Three ways to live

My earlier post on the meaning of the gospel, “What is the gospel?“, turned out to be quite detailed and complicated. Here is a shortened version where I only highlight five main principles.

1. Main distinguishing factor. The gospel is primarily about what Jesus has done, not what he has taught. Other religions are based on what their founders taught. Christianity is based on what its founder did. Take away Jesus, and there will be no more Christianity.
2. Why did he do it? You are so bad that Jesus had to die for you. There is nothing you could have done yourself, no matter how hard you try. You cannot be good and righteous on your own. Jesus had to die for you and now the Spirit of God is working within you to make you good.
3. Did he do it reluctantly? Not at all! You are so loved he wanted to die for you.
4. How do we receive it? God declares you righteous (accepts you) when you acknowledge your spiritual bankruptcy and accept the sacrifice of Jesus as a gift.
5. The foolishness of the gospel. The gospel is a complete reversal of world’s values. In the world you are accepted when you bring in something of value. But in the gospel, you don’t get accepted by saying I lived a good life, you are accepted by acknowledging your spiritual bankruptcy. Gospel’s salvation is achieved through the reversal of values also. Jesus, God and king of the world, chose to come in weakness not in power.