God the Sovereign Creator, because of His great love for mankind, did not want to abandon us to the misery and hell that we justly deserved as sinful, rebellious people.
In order to save a great many, He sent His very own Son, Jesus Christ, who took on a full human nature, becoming completely like us but without sin. Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience to God’s law; doing all the good and right things we were incapable of doing. By doing so, He became an acceptable substitute for us. He paid the penalty for our sins by suffering in our place on the cross; the just for the unjust, the holy Son of God for us, the guilty and corrupt. He willingly made Himself a sacrifice sufficient to blot out our sins and triumph over the enemies of our souls: sin and death.
By Christ’s death and resurrection He has turned away God’s appropriate anger for our sins; reconciled God to us and us to God; and adopted us into His family as His very own dear children.
We, who turn away from our sins and trust in Jesus Christ and His work on our behalf, are forgiven for our sins and clothed with the perfect righteousness of Christ Himself. Further, His actions have removed our guilt in the face of a Holy God. In gratitude to Him we are to live in joyful obedience and service to our Savior and are increasingly transformed to be like Christ by the power of His Holy Spirit.
This good news of salvation by grace through faith is offered freely to everyone – every man, woman, and child – regardless of how unworthy we think we are.
Adapted from “Roger Nicole on the Gospel”