A believer knows that Christ died for our sins. But what does it actually mean and who is meant by our? And why is it gospel, that is, good news, that He died? What is good about Christ’s death?
Paul gives a brief summary of the gospel as he makes it known in the 1st Corinthians letter, where he says:
1 Corinthians 15
1 I declare to you, brothers, the gospel that I preach to you, which you also received, in which you also stand,
2 whereby you will also be saved, if you hold fast the word that I evangelize you, unless of course you believe for the sake of appearances.
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
our sins
Verse 3 says that Christ died for our sins. But who are ours? Are those who already believe, does this apply to a few, or does this apply to all humanity? Paul elaborates on this further in 1 Corinthians 15, but the scope of this act of Christ is also emphasized elsewhere and by other apostles in Scripture. John declares in 1 John 4:10 that God sent His Son to be a covering for our sins. Earlier in the same letter, he says:
1 John 2
2 And He is a refuge from our sins, and not from ours only, but also from the sins of the whole world.
Savior of the world
He died for the sin of the entire world and is therefore the Savior of the world! (John 4:42, 1 John 4:14). That He died is not the only thing, He also rose again says 1 Cor.15:4. He is the first to be raised in incorruption.
2 Timothy 1
10 (…) Christ Jesus, who abolishes death and brings to light imperishable life through the gospel.
death annihilated
That is the gospel: died for every man, death is abolished and every man will live incorruptible! And that is what Paul puts forward in the great chapter of 1 Corinthians 15, when he makes the gospel known to us. Christ died to be raised from the dead. Christ died for our sins so that he could be raised from the dead, free us from sin, and give us life. Guaranteed, for every person, every sinner!
1 Corinthians 15
21 For since death came through a man, so also the resurrection of the dead came through a man.
22 For just as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
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