Page 36 - In Defense of the Gospel PUB

Thus Paul says in Hebrews 4:2: “For unto us was the GOSPEL

preached, as well as unto them. But the word preached did not

profit them, not being mixed with faith in them who heard it.”

I’ve heard people say that the gospel is just ‘too good to be

true.’ A few have said, ‘Even God can’t be this good.’

Scripture is clear. We need to (1) BELIEVE the gospel, and we

also need to (2) RECEIVE the gospel. This is what Paul says: “They
who RECEIVE abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness

shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:17). Paul is very clear

that we cannot live in the gospel — the revelation of who we are in

Christ because of what HE did — when we are trying to live life by

what WE do under the Old Covenant law.

“They have a zeal for God, but NOT according to knowledge.

Being ignorant of GOD’S righteousness, and going about to establish

their OWN righteousness, they have not submitted themselves to

the righteousness of God” (Rom 10:2-3). If we do not submit to the

righteousness of God and receive it, we remain blind to it because

our own self-righteousness blinds us.

In Philippians 3:9 Paul shows us how our self-righteousness is

motivated by the LAW. He says he wants to be found in Christ:

“Not having my OWN righteousness, which is by the LAW, but that

which is by the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by

faith.” We cannot live in a revelation of the gospel righteousness of
God if we’re living in our own self-righteousness under the law.

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