What is the Gospel?

Introduction:

How many of you have ever heard of an elevator speech?

In sales you are taught to be able to give an elevator speech to quickly share who you are and what you do.

Romans 3:21–25 ESV

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

1. All Have Sinned (v.23)

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

This is a summary of what Paul has already been saying in the chapter.

Romans 3:9 ESV

9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,

Romans 3:11–12 ESV

11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

Romans 3:19–20 ESV

19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

2. Grace is a Gift (v.24)

Romans 3:24 ESV

24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

It is not earned

3. Jesus is the Propitiation (v.24-25)

Romans 3:24–25 ESV

24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

This is a theological term that we really need to learn

There are two sides to the coin.

Expiation - being cleansed

Propitiation - offering a sacrifice to appease the anger of God

God is angry at sin.

We too casually treat our sin like it doesn’t matter since Jesus died for our sins, but God takes it seriously.

We should never trivialize sin.

Unlike the pagan religions where they would go to a certain place and the worshiper would offer the sacrifice to appease a fickle God’s emotions (i.e. the case of a natural disaster), God is rightly angry at our sin.

He doesn’t ask us to offer the sacrifice, He sends His own sacrifice in His Son, Jesus. He also is the place where the mercy is given.

Hebrews 9:5 says,

Hebrews 9:5 ESV

5 Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

That word for mercy seat is a variation of this same Greek word for propitiation.

We don’t go to a place, Jesus is the place, the sacrifice, the appeasement of the wrath of God for our sins. He covers us and cleanses us of our sins.

That is why we don’t add anything to salvation. We don’t add works or religious practices to appease God. God is already satisfied in Jesus and nothing you do could ever add anything to what Jesus has already done.

We are brought near by the blood of Jesus

Ephesians 2:13 ESV

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

4. Faith Receives God’s Grace (v.25)

Romans 3:25 ESV

25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Romans 3:22 ESV

22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:

Conclusion

John 3:16 is another summary of the gospel

God Loved

God Gave

We Believe

We Receive