The Gospel In Genesis

We see that God makes the gospel promise to Abraham through covenant in Genesis 12:1-3. God gave him this promise:"In you all the nations shall be blessed." That blessing comes through Abraham's Seed who is Christ. "Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, and to seeds as of many, but of one, and to your Seed, who is Christ" (Galatians 3:16).

Old Testament believers had the gospel in Genesis of the Messiah who was coming. As believers today, we know that He has come "that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:14).

All believers receive the blessing as Abraham did in Genesis. He was justified before God by faith. "And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it unto him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6). The gospel has always been received by faith (Hebrews 11:39-40). 

The gospel came to Abraham in Genesis through the covenant promise. The  gospel comes today to all believers through the covenant fulfillment."Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever"(Hebrews 13:8). Jesus said, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad" (John 8:56).

The Sovereignty of God

The sovereignty of God is illustrated in the potter with the clay. "Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?" (Romans 9:21). The potter is an image of God. We are like clay in his hands. The analogy of the potter illustrates the sovereignty of God. As the potter has power over the clay, so God has power over all.

The sovereignty of God is displayed in creation. The Bible declares, "It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves" (Psalm 100:3). The potter knew nothing of an assembly line production. Each vessel was individually hand crafted. Actually, no two vessels were exactly the same. Each one was the special work of the potter. While there were categories of vessels, there was a uniqueness about each one. So, each of us are made uniquely by God.

The sovereignty of God was given to the risen Christ. After the resurrection, Christ declared all power given unto him in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). That reveals the deity of Christ. Only God has power over all. God's power is revealed in our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, Jesus "the same Lord over all is rich unto all who call upon him" (Romans 10:12).

The sovereignty of God assures our salvation. The apostle Paul is our example. He testified, "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me" (Galatians 1:15-16). Paul became a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). He was transformed by the power of God in Christ (Romans 12:1-2). See the sovereignty of God in your salvation. Give all the glory to God!

What Is Propitiation?

"And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world" (1 John 2:2). Propitiation means the sacrifice of Christ satisfying God's righteous judgment of our sins. It is "for the whole world." That refers to the scope of all nations, Jews and Gentiles. It is not limited to the Jewish nation only, but includes the world of all nations (Rev. 5:9).

The propitiation of our Lord Jesus Christ satisfied the judgment of God's wrath against sinners who repent and come by faith to Christ. He is the substitute for every believer, taking our judgment and the curse of our sins at the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The propitiation of Christ is unlimited in value and worth, but it is limited to save to the uttermost only those who believe. The gospel preacher must proclaim the death of Jesus Christ unlimited in its offer to all, and command all to believe in Him for the forgiveness of all their sins. Anything less is not preaching the gospel of Christ.

Jesus Christ died to save those who believe and receive (John 1:11-13). It is the testimony of saving grace in the heart of all those who truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9). The testimony of every believer is "Christ died for me."

The Full Atonement

Full atonement is Christ crucified for our sins. Every believer's salvation was paid in full at the cross of Jesus. He made the one and only full atonement for all who through grace believe. That's the full punishment for all our sins at the cross of Jesus.

Wayne Grudem wrote, "Christ necessarily and willingly bore the full punishment for our sin on the cross. And so through his death, God's justice was met. Christ put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."

"But now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself"(Hebrews 9:26). Grudem described the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the believer's "full punishment for our sin on the cross." In Christ crucified, unlike the Old Testament sacrifices, was the full atonement forever.

A hymn describes the full atonement or punishment for our sins. It includes these words: "Guilty, vile, and helpless, we. Spotless Lamb of God was He. Full atonement—can it be? Hallelujah! what a Savior!"

Dr. Grudem further stated that Jesus "paid the penalty we deserved to pay for our sin. He bore the wrath that we deserved to bear." Christ was crucified to pay the full punishment for every believer's sin. "Hallelujah! what a Savior!"