“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9
Some have taught that the purpose of the gospel is to make us better people rather than to restore us to God the Father. In other words, the gospel is helping us to live our best life now.
When we believe in God through faith in Jesus Christ, a result might be that we are better spouses, neighbors, parents, or employees. But this is not the gospel itself.
“The average person thinks that the purpose of religion is to give us a list of rules and techniques to frame a way of life that helps us be more loving, forgiving, patient, caring and generous. … As crucial as the law remains as the revelation of God’s moral will, it is different from the revelation of God’s sovereign will. We are called to love God and neighbor, but this is not the gospel. Christ need not have died on the cross for us to know that we should be better people” (Michael Horton, 2012).
By faith in Jesus alone, we know that our sins were placed on Jesus, and His righteousness was given to us. By expressions of our gratitude, our lives reflect that wondrous truth.
When we believe in God through faith in Jesus Christ, a result might be that we are better spouses, neighbors, parents, or employees. But this is not the gospel itself.
“The average person thinks that the purpose of religion is to give us a list of rules and techniques to frame a way of life that helps us be more loving, forgiving, patient, caring and generous. … As crucial as the law remains as the revelation of God’s moral will, it is different from the revelation of God’s sovereign will. We are called to love God and neighbor, but this is not the gospel. Christ need not have died on the cross for us to know that we should be better people” (Michael Horton, 2012).
By faith in Jesus alone, we know that our sins were placed on Jesus, and His righteousness was given to us. By expressions of our gratitude, our lives reflect that wondrous truth.
Scripture Focus
2 Corinthians 5:16-20
Insight
“The simplicity of the gospel gives what the complexity of human wisdom promises but never delivers.” (John MacArthur, 1984)
Bible In A Year
- 1 Samuel 18-19
- Psalm 129
- 2 Corinthians 11
