THE
FOURFOLD MESSAGE OF GRACE
Isaiah
40:1-2
The Lord God commands all
who preach the gospel, saying, "Comfort
ye, comfort ye my people... Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto
her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she
hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins." In response
to that command, for the comfort of God's elect, it is my joy to constantly
declare a fourfold message of grace to all who trust Christ.
1. PERFECT ATONEMENT
The message of the gospel is
a message of perfect atonement. The Lord Jesus Christ took upon himself all the
sins of all his people, paid for them, completely satisfying the just demands
of God's holy law, and forever put them away. Redemption is accomplished! We
are redeemed by the blood of Christ (II Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; Heb. 9:12).
2. PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS
The gospel of Christ, the
gospel of the grace of God is a message of perfect righteousness. It is not
enough for the sinner to be pardoned. We are required to keep the law. "Cursed is he that continueth not in
all things which are written in the book of the law to do them" (Gal.
3:10). This too Christ has done! By his faithful obedience to the law of God as
our Representative, he has brought in everlasting righteousness for God’s
elect. Believing sinners are made the very righteousness of God in him by
divine imputation (Rom. 3:19-22; 5:19).
3. PERFECT IMPUTATION
The gospel is a message of
imputation. God saves chosen sinners by imputation. There is no way for sinners
to be justified before God except by divine imputation. Just as Christ was made
to be sin for us by the imputation of our sins to him, we are made the
righteousness of God in him by the imputation of his righteousness to us.
Christ has given us life, light and understanding by the gospel, enabling us to
see and receive the imputation of his righteousness to us by faith in him (Rom.
1: 16,17; 4:3-8,9.0-25). Righteousness is not imputed to us upon the basis of
our faith, but upon the basis of Christ's faithfulness as our Representative.
This imputed righteousness is received by faith. Righteousness is imputed to us
without works. And it is an unconditional, irrevocable imputation (Rom. 4:6-8).
4. PERFECT LIBERTY!
The preaching of the gospel
is the proclamation of liberty, “the
glorious liberty of the sons of God.” Since justice has been satisfied, the
law has been honored, and righteousness has been imputed to us, God's elect are
completely freed from all possibility of condemnation (Rom. 8:1-4). Where there
is no debt, there is no liability. Where there is no sin, there is no curse.
Where there is no guilt, there is no fear. And where there is no fear, there is
perfect liberty.
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For Today Radio Message #596
2734 Old Stanford Road - Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438 - Donald S. Fortner, Pastor