Similarly, the blood of Christ provides the foundation for forgiveness, offering believers the freedom and assurance of being forgiven. Finally, the cross shows that the curse and shame of sin were borne by Christ, so that believers will never have to face the consequence of sin, which is death (Romans 6:23).
As we continue exploring gospel foundations, we will follow our established pattern of addressing both how the gospel applies to unbelievers and its ongoing relevance to believers. This approach underscores that the gospel is a truth that deepens as we explore its significance and blessings. Let us examine these three aspects of Christ’s work – His death, His blood, and His cross – and the blessing that each respectively brings: relationship, forgiveness, and identity.
The Death of Christ and the Blessing of Relationship
The death of Christ does not merely transfer believers from enmity with God to peace with God (Romans 5:1), it introduces them to a new, intimate relationship with God as their heavenly Father. Jesus described this relationship in terms of a loving Father who knows how to give good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11). If earthly fathers can understand such care, how much more does this characterise our perfect heavenly Father?
This relationship is not dependent on our performance. While disobedience grieves God (Ephesians 4:30), it does not alter the security of the relationship. Unlike earthly relationships, which can be strained or uncertain, the Christian’s relationship with God is based on the death of Christ and the assurance that His sacrifice has satisfied God’s wrath; “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 ESV).
This relationship also unites those who believe with one another in a shared intimate relationship with God as their Father. Paul refers to fellow believers as “brothers and sisters” (1 Corinthians 11:33 NIV), echoing Jesus’ teaching that those who do the will of God are members of His family (Matthew 12:48-50).
The Blood of Christ and the Blessing of Forgiveness
Forgiveness is closely tied to the believer’s newfound relationship with God. In Christ, “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14). Faith in Christ assures Christians that God will never hold them eternally responsible for their sins, which are ultimately offenses against Him (Psalm 51:4).
However, those who believe may still struggle with the consequences of past sins, and the accusations of Satan, their spiritual enemy (Revelation 12:10). The blessing of the gospel lies in knowing that forgiveness is not based on our works, but on the shed blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). This forgiveness is complete and eternal: “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12 NLT).
The Christian’s struggle does not stem from any insufficiency in the power of Christ’s blood to cleanse them from sin. Rather, it arises from a lack of faith that fully trusts in God’s Word and His promises. God assures us that, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Under the law, God’s people had to act; they had to be obedient and keep the law to experience its blessings (Luke 10:25-28). In contrast, blessings for Christians are rooted entirely in what God has done and will do: “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more” (Hebrews 8:12 ESV).
The Cross of Christ and the Blessing of Identity
The cross signifies the conclusion of everything that was against us. Paul writes, “Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14). At the cross, the curse of sin and the demands of the law were dealt with in full.
Paul’s glorying in the cross goes beyond liberty from sin’s consequences; it celebrates the believer’s new identity. Everything tied to our old self, inherited from Adam, found its end at the cross; “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV).
This truth reminds us that our identity is no longer defined by who we were but by who we are in Christ. It is not merely a label but a transformation. For all who believe, the cross marks the end of the old and the beginning of a new life in Christ.
The Gospel’s Enduring Relevance
The blessings of relationship, forgiveness, and identity are not truths we outgrow. They are the bedrock of our faith and a continual source of hope, rest, and encouragement. As believers, we never graduate from the gospel but delve deeper into its unfathomable riches, growing in our appreciation of all that Christ has done.
May we daily reflect on these truths, rejoicing in the unchanging gospel of the glory of God (Romans 3:23-26 and 1Timothy 1:11).
