Back to Basics, R.C. Sproul (Christless Christianity Conference 2010)
http://www.ligonier.org/learn/conferences/christless-christianity-2010-west-coast/back-to-basics/
RC Sproul on the Back to Basics - Christless Christianity Conference 2010 10/16/2010
A complete description of the gospel and how Paul was called to it as are well who are called by God to follow Jesus. It is a description of the pronouncement of the gospel and what the gospel is. The first expression of the gospel: Genesis 3. It is found the curse to the serpent. It's found in the hatred between the offspring of the woman and the serpent. "Bruised head, bruised heel." The serpent will suffer the death blow. The bad news for the serpent was the good news for us. Galatians, Paul says preaching of other gospel except what he preached let them be "cursed". There is no improving the good news.
Next found in New Testament. Luke 1:26: The announcement to Mary. He comes to proclaim the message of the gospel to one person and not to the world. "Greetings oh favored one. The Lord is with you." She was troubled by it. "Don't be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God... You will conceive and bare a son. He will be called Jesus, the One who saves. He will be called the son of the Most High God. He reigns forever. His kingdom will not end." The same Spirit at the dawn of creation, hovering over it, will hover over you. This was the first pronouncement of the gospel in the New Testament. Read Mary's Song. From then on Mary pondered the things of the message delivered to her. She didn't understand what the gospel she had been given. When the birth was announced she heard the gospel again.
The angels brought great tidings of peace to men of great will. The angels became preachers of the gospel and the gospel was about Jesus. Look at the book of Acts. It is the basic structure of apostolic preaching. Romans 1:3: Paul says God's gospel "concerns his Son". It always concerns his Son. Out of the seed of David, the Son of God ascends to the world. Romans 1:4: Objective elements of the gospel = All about Jesus and his work and the law. "Behold the Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world." Jesus submitted himself to the law in perfect obedience. This is at the very heart of the mission of Jesus.
The gospel is not just about the death of Jesus. It is about the life of Jesus. He was born under the law. It was necessary for Him to fulfill all righteousness. He becomes anointed by Holy Spirit for His mission. He becomes perfect in His sin-less-ness. He then lays down His life for the atonement for sinners. It satisfies Gods justice. The atonement is central to the gospel. By the power of the Holy Spirit He was raised to justify us. (Christology)
Not just objective though: With all of that we still don't have the entire gospel. The question is "so what?" "What must I do to be saved?" How is the benefits appropriated by Christ attributed to me? (Paul answers in Romans, Ephesians, and Galatians) The answer is we are justified by faith alone. It is by being justified by Christ alone. His righteousness not mine justifies me to eternal life. The word "alone" is the key. It is HE alone. We possess a righteousness that is perfect right now. Righteousness that is alien to us. Apart from us it is the righteousness of Christ. It is imputed by Christ alone though faith alone.
It doesn't get any better period. Christ won my righteousness. Without Sola Fide you don't have the gospel. There is no imputation apart from it. The church stands or falls on this, justification through faith alone. The gospel is Jesus in His totality. That is the gospel.
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