is how we tap into the power of God for our lives.
The gospel (the power to live this life) is something RECEIVE by BELIEVING—not something you go out and achieve or earn.
This gift of God’s abundant grace and Jesus’ righteousness is not a reward for something you did or even do. It is a gift for something Christ did on your behalf. RECEIVE!!!
Rom. 5.17 (NKJV) For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
nothing needs to be nor can be added to it what Christ did. Salvation is not a joint effort of God and man, but is entirely a work of God’s grace, appropriated solely by faith.
the “gospel” means “good news.” Did you know the word “evangelist” refers to someone who would come and announce victory on the battlefield.
So victory is won on the battlefield, the war is over and an evangelist goes back to the city and announces victory. So the gospel is not a command to do anything at all. It is an announcement that Christ has already done it, that the victory is won. So if you are a Christian, you are now living under a banner which reads, “It is finished. It’s done. There’s nothing left to accomplish.”
You have been made COMPLETE in Christ.
His work is complete.
His work is done.
Jesus paid it all.
He declared it is finished.
His work of redemption is finished.