The Gospel's Answer To The "Result" Of Sin - Part Two

The Gospel Of Christ And The Problem Of Sin
The Gospel's Answer To The "Result" Of Sin - Part Two
(The Gift Of Eternal Life)

No matter what the result of sin, the promise of eternal life more than makes up for it! The gospel promises even now "Eternal Life". John speaks of this "life" as a present possession in 1 Jn 5:11-13 "God has also said that he gave us eternal life and that this life comes to us from his Son. And so, if we have God's Son, we have this life. But if we don't have the Son, we don't have this life. All of you have faith in the Son of God, and I have written to let you know that you have eternal life." This is "eternal life" in the sense of knowing God and Jesus in a special way, having fellowship with them - Jn 17:3 "Eternal life is to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, the one you sent."; 1 Jn 5:20 "We know that Jesus Christ the Son of God has come and has shown us the true God. And because of Jesus, we now belong to the true God who gives eternal life." With this type of "eternal life" one is no longer "dead in sin"; one is no longer "separated from God". The emphasis is on the quality of life, not quantity - Jn 10:10 "A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest." "Eternal life" in this sense begins when we rise from the watery grave of baptism. "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." - Ro 6:4. This is because in baptism our sins are forgiven by the blood of Christ - Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit"; 22:16 "What are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized, and wash away your sins by praying to the Lord."’ We enter into a new relationship with God, having put on Christ - Ga 3:26-27 "All of you are God's children because of your faith in Christ Jesus. And when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes." We who were once dead "spiritually", are now "made alive"! - Ep 2:1 "In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God.", 4-9 "But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God's wonderful kindness is what saves you. God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in heaven. God did this so that in the future world he could show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done. You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. It isn't something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about."

The gospel promises "the hope of the resurrection". Jesus spoke of this "hope" in Jn 5:28-29 "Don't be surprised! The time will come when all of the dead will hear the voice of the Son of Man, and they will come out of their graves. Everyone who has done good things will rise to life, but everyone who has done evil things will rise and be condemned." Paul wrote of this wonderful "hope" in 1 Co 15:20-23 "But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life. Just as we will die because of Adam, we will be raised to life because of Christ. Adam brought death to all of us, and Christ will bring life to all of us. But we must each wait our turn. Christ was the first to be raised to life, and his people will be raised to life when he returns.", 50-58 "My friends, I want you to know that our bodies of flesh and blood will decay. This means that they cannot share in God's kingdom, which lasts forever. I will explain a mystery to you. Not every one of us will die, but we will all be changed. It will happen suddenly, quicker than the blink of an eye. At the sound of the last trumpet the dead will be raised. We will all be changed, so that we will never die again. Our dead and decaying bodies will be changed into bodies that won't die or decay. The bodies we now have are weak and can die. But they will be changed into bodies that are eternal. Then the Scriptures will come true, "Death has lost the battle! Where is its victory? Where is its sting?" Sin is what gives death its sting, and the Law is the power behind sin. But thank God for letting our Lord Jesus Christ give us the victory! My dear friends, stand firm and don't be shaken. Always keep busy working for the Lord. You know that everything you do for him is worthwhile." This hope of the resurrection we have is based upon our conviction that Jesus Himself was raised from the dead - 1 Pe 1:3 "Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is so good, and by raising Jesus from death, he has given us new life and a hope that lives on." With such hope, "physical" death has lost much of its sting - 1 Th 4:13-18 "My friends, we want you to understand how it will be for those followers who have already died. Then you won't grieve over them and be like people who don't have any hope. We believe that Jesus died and was raised to life. We also believe that when God brings Jesus back again, he will bring with him all who had faith in Jesus before they died. Our Lord Jesus told us that when he comes, we won't go up to meet him ahead of his followers who have already died. With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God's trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life. Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever. Encourage each other with these words."

The gospel promises "the hope of eternal life." In this sense, "eternal life" is still a future promise (and not a present possession). Jesus spoke of "eternal life" in this sense, in Mt 25:46 "Then Jesus said, "Those people will be punished forever. But the ones who pleased God will have eternal life."’; Mk 10:29-30 "Jesus told him: You can be sure that anyone who gives up home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or land for me and for the good news will be rewarded. In this world they will be given a hundred times as many houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and pieces of land, though they will also be mistreated. And in the world to come, they will have eternal life." Paul spoke of "eternal life" as a future hope in 2 Ti 1:1 "From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus. God himself chose me to be an apostle, and he gave me the promised life that Jesus Christ makes possible."; Ti 1:2 "Then they will have the hope of eternal life that God promised long ago. And God never tells a lie!" This "eternal life", which is yet to be realized by those who are in Christ comes after one has:
Been set free from sin (which occurs in baptism - Ro 6:3-7)
Becomes a slave to God (which occurs when we present our selves as servants of righteousness - Ro 6:17-19)
Produced the fruit of holiness - Ro 6:22

Note carefully what Paul says: "...and the end everlasting life." Everlasting life comes at "the end" of a life that has borne fruit unto holiness! It is a gift, yes (Ro 6:23), but in the text Paul is speaking about a gift that one receives at "the end" of the Christian's faithful life! Comes after the resurrection and judgment - Mt 25:31-34,46. Comes to those who patiently do the will of God! - Ro 2:4-7. Offers honor, peace and glory to those who receive it - Ro 2:8-11. Is beautifully described by the apostle John in Re 21:1-7; 22:1-5.
This is how the gospel addresses the result of sin; in response to:
"spiritual death" (where our sins separate us from God) there is "eternal life" (in the sense of knowing the Lord, which begins at one's conversion).
"physical death", there is "the resurrection from the dead" (which occurs at the coming of Christ)
The "second death" (eternal separation from God), there is "eternal life" (in the sense of eternity with God and Christ, which begins after the Judgment)
Thus the gospel of Christ effectively deals with the result of sin!

I hope that we better understand the wonderful grace of Christ; why Paul calls it "the gospel of the grace of God" (Ac 20:24). Even the commands to be obeyed involve God's grace: We must believe in Christ, if we are to stop the love of sin; yet by grace God's Word produces such faith! - Ro 10:17 "No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ." We must repent, if we are to end the practice of sin; yet it is God's goodness (i.e., by grace) which leads us to repentance - Ro 2:4 "You surely don't think much of God's wonderful goodness or of his patience and willingness to put up with you. Don't you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him?" We must be baptized into Christ, if we are to change the state of sin; yet, even in this, it is by grace (for God is the one who is at work in cleansing our sins and regenerating us anew) - Co 2:12 "And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death." How much more are the promises of the gospel indicative of God's marvelous grace! The remission of sins removes the guilt of sin. The gift of the Holy Spirit helps us to overcome the power of sin. Eternal life is God's gracious gift in response to the result of sin. Have you accepted the grace of God by obeying the gospel of Christ? If not, may the words of Paul encourage you do so today.

We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. - 2 Co 6:1-2

If I can be of any assistance, please don't hesitate to contact me. May God be with you!

This study is from The Executable Outlines Series, a collection of sermon outlines and Bible study lessons by Mark A. Copeland . These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001

God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year

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Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
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