By John Piper
1. The Gospel is an event. Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.
2. He achieved something when he died: (1) Christ absorbed the wrath of God on our behalf (Galations 3:13), (2) He bore our sins and purchased our forgiveness. The payment and purchase occurred 2,000 years ago – forgiveness (on a personal level) comes later. (3) He provided a complete and perfect righteousness for us. Phillipians 2 tells us He was obedient unto death and that obedience – the obedience of Jesus Christ – is the obedience of Romans 5:19. Christ completed it. (4) He defeated death itself (Hebrews 2:14). (5) He disarmed Satan by suffering (Colossians 2:14). Satan can beat us up, but he cannot damn us, because his one weapon (unpaid sin) is gone. Where? Nailed to a cross. And Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire someday. (6) Christ purchased perfect final healing and peace for His people (Isaiah 53:4-5). Some of this is experienced in our lifetime; most of it is not experienced until we reach heaven. (7) Christ secured for us eternal fellowship with him (1 Peter 3:18).
Amen. Thanks for keeping it real. Great Post.