On One Condition: Christ – Part Two

This article is part of a larger message series. You can download the entire study guide HERE.

III. The Gospel: The Satisfaction of God

Romans 3:25 “whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.”

1. John Gill – “First, of the righteousness itself, which is wholly of God. Not of man’s providing, but of God’s appointing. Not of man’s merit, but of God’s free grace. No predisposing cause but the everlasting love of God in Christ, having anything to do in the matter. Yea, faith itself, by which a child of God is made to possess it, and enjoy it, hath nothing of merit by way of recommendation.

2.  John Gill – The Lord, who is the sole Author and Giver of this righteousness, is the sole Author and Giver of faith also to receive, believe, and enjoy it, So that faith, as an act of ours, is but the effect, and not the cause; the hand to receive, and not to promote, the vast mercy. The highly favored soul, who is made a rich partaker of the blessing; to him it is given, to feel his want of righteousness in himself, to behold Christ’s righteousness as every way suited to himself and his wants, to accept on his bended knees the proffered mercy, and to receive it to the divine glory, and his own happiness.

IV. The Gospel: Christ’s Righteousness Imputed

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

1.   God reckons us sinless for Christ’s sake – The important word is “counting.” The word utilized in previous translations is “imputing.” It is a term signifying taking an inventory, to count, to think on. 

2. God reckoned Christ sinful for our sake- The only way for God to be just and justifier was to put away sin for the sake of His people. He does this by reckoning our sin to Jesus! He “made Him be sin for us.” All of this is by imputation. Obviously, Christ was not made to be a sinner, else the sacrifice would have been ineffective! NO! Christ was reckoned to be sin for His elect children!

3.  We are reckoned the righteousness of God! Already, we are seen as righteous for Christ’s sake and because of Christ’s perfect work!   One day, when faith ends in sight, we will be glorified and made sinless, in all ways free from sin! 

CONCLUSION

• The Gospel is God’s power unto salvation. – Conditioned solely on Christ

• The Gospel is the Revelation of God’s Righteousness – Conditioned solely on Christ

• The Gospel is the satisfaction of God’s Wrath- Conditioned solely on Christ

• The Gospel is the Righteousness of God imputed – Conditioned solely on Christ 

Beloved, the one and only condition for being a Christian, for knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that you have a sure promise of eternal life, is Jesus Christ!    

The Gospel is a set of historical facts concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is also how these events occurred to save a particular people from every kindred, nation, tribe, and tongue. If you come to believe Jesus is who the Bible describes Him to be, you only do so under one condition – and that sole condition is Christ alone as one’s only hope before a holy God! 

Christ is the power! Christ is the Revelation of God! Christ is the satisfaction of God Wrath! – Christ is the Righteousness of God imputed unto His People! 

Lord, Bless your people. Save the lost, comfort the saint. Through Christ our Lord, our sole condition for righteousness, I pray – Amen.

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This blog article is part of a larger message series. You can download the entire study guide HERE.