Articles
Gospel of Jesus Christ - Mark 1
Gospel of Jesus Christ - Mark 1
” The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1).
Statement: All of sinned. Judgment: The soul that sins shall die. Truth: I have sinned and I will be separated eternally from God.
Good News: I can be forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus! He has died as an acceptable sacrifice for sin. He is the Lamb of God that takes away sin. The just has died for the unjust. He that was without sin died for me the sinner.
Coupled with this thought are a multitude of related words / concepts: redeemed, reconciled, justified, cleansed, washed, etc. We who were sold under sin have now been redeemed. We who were enemies of God have now been reconciled. We who stood condemned have not been justified. We who were morally filthy have been washed and cleansed. Add to this the words that describe God’s actions towards us sinners: grace, kindness, mercy, and love. THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS and it is all centered upon Jesus.
There is no bragging rights about the sinful lives that we have previously lived. Yet, the more we understand of our previous situation with God - the wrath and judgment to come, the rebellious attitude of our soul, the holiness of God verses our unrighteousness, - the greater our love for God can grow. (see Jesus’ parable and application of the Two Debtors, Luke 7:40-48). It is not the amount of the sin so much as it is the recognition of what sin, any sin and all sin, has done in our lives.
What love this should produce in us. What gratitude. What dedication to do better. What hatred of sin. WHEN one forgets, it is a double calamity. To return to the mire of sin results in a worse situation than before (see 2Peter 2:20). Let us never forget that we are forgiven sinners. Let that thought motivate and move us unto greater and greater love for God. Through this thinking process, we can learn to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. Is this how the gospel affects you? Sing again the old hymn Amazing Grace, and pay attention to the words!
Hugh DeLong
