Editors Note: This is a new series on sanctification designed to help our readers understand what sanctification is and how to grow in Christ.
- Mike Boling wrote the first post in the sanctification series looking at spiritual warfare and the armor of God.
- Dave wrote the second post on Jesus encounter with Jesus and how Christians are to use Scripture in the midst of temptation.
- Dr. Thaddeus Williams wrote the third post about how to kill sin.
- Chris Poblete wrote the fourth post about seven ways to wage war against sin.
- Dave Jenkins wrote the fifth post in this series on battling discouragement and depression with the gospel.
- Chris Poblete wrote the sixth post about how to put off the flesh and put on the Lord Jesus.
- Dave wrote the seventh post about the role of spiritual warfare in spiritual growth.
- Chris Poblete wrote the eight post about the will of God.
- Dave wrote the ninth about the issue of assurance and perseverance in Hebrews 6:1-8.
- Dave wrote the tenth post about the solution to the difficulty in Hebrews 6:1-8.
- Chris wrote the eleventh post about the motivation for our obedience.
- Chris wrote the twelfth post in about the glorifying Christ in daily life.
- Mike wrote the thirteenth post on the need for the bride of Christ to grow to maturity in Christ.
- Chris Poblete wrote the fourteenth post about trusting God in trials.
- Dave wrote the fifteenth post about Sanctification and the Church.
- Brian Hedges wrote the sixteenth post in this series about how sin works.
- Dave wrote the seventeenth post in this series on positional sanctification, indwelling sin and progressive sanctification.
- Mathew Sims wrote the eighteenth post on assurance.
- Dave wrote the nineteenth post on the indicative and imperative in Romans 6.
- Brian Hedges wrote the twentieth post on holding fast to the gospel.
- Griffin wrote the twenty-first post on the need for ongoing repentance in the Christian life.
- Madison Ruppert wrote the twenty-first post on the work of the Holy Spirit and sanctification.
- Joey Cochran wrote the twenty-second post on union with Christ and prayer.
- Brian Hedges wrote the twenty-third post on how the cross kills sin.
- Chris wrote the twenty-four post about a sanctifying view of God’s grace.
- Today Matt Perman writes on the ongoing need of the gospel in the Christian life.
****************
What is the Gospel?
The gospel is very simple: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and raised from the dead. Paul states it very clearly in 1 Corinthians 15:3-5:
I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
It’s not enough to just hear the gospel, or go to church, or have been baptized. We have to believe the gospel. Believing the gospel does not just mean assenting to it intellectually, but relying on Christ crucified and risen for our acceptance with God and right to eternal life.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved….Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:9-10; 13).
We enter a right relationship with God through faith alone in the gospel, not as a result of any works we do — before or after becoming a Christian. Good works are a result of having been accepted by God, not the means or basis of our being accepted by Him.
Further, you never get beyond the gospel. Once you become a Christian, you don’t “graduate” on to more important realities. The gospel is always “of first importance,” as Paul says (1 Corinthians 15:3). Christ died for the sins of Christians, too — that is, the gospel is not just something we point unbelievers to, but is something we continue relying on every day as Christians. As Christians, Jesus’ death and resurrection continues to be the full and complete basis of our forgiveness and righteousness before God.
“This is from What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get things Done,” and is posted here with Matt’s permission. Here’s the post as it is on Matt’s blog: http://whatsbestnext.com/2014/04/what-is-the-gospel/
Matt is an author, speaker, and consultant eager to help you do work that matters, and do it better. More than that, he wants to help you do your work and influence the culture in a gospel-centered way. Matt is the author of What’s Best Next and Creating a Business Plan that Actually Works.
He worked for 13 years at Desiring God leading the web department, serving as director of strategy, and helping build the ministry for greater spreading. With an M.Div. from Southern Seminary and experience consulting with churches and organizations, Matt started What’s Best Next to equip Christians theologically and practically.