p. 8 | The Gospel

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 25, 1913

The Gospel

1. What purpose did the Father have in mind when He gave His Son to this world?

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3: 16.

2. What is the thing that causes men to perish, that is, to die eternally?

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Rom. 5: 12.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6: 23.

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1: 14, 15.

3. With these texts concerning sin and its penalty in mind, let the question be raised, What does Paul say concerning the gospel and its power?

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Rom. 1: 16.

4. What is revealed in the gospel?

“For therein [in the gospel] is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Rom. 1: 17.

NOTE.—Sin is revealed in the life of the sinner, and he is hopelessly wrapped up in it. But the gospel brings to him the plan of salvation, by which all this sin is taken from the life of the individual, and the perfect righteousness of God is manifested instead.

5. How does Christ bring about this change by which the individual has his own sinful life taken away, and the perfect life of Christ supplied instead?

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2: 20.

NOTE.—“The Son of God” “loved me, and gave Himself for me.” The Lord not only gave Himself to me, but He gave Himself for me. He makes an exchange, by which the sinner takes Him and all His righteousness, and the Master in turn accepts the sinner and his guilt. It is an actual transfer, and the converted sinner has the satisfaction of knowing that he has been clothed in the perfect righteousness of the perfect Christ.

6. Was this wonderful gospel preached in the old dispensation?

“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” Gal. 3: 8.

7. Through how many names may men be saved?

“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4: 10-12.