Man was created for a purpose that had
to do with regality; and fallen man has been redeemed
with this same purpose in view. Salvation has been
provided for fallen man in order that God might bring man
back into the position for which he was created in the
beginning.
Accordingly, the gospel message, the
good news seen throughout Scripture, has two facets — the
good news concerning the grace of God, and the good
news concerning the glory of Christ:
1)
The Gospel of the Grace of God is a message
dealing with Christ’s past, finished work at Calvary. It is
the message of the Cross; it is a message surrounding the
shedding of blood; it is a message surrounding death; and it
is a message that is to be proclaimed to the unsaved — to
those “dead in trespasses
and sins.”
The reception
of this message — man believing on the Lord Jesus Christ,
who died in his stead — results in eternal salvation.
2)
The Gospel of the Glory of Christ is a message
encompassing Christ’s present work but culminating in and
dealing more specifically with His future work. It is a
message surrounding present Christian living, with a view to
that which lies ahead. And, encompassing Christ’s present
work as High Priest, the gospel of the glory of Christ (as
the gospel of the grace of God) is also a message
surrounding the shedding of blood (Christ’s shed blood now
on the mercy seat in the heavenly sanctuary). But now
matters surround Christ’s glory and that of bringing many
sons to glory with Him.
The reception
of this message—redeemed man exercising faithfulness to his
calling—will result in an individual being accorded the
honor and privilege of ascending the throne with Christ
in His kingdom when He returns in all His power and glory.
Distinctions between the preceding two
messages must be clearly understood if an individual
would properly understand the whole of the salvation message
in Scripture.