What's the Foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

What was the point of Jesus’ life on earth? Why did he preach and do miracles? Why did he die? Why did he rise from the dead?

You have probably heard answers to these questions. But I’d like to take a fresh look at what the Bible records. You may disagree with some of the things I say, but I’ve included scripture passages so that you can judge for yourself whether I’m representing what the Bible teaches. Be sure to check out the references to take a closer look at the scriptures that are quoted. Just clicking on the footnote will give you the full text of the quotes I am citing. All quotations are from the ESV.

The Problem

Long ago, when God created the earth, he made us humans “in his image” and told us to rule it and protect the world.¹ But though we were meant to be wise rulers like God, it should be clear to anyone that we haven’t lived up to our responsibility. Instead, we live corrupt and evil lives, fighting wars and oppressing people, and we make bad choices that ruin our physical, mental, and spiritual health. The Bible says that this is because we turned from obedience to God and fell into captivity to the enemy of God—the forces of darkness and evil.² We became slaves to crime, addiction, and death, unable to free ourselves from the evil powers.³

But God resolved to save us from our bondage. To do so, he chose a people from among the nations, not because they were noble or mighty,⁴ but because their forefather Abraham had shown faith in him. God promised, through the one nation of Israel, to bring blessing to all people, if Israel would obey him.⁵

But though Abraham had obeyed God, Israel kept disobeying. So, to keep from jeopardizing his plan for rescuing humanity, God needed to give them a strict law to follow, so that he could overcome their unwillingness and sin.⁶ He wanted them to live morally, but they showed themselves incapable of doing so without extra laws.⁷ In God’s law and in the Law of Moses, God called them to give up violence, sexual immorality, and the worship of evil gods, because not only did Israel blaspheme against him, but they also committed vile injustices against their fellow people.⁸

More than almost anything else, God wanted to bring justice to the orphan and the stranger, the widow and the oppressed, but Israel perverted justice like all other people did.⁹ But despite these atrocities, God continually remembered them¹⁰ and reached out to them, calling them to repent¹¹ and to act with justice, mercy, and humility¹² so that he would accept them again, because God has never enjoyed punishing the wicked.¹³

And even though most of Israel wouldn’t listen, God promised, for the sake of the few who served him, that he would return to make things right.¹⁴ His presence would be among them, and the nations would rejoice at his coming—at last the salvation that he had promised would extend to all people, as he had promised to Abraham.¹⁵

What Jesus Did

And God fulfilled his promise. To Israel, God sent his son, Jesus, who was God’s very presence on earth, yet was born from the lineage of faithful Abraham through Israel.¹⁶ But how did Jesus solve the problem of humanity’s rebellion?

First, Jesus lived to save us. He was a friend of sinners.¹⁷ He was truly human, our friend and brother, and wept with our sorrows.¹⁸ He even healed many from their physical diseases.¹⁹ Though Israel was unfaithful, Jesus was faithful in their place, and because of his faithfulness against temptation, he can aid us to overcome our temptations.²⁰

Second, Jesus died to save us. He suffered our worst agony and was slaughtered like a lamb.²¹ Jesus sacrificed his life for us, offering himself as a ransom to save us from the dark powers, so that we wouldn’t need to be held captive by the fear of death.²² By his life and death, Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic Law, so that we are no longer bound to follow it—instead we must follow God’s timeless principles that have always been in effect and were obeyed by all righteous people. These laws are exemplified by Jesus’ perfect life and can be written in our hearts through Jesus’ salvation and the work of the Holy Spirit.²³

Then Jesus rose to save us. Jesus’ death was only the beginning of his redemptive work, and if it had ended there, we would still have no hope. ²⁴ But because Jesus humbled himself, because he was obedient to the point of death, God raised him up and exalted him.²⁵ Our Savior did not remain in the grave—he rose triumphant and cast away its chains.²⁶ He threw down the powers of darkness so that any of the oppressed could be freed from their captors.²⁷ Jesus is the first of those who will be raised at the last day,²⁸ and, since he leads the way, now all those who lay down their lives with him and are baptized will be raised with him from the dead and freed from bondage to all other powers.²⁹

Finally, Jesus will return and complete the work he began. He will judge the faithful ones from the wicked and ultimately save the faithful from the bondage of physical death.³⁰ Jesus, who has led captivity captive, will return and give us eternal life, raising those who have died and giving all of us immortal bodies that will never die.³¹ Finally the redemption of humans will be complete, and death, the last enemy that holds us captive, will be defeated.³²

In all this, Jesus became a powerful king.³³ But he gained his power through love, not coercion. He refused to be defined by the attempts of humans to save themselves. Though his people wanted to be saved by a king like human kings, Jesus set up a Kingdom out of what was left of the nation of Israel. His Kingdom, however, conforms to the laws of heaven and not those of earth.³⁴ As humans, it’s natural for us to want to win through violence and coercion, but Jesus told us to put away our swords, because he chooses to win by using the weapon of self-giving love.³⁵ We want to rule over others, but Jesus, in humility, chose to serve us. He became a man so that he could die with us.³⁶

But wait—this sounds like it’s all about humans and not about God. Didn’t God create us and save us for his glory? Certainly,³⁷ but God glories in his self-giving love, which he extends to those who are lowly, even to those who are dead.³⁸ God glories more in giving life than in condemning, and he wishes for all to have eternal life.³⁹ With Mary, we rejoice that he cares for us, the humble and weak.⁴⁰ God values us dearly—he considers himself our father, and children are particularly special to him.⁴¹

Our Response

Therefore, now that Jesus is both lifted up to die and raised from the dead, he calls all men to him, for he has offered himself for all.⁴² If we do not come or if we disobey, it is our doing, not God’s, for God has given us the ability to choose rightly.⁴³ If after we have come, we leave and apostatize, it is our doing, because God will not himself cast us out.⁴⁴

Jesus weeps for the lost and actively seeks them, even though they continue to reject him of their own will and against his.⁴⁵ His love is truly universal to all mankind, and he loves even those who have chosen against him, for he wishes to bring them salvation if only they repent.⁴⁶ Because he can give us the power to act righteously and to live resurrected lives that are freed from the powers of darkness that have held us in their dominion.⁴⁷

Therefore, Jesus proclaims a new kind of leadership and relationship, telling us not to try to control each other, but to give ourselves to serve each other.⁴⁸ It is by this radical love that Jesus triumphs and the powers of darkness suffer their shameful defeat.⁴⁹ And God’s son is not different from his Father in character. For God not only judges the evil, but also shows mercy and covenant love. He is slow to become anger and quick to show mercy, and he does not punish us as much as we deserve.⁵⁰ He calls us to be holy like himself, and his character is that of love. He tells us to love our enemies because he also loves his enemies.⁵¹

How then can we live, so that we are faithful when Jesus returns? First, we must respond to his call by renouncing our former sins and selfishness and being baptized into his Kingdom.⁵² And when we have done so, we must glorify God by our actions, because we have been bought with a price, ransomed from our captors.⁵³ We do this by following God’s age-old request—that we honor him and obey his moral law.⁵⁴ But though we are under a law, it is a different law from the Law of Moses, which was only intended for a time in order to control evildoers.⁵⁵

God also tells us to love our neighbors as God loves them, showing mercy to those who are suffering trouble, and not retaliating against our enemies.⁵⁶ God cares about our actions toward each other more than about the sacrificial system of the Israelites, and he considers deeds done to the poor and needy to be deeds done to himself.⁵⁷ And if we do not have the strength to follow God’s commands, he will give us the power to do so.⁵⁸ But if we do not obey God, we will have no part in Jesus’ salvation or the Kingdom of Heaven.⁵⁹

Jesus calls us not only to join his Kingdom, but also to work in it. He will judge us by our works. He saves those whose faithfulness demonstrates itself in works of righteousness, but those who do evil works will be condemned.⁶⁰ Therefore let’s do his commandments, living as he lived and bearing our crosses faithfully.⁶¹

And if we fall, God is quick to forgive, as long as we remain faithful, because we are not saved by our works but by the blood of Jesus, offered up in faithfulness, which unites heaven and earth under God.⁶² And as we obediently build the Kingdom of God, the gates of hell will not prevail against us, and at last, when Jesus returns, his Kingdom will fill the whole earth.⁶³

Conclusion

As I understand the story of redemption, Jesus redeems us in four ways. First, he became human and lived the perfect human life, thus teaching us how to live as godly people. Second, he died with us and gave his life in order to ransom us and bring us out of the clutches of sin and death. Third, he rose from the dead, defeating the forces of darkness and giving us the power to live as resurrected people, so that we too can conquer our enemies by loving them and laying down our lives for them. Fourth, Jesus will return and heal our decaying bodies, raising us to new life in a physical resurrection; at last completing his conquest of the powers that are fighting against God, so that his heavenly Kingdom can reach its full glory on the earth.

1
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Gen 1:26)
2
[D]eath spread to all men because all sinned (Rom 5:12)

[W]e also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. (Gal 4:3)

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. (John 8:34)
3
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Eph 2:1-3)

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (Rom 6:15)

They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. (Eph 4:18,19)
4
The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers. (Deut 7:6-8)
5
Now the Lord said to Abram, “. . . I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. . . . [I]n you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen 12:1-3)

[T]he Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly. . . . I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. . . . And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.” (Gen 17:1-7)

“By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you [Abraham] have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, . . . in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” (Gen 22:16-18)

Now therefore, if you [Israel] will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ (Ex 19:5,6)

Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them; then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you . . . (Deut 11:16,17)
6
And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it . . .” (Ex 32:7-8)

Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made . . . (Gal 3:19)

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane . . . (1 Tim 1:8,9)
7
And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he [Moses] wrote you this commandment. . . .” (Mark 10:5)

I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. (Matt 9:13, 12:7)

Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. (1 Sam 15:22)

And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:32-34)
8
They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them. And they abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. (2 Kings 17:15-17)

Because the people have forsaken me and have profaned this place by making offerings in it to other gods whom neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have known; and because they have filled this place with the blood of innocents, and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or decree, nor did it come into my mind— (Jer 19:4,5)

They served their idols,
which became a snare to them.
They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to the demons;
they poured out innocent blood,
the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
and the land was polluted with blood. (Ps 106:36-38).

Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. (Zech 7:9-11)
9
For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever. (Jer 7:5-7)

When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye. If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth. (Ex 21:26)

He [God] executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. (Deut 10:18,19)

You [Israel] shall not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns. You shall give him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets (for he is poor and counts on it), lest he cry against you to the Lord, and you be guilty of sin. . . . You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge, but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this. (Deut 24:14-18)

Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow’s cause. (Isa 1:16,17)
10
Even when they had made for themselves a golden calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies, you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. (Neh 9:18,19)
11
Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations. (Eze 14:6)

If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. (Jer 18:8)
12
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)
13
But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? (Eze 18:21-23)
14
“And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord. (Isa 59:20)

Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever. (Jer 3:12-15)

Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. . . . I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. . . . The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:4-9)

Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst. (Zech 2:4,5)
15
All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before you. (Ps 22:27)

“In that day I will raise up
the booth of David that is fallen
and repair its breaches,
and raise up its ruins
and rebuild it as in the days of old,
that they may possess the remnant of Edom
and all the nations who are called by my name,”
declares the Lord who does this. (Amos 9:11,12)

Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord. And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. (Zech 2:10,11)

[M]y eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel. (Luke 2:30-32).
16
Jesus said to him, “. . . Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. . . . For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Col 1:15,19)

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Gal 4:4,5)
17
And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. (Matt 9:10)
18
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. . . . Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” (John 11:33-36)
19
And he went throughout all Galilee, . . . healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. (Matt 4:23,24)
20
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. . . . Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” (Matt 4:1-11)

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Heb 2:17,18)

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (Heb 4:15)
21
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed. (Isa 53:4,5)
22
But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. . . . Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery (Heb 2:9,14,15)

[T]he Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matt 20:28, Mark 10:45).
23
For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. (Acts 15:28,29)

For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (Rom 2:14-16)

Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. (Rom 7:4-6)

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? . . . For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. . . . For to this day, when they [the Israelites] read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. (2 Cor 3:7-16)
24
And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. . . . And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. . . . If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. . . . What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” (1 Cor 15:14,17,19,32)
25
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name . . . (Phil 2:8,9)
26
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 15:55-57)
27
Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I [Jesus], when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. (John 12:31)

He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate . . . (Luke 1:51,52)
28
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. (1 Cor 15:20-23)
29
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (John 12:24-25)

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (Col 2:11-13).
30
Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matt 24:45-51)

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Rom 8:18-23)

Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. (Rev 22:12)

He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. (Rom 2:6-10)
31
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (Eph 4:7)

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. . . . No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. . . . Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. (John 6:40,44,54)

Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. . . . For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Cor 15:49-54).
32
Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1 Cor 15:24-26)
33
To learn more about his kingship, see my article on the Kingdom of God.
34
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” (John 18:36)
35
And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” (Matt 26:51,52)
36
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Phil 2:3-8)
37
“I will say to the north, Give up,
and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the end of the earth,
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.” (Isa 43:6,7)
38
All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD,
for they have heard the words of your mouth,
and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,
for great is the glory of the LORD.
For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly,
but the haughty he knows from afar. (Ps 138:4-6)

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Eph 2:4-7)
39
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:17)

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Pet 3:9)

So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. (Matt 18:14)

Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live. (Eze 18:32, 33:11)

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. (2 Cor 3:7-9)
40
He has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty. (Luke 1:52,53)
41
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16,17)

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Matt 10:29-31, Luke 12:6,7)

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. (Matt 23:9)

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 19:14)
42
[T]here is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all. (1 Tim 2:6)

Jesus answered, “. . . And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32)

For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. (1 Tim 4:10)
43
Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Cor 10:12,13)

As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 33:10)

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us. (Acts 17:26,27)
44
For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. (Rom 11:21,22)

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. (John 6:37)

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.” (Col 1:21-23)
45
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! (Matt 23:37)

But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” (Rom 10:21)

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. (Matt 18:12-14)
46
And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:2)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16,17)

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” . . . And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Mark 10:17-22)

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Rom 5:6-10)
47
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Rom 8:11,12)

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 15:57)

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God . . . (John 1:12)
48
If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. (Mark 9:35)

But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:43-45, Matt 20:28)

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Gal 5:13)
49
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:8-11)

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (Col 2:15)
50
The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty (Num 14:18, Ex 34:6,7)

For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. (Ps 57:10)

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. . . . But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. (Ps 86:5,15)

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. (Ps 103:8-14)
51
For more about this, see my article on biblical nonresistance.

[A]s he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Pet 1:15,16)

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:7,8)

You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. . . . You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matt 5:43-48)
52
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, . . . God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness. (Acts 3:19, 26)
53
Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Luke 3:8,9)

You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Cor 6:19,20)
54
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matt 5:16)

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt 22:37-40)

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Heb 13:15,16)

He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. (Rom 2:6-11)
55
To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. (1 Cor 9:20,21)

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Gal 5:18)

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? (2 Cor 3:7,8)

Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. (Gal 3:19)

He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.” (Matt 19:8)

[T]he law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane . . . (1 Tim 1:9)

For more information, see my article on the relationship between faith and works in salvation.
56
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Matt 22:39)

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:27)

⁵⁶I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. (Matt 5:39-41).
57
And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:32-34)

Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. (Matt 9:13)

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. (Matt 23:23)

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (Matt 25:37-40)
58
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Cor 10:13)
59
Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ (Matt 25:41-43)

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:23)

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor 6:9,10)

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. (Rev 20:12)
60
So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:17)

But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Matt 24:13)

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14:15)

He will render to each one according to his works . . . (Rom 2:6)

Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Luke 3:9)

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matt 7:21-23)
61
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matt 16:24,25)

The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him . . . (2 Tim 2:11,12)
62
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Eph 1:7-10)

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:8-10)

Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him . . . Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. (Heb 3:1-6)
63
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matt 16:18)

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:38-39)

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matt 24:14)

They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Isa 11:9)

And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever . . . (Dan 2:44)

The Full Gospel of Jesus Christ—Good News About Jesus

The Problem

What Jesus Did

Our Response

Conclusion

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The Problem

What Jesus Did

Our Response

Conclusion

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