The Gospel (The "DBR")

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Death

What's good about death? Nothing, that is if we are talking about physical death for you, for me, for our family and friends. Death often brings sadness. Nobody likes to lose someone that they dearly loved and cared for. We learn from Romans 6:23a that the wages (consequences) of sin is death. "For the wages of sin is death." Death entered the picture after Adam first sinned in the Garden (Gen. 3; Rom. 5:18a). Humanly speaking, death is no good. But, we're not just talking about any man's death. We are talking about the Lord Jesus Christ's death. What did Christ's death accomplish for you and for me? Well, 2nd Corinthians 5:19 puts it this way. 2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. God was in Christ not imputing or not counting the world's sins against them. He has reconciled the world unto Himself in the person of Christ (who is God as well, John 1:1,14). We just read in Romans 6:23 that the "wages of sin is death." So, in order to pay for sin a sacrifice is required. That's why Israel was required to offer animal sacrifices. Their sin was imputed on the sacrifice. But, instead of offering animal sacrifices today, Christ Himself is that once for all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10). Our sins were imputed to Christ on the cross. His death paid for all of our sins. Therefore, He is no longer counting our sin against us today, because it was already counted or imputed on Him when He hung from the cross of Calvary. That work is finished. As Christ called out on the cross, "It is finished (John 19:30)."

Burial

Once again we ask what's good about the burial? Or what is good about burying people? Humanly speaking, it is no good. It follows naturally right after death, when people gather to bury their loved ones. But, once again we are not talking about any man's death and burial. We are talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. Why is Christ's burial important? The first time burial is mentioned in Scripture it is when Abraham buries his wife Sarah in Genesis 23:19. To bury someone or something is to put it out of sight. Christ died for our sins by becoming that once for all sufficient sacrifice and was buried, therefore, our sin too was buried. In other words, Christ put our sins away forever. He left them buried. He put it out of His sight. To sum up so far, Christ has died for all of our sins and has buried them, putting them out of His sight forever. What great news this is!

Resurrection

But, we are not done yet. As proof that Christ did what He said He did, he arose from the grave. He rose again so that you and I might have eternal life in Him in Heavenly places. The last part of Romans 6:23 says "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." As well as Romans 5:18b, "through one Man's  (Jesus Christ) righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life." This free gift is offered to all men (all mankind). In order to receive eternal life in Christ, all you have to do is believe. Believe what? Believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins on your behalf, was buried, and rose again the third day! Simply believe what Christ said He has already done. Then you will be justified or made righteous. You will be made "the righteousness of God in Him" (2nd Corinthians 5:21). Believe today!

Rejoicing in Hope

Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Believers have been justified by faith and therefore, we now have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1). We then also now have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand. We have a perfect position in Christ. We are complete in Him (Col. 2:10).

Now that we have been justified, or made righteous,  and have a perfect standing before God in our Savior Jesus Christ, we can now rejoice in hope or eager anticipation of the glory of God that we are waiting for, known as our blessed hope (Titus 2:13). On one hand, because of our perfect standing in Christ, we too are already seated in the Heavenlies in Christ at the right hand of the Father. But, we also are looking forward to the coming of our Lord when He shall catch us away from this world and we shall meet Him there in the air (1 Thess. 4:13-18). And from that point on we shall be with the Lord for all eternity. We shall share in His glory. We shall be in His presence forever more. In verse twelve of chapter twelve, it again says that we are to be rejoicing in hope. The tense of the verse suggests that that we are to rejoice continuously. We are to keep on rejoicing in that hope we now have as believers in Christ Jesus as we walk in the Lord on this earth while we wait for the Lord to catch the Church (Body of Christ) away.

Romans 4:18

Romans 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

Earlier in chapter four of Romans Abraham is used to explain how someone is justified today in the Dispensation of Grace. In verse five, a man is justified by faith apart  from works or without works. Abraham's faith was accounted to him for righteousness. Righteousness was counted to his account, because he believed. And in verses 9-12, it explains that Abraham's faith was accounted for righteousness while he was still uncircumcised.

The word "against" in verse 18 means "beyond." Humanly speaking, both Abraham and Sarah had no hope of ever reproducing because they were old. It was beyond hope. But God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things that don't exist as though they did exist (verse 17) gave them that hope. And hope, according to the Bible, means an earnest expectation (Phil. 1:20). Abraham could expect what God told him would happen. Where there seemed to be no hope from man's perspective, from God's perspective there was hope. And Abraham simply believed/trusted God. And because of that faith, righteousness was accounted to him. It wasn't by works or by circumcision. It was by faith alone.

We too are justified by faith today!

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

God has already reconciled the world unto Himself by not imputing our trespasses unto ourselves, but instead He imputed (counted) our sin on the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Christ, who knew no sin, was made sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21). God is no longer counting your sin against you. All of your sin is paid for! All you have to do to receive eternal life, or in other words, be made the righteousness of God in Christ is believe! Take God at His Word. He said he has already paid for your sins. He said that he is no longer charging you with your sin. All you have to do is believe! Believe that Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day! (1 Cor. 15:1-4) By believing what Christ has already done on your behalf you are then made the righteousness of God in Him.