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Today's Gospel vs. The Gospel of Christ
by Jim Byrd
  1. Today's gospel emphasizes what man must do for God.   The gospel of Christ declares what God must do for man.  "Salvation is of the Lord" (Jonah 2:9)
  2. Today's gospel talks about missing hell and gaining heaven.  The gospel of Christ deals with being saved from sin (Matthew 1:18) and seeing the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 4:6)
  3. Today's gospel starts with man, ends with man, and has the welfare of man as its central intent.  The gospel of Christ starts with God, who chose a people unto salvation (Ephesians 1:3-6) and always has the glory of God in view (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14)
  4. Today's gospel says Christ died to save everybody but His death is no value unless sinners believe.  The gospel of Christ says that because of the Savior's obedience unto death, "many shall be made (legally constitued) righteous" (romans 5:19).  These "many" are sheep for which the shepherd died (John 10:11).
  5. Today's gospel talks about the love of God, but does not answer these questions, "How can man be justified with God?  Or, how can he be clean that is born of a woman? (Job 25:4).  The gospel of Christ says that sinners are justified (legally aquitted of guilt and declared to be righteous) and made clean (holy and acceptable to God) through the substitutionary sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Savior satisfied divine justice and paid the debt His people owed.  Since the debt has been cancelled, justice has no more quarrel with those for whom the Savior tasted death and love can be shown without compromising the holiness of God.
  6. Today's gospel says the Holy Spirit is trying to save, if only people would let Him.  The gospel of Christ declares the spirit will quicken, call to faith in Christ, and justify every sinner chosen of God in electing grace (romans 8:29-30).  "Sinners are made willing in the day of God's Power" (Psalm 110:3).
  7. Today's gospel calls on men to make Jesus their Lord.  The gospel of Christ declared God has already made him to be the Lord (Acts 2:36).  Jesus is not in your hands to do with as you please; but you are in His hands to do with as He pleases!

Jim Byrd serves as a teacher and pastor of 13th Street Baptist Church in Ashland Kentucky, USA.
Published: Mar, 3 2020  Updated: May, 2 2020
Topics: Gospel Distinctives
Author: Jim Byrd
Views: 88