THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST by John G. Matteson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 3, 1877

THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

By John G. Matteson

The law of God, containing our duties to God and our fellow-men, is briefly presented in the ten commandments. The Lord’s prayer expresses briefly the sum of all prayer. Thus we also find a brief sum of the gospel of Christ in 1 Cor. 15: 3-5. Paul preached the gospel of Christ, by which we are saved, if we hold fast what he delivered unto us. We cannot be saved by the law. The law cannot deliver us from sin and death. By the law is the knowledge of sin. Rom. 3: 20. This office God has given to the law, and no one can alter his divine appointment. Sunday-keepers cannot with all their united efforts move the law from this position. They cannot destroy, change, or diminish a single commandment of the Lord. Neither can Sabbath-keepers obtain salvation from sin and death by the law. It cannot wash away the smallest sin, nor raise up a single soul from the dark prison-house of the tomb.

Christ alone can save from sin and death, and this salvation is the glad news proclaimed by the gospel. This is the gospel which Paul preached. Hear his own words: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Cor. 15: 3, 4.

Here are three things which belong to the gospel in its simplest form. 1. That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. 2. And that he was buried. 3. And that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

The first part shows how we can obtain pardon and salvation from our sins; the second, that Christ was really dead, and was laid in the tomb; the third, how we can obtain salvation from death, and eternal life in the world to come.

1. It was Christ, the anointed of God, the only begotten Son of the almighty Creator, that died. And he died according to the Scriptures. He was that Messiah who had been foretold in the holy Scriptures; and he died in that manner which had previously been announced by the prophets.

Christ died for the sins of the world. But this is no gospel to us until we accept it, and believe in the only begotten Son of God. And we do not accept the gospel until we feel and acknowledge that we are poor sinners before God, and deserve nothing but eternal destruction. When the law and Spirit of God have wrought within us a true conviction of sin, then, and not till then, we feel our need of Christ. And when we feel and acknowledge that we are lost sinners, then the message, that Christ died for our sins, sounds sweet and blessed in our ears. Dear reader, Christ died not only for the sins of others, but for your sins. This word belongs to you. And it will bring joy and salvation to you the very moment you believe it. Then all your sins will be forgiven you, because you believe on the Son of God, and accept the witness of God, which he has testified of his Son. And when you accept of Christ as your Saviour, you will also be strong to overcome sin; for “this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

2. The burial of Christ is a wonderful event. The Son of God descended into hades. This is the second part of the joyful message of salvation. Now the tomb has lost its terror to me; for Jesus has been there before me. He alleviated the pain of the cross with his own holy body, and many a martyr has willingly suffered the death of the cross for his name’s sake.

He did also alleviate the terrors of the tomb. He lit up the house of darkness for me. When I must bid good bye to those who are nearest to my heart, when the gloom of death gathers round my dim eyes, and my feet chill in the cold waters, then I will trust firmly in this word, that Christ was buried. Oh! shades, I fear thee not; I can see the footsteps of Jesus, even in thy dark chambers. Jesus has slept in the heart of the earth for me. There I will also rest with him until I hear his voice. This is a good part of the gospel of the Son of God.

3. Christ did not remain long in the tomb. He rose the third day according to the Scriptures. He obtained the keys of hades. He opened the heavy gates which none other could open. He is the resurrection and the life. He rose, and we shall rise. Now there is life beyond this life—life in Christ—life in the resurrection. This precious word I will by the grace of God treasure up in my heart. It is the last blessed part of the gospel. And this life beyond the tomb is eternal for all those who believe the gospel. Receiving the first part of the gospel we obtain pardon for all our sins. The sting of death is sin. 1 Cor. 15: 56. And the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 6. Death entered into the world on account of sin. Rom. 5: 12. Consequently death cannot be found any more where there is no sin.

But the wicked have no part in the first nor in the last part of the joyful message. They do not believe, therefore they will be damned. They do not rise unto eternal life, but unto eternal damnation. They must die the second death in the lake of fire. Rev. 20: 14, 15.

The gospel of Christ is sweeter than honey when it fills the heart. It gives joy and endurance in life, peace in death, and an eternal life of bliss in the glorious kingdom of Christ. And Christian baptism is a true representation and a beautiful picture of this gospel, when a repenting soul is buried with Christ by baptism into death, and rises to walk in newness of life. Rom. 6: 4.

Dear reader, what do you think of this? Will you open your Bible, and see whether this is in harmony with the word of God? And when you discover that the way of truth is so plain and simple, will you decide to walk in it? Then you shall also be united with Christ in the likeness of his resurrection.

JOHN G. MATTESON.