The Gospel
The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ and all that he did in his life, death, resurrection, and ascension to accomplish salvation for humanity.[1] Therefore, the gospel is not a human action or achievement but rather an objective, historical, divine achievement[2] that remains true and unchanging regardless of human opinion or response. The gospel stands as the core message of the Bible, which in all its parts testifies to God’s saving acts culminating in the person and work of Christ.[3] This good news is the power of God for salvation for all who believe,[4] providing hope for the lost[5] and abiding comfort and strength for the believer.[6] There is no salvation apart from Jesus Christ, for there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved.[7]
Effectual Calling, Regeneration, and Conversion
God commands the gospel to be proclaimed to all people everywhere,[8] but all people are spiritually dead and unable to respond to this saving news.[9] Therefore, God graciously and effectually calls to himself those he chose to save in Christ.[10] Through the proclamation of the gospel, the Holy Spirit regenerates the elect and brings them into a living union with Christ, bestowing new spiritual life,[11] opening their eyes to see God’s glory in Christ,[12] and enabling them to respond to the gospel in faith and repentance.[13] With a renewed heart and mind,[14] we receive Christ and rely fully on him for salvation, turning from our sinful, self-seeking way of life to love and follow Christ in joyful obedience.[15] Only those who respond to the gospel in this way will be saved,[16] yet even this response is a gift of God’s merciful grace, ensuring that he alone receives the glory for our salvation.[17]
Justification and Adoption
In their union with Christ, believers freely receive all the benefits of the gospel.[18] Those whom God effectually calls to himself, he justifies in Christ,[19] forgiving all of their sins[20] and declaring them righteous and acceptable in his sight.[21] This declaration is judicial, addressing not our nature but our status with regard to God’s law;[22] it is definitive, being neither gradually gained nor able to be lost;[23] and it is gracious, a free gift of God’s righteousness based on nothing worked in us or by us, but received freely by faith.[24] The sole ground of our justification is the righteousness of Christ, whose life of perfect obedience is imputed to us and whose substitutionary death on our behalf completely satisfies the demands of God’s justice toward our sins.[25] Those whom God justifies, he adopts into his family, granting them the full status, rights, and privileges of beloved sons.[26] As God’s children, we receive his name,[27] enjoy access into his presence,[28] experience his care and discipline,[29] and eagerly await the glorious inheritance he promises his own.[30]
Sanctification, Perseverance, and Glorification
As the all-sufficient Savior, Christ also sanctifies his people, cleansing them from the impurity of sin and setting them apart for God and his service.[31] The renewing work of the Holy Spirit breaks their bondage to sin and Satan and raises them to new life, enabling believers to put sin to death and grow in likeness to Christ.[32] Sanctification is therefore both a definitive act of God[33] and a progressive work of the Spirit.[34] Believers must persevere in faith and obedience in order to be saved.[35] Yet this perseverance is also a gift of God in Christ, who preserves his own and keeps them safe forever.[36] The ultimate goal of sanctification is our full conformity to Christ’s image, which will finally come when believers are raised physically with Christ in glory, freed from sin and exulting in the presence of God forever.[37]
[1] Rom 3:23-26; 1 Cor 15:3-5; Rev 1:5; 5:5, 9-12.
[2] Rom 1:3-4; 1 Cor 15:3-5.
[3] Luke 24:44-47; John 5:39; 1 Pet 1:10-12.
[4] Rom 1:16.
[5] Matt 4:16; Acts 4:12; Rom 1:16.
[6] Rom 5:1-5; 8:31-39; 2 Cor 1:3-5.
[7] Acts 4:12.
[8] Matt 28:19-20; Luke 24:47; Acts 17:30; Rom 10:14-17; 15:20.
[9] John 6:44; Eph 2:1-3, Col 2:13.
[10] Rom 8:30; 1 Cor 1:24; Eph 4:4.
[11] John 3:5-6, 8; 6:63; 2 Cor 3:6; Rom 10:14-17; Titus 3:5..
[12] John 16:13-14; 2 Cor 3:16-18; 4:4, 6.
[13] Eph 2:8-9; Phil 1:29.
[14] Rom 12:2; 1 Cor 2:16; Eph 4:23.
[15] 1 Thess 1:9.
[16] Acts 4:12; Col 1:23.
[17] Eph 2:8-9; Phil 1:29; 1 Cor 1:26-29.
[18] Eph 1:3.
[19] Rom 8:29-30.
[20] Rom 4:7; Col 1:14; Heb 8:12.
[21] Rom 3:26; 5:19; 2 Cor 5:21.
[22] Acts 13:39; Rom 3:26; 8:1-2.
[23] Rom 3:28; 4:6.
[24] Rom 3:22-26; 5:15-17; 1 Cor 1:29; Eph 2:8-9.
[25] Rom 3:22-26; 1 Cor 1:29; 2 Cor 5:21; Eph 2:8-9.
[26] Rom 8:15, 23; Gal 4:4-7; Eph 1:5; 1 John 3:1-2.
[27] Num 6:27 (cf. Matt 28:19); Deut 28:10; 2 Chron 7:14; Acts 11:26; 2 Tim 2:19; 1 Pet 4:14, 16.
[28] Rom 5:2; Eph 1:18.
[29] Heb 12:5-11.
[30] Rom 8:23-26; 1 Pet 1:3-5.
[31] 1 Cor 1:30; Eph 5:25-26; Heb 10:10, 14.
[32] Rom 6:6-7, 18; 7:6; 8:12-13; Gal 5:1.
[33] Heb 10:10, 14.
[34] 2 Cor 7:1; Phil 2:12; 1 Tim 6:11; 2 Tim 2:22; Heb 12:14.
[35] Matt 10:22; 24:13; Mark 13:13; Col 1:23; Heb 3:14.
[36] Rom 8:29-30; 1 Cor 1:8; 1 Thess 3:13; 1 Pet 1:5; Jude 24.
[37] Rom 8:29; 2 Cor 3:18; 1 John 3:1-3.