The Gospel

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

This is the gospel. Yet it seems like much of the Church today is preaching another gospel. They have made the gospel about something else. It’s become about us instead of Christ. And it makes my heart sick. Here are a couple of quotes by well-known pastors that I found floating around the internet:

• “You have greatness in you. Start calling yourself healed, happy, whole, blessed, and prosperous.“

• “You need to hear about money because you ain't gonna have no love and joy and peace until you get some money!”

Let me just say that without Christ there is not, was not, and never will be greatness in me. The fact is, I was born with a sin nature that I inherited from my forefathers, who inherited it from their forefathers — all the way back to Adam and Eve. No self-help book, motivational conference, or prosperity gospel is going to fix what was wrong with me. I needed a Savior. I needed someone who had never sinned to step in and offer Himself as a sacrifice in my place. 

But there was one little problem with that — no such human exists. Still, God had a plan. He sent His Son. Jesus stepped into time and space. The Creator took on the form the creation, minus the sin nature. And He who knew no sin became sin for me (2 Cor. 5:21). He offered Himself up for my sins so that I could be made right with God through Him. He did for me what I could never do for myself and what no other human being could ever do for me. 

There is no better gospel. There is no other gospel. God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. Period. End of story.