A SIMPLE GOSPEL

Galatians 1:4-5

“The one who gave Himself concerning the sins of us, so that He might deliver us out of the present age the evil one according to the will of God the Father of us, to whom the glory be unto age upon age.  Amen.”  A personal translation.

I heard a man say the Scripture above is the shortest, purest statement of the gospel in Scripture.  I concur.

There are some simple truths in it which are required to constitute the content of what the gospel really is.  It is to our advantage to review these truths.

1.       “Christ gave himself.”

a.        His life was not taken from Him but it was a voluntary death.  There was neither the requirement of law nor the power of man that could take His life from Him            (John 10:18).

b.      The giving in this statement is the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross.  Smeaton, commenting on John 3:16 writes, “When used in connection with the death of Christ….When the Son is said ‘to give Himself’ the language must be understood in the sacrificial sense.”  The Doctrine Of  The Atonement As Taught By Christ Himself, George Smeaton, pg 45.

The Gospel always is summed up in either one of two facts, the cross or the resurrection.  The cross is completed in the resurrection and the resurrection is the victory of the cross.

2.       “Concerning our sins” is the purpose of Jesus’ coming, of His holy life, and of this sacrificial death.  As Paul can say “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” he says with equal effectiveness His donation was for sins.  There is no real difference in these statements.  To save this people was for Him to put away their sins. 

(Romans 6:23).

And it must be understood the object of His action was specific.  It is the “sins of us”.  This is either only the sins of Paul and his companions or all who are included in the deliverance that follows.  It is not empty and aimless.  We were the objects.  The benefit accrues to us only.

3.      “Deliver us out of the present evil age”.

a.        This deliverance is as certain as the sacrifice.  As it was “Concerning” us so it delivers us.  The argument about sanctification of Christ atoned for people is a straw man to muddle the fact that those who believe the elect alone are the objects of Christ’s death and they alone are the objects of Christ’s death and they alone receive the benefits never denies the desire and effort of holiness.  (Ephesians 2:10)

b.      “present evil age” addresses the world with its influence.  This includes people, things, and life itself.  John writes, “if any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him”.  Paul tells us “Demas loved this present evil world”, (II Timothy 4:10).

This is the world from which believers are delivered.  Do not be deceived about yourself.  If you have such an attachment to this age that it furnishes you pleasure and satisfaction you have not experienced this deliverance.

4.       “According to the will of our God and Father”.

a.        This single free will is named here.  There is no free will other than God’s.  His will alone determines the end of His creation.  We find any Christian will try to attribute all manner of major occurrences in the world to God--but put man off limits.    

When we call the overarching environment of our existence creation, we cannot exclude man.  It is beyond human comprehension that God in some way or for some reason gives away His sovereignty over His human creation.  If His will rules in anything, it rules in all things.

b.      It is with the greatest joy that we read it is the will of a Father that we have to do.  All that word portends, love, provision, protection, mercy, and grace are there for faith to receive.

5.       “To whom is the glory”.

This is the summum bonum for the saint.  When I look back at the cross, I see redemption to His glory and when I look forward there is only His  glory.