Kingdom Tension Part 9

At Keys Vineyard Church, we are presenting a series called ‘Kingdom Tension,’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.

Last week in our ‘Kingdom Tension’ series we talked about the importance of knowing that we live in a tension between the “now and not yet”. This week we are going to talk about the gospel.

Understanding the gospel is crucial because we live in a world where the enemy is actively working to blind people to its truth. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:3–4, the “god of this age” has blinded the minds of unbelievers, preventing them from seeing the light of the gospel. This spiritual blindness is why clarity on the gospel is not optional; it’s essential.

This problem isn’t new. In Galatia, believers who had experienced the transforming grace of God were being led astray. Legalistic teachers arrived, adding requirements to the gospel, essentially saying, “Jesus plus something else.” But the gospel needs no additions. We are not saved by what we do, but by what Christ has already done.

Paul lays out the gospel for us in 1 Corinthians 15:1–8:

1 Corinthians 15:1-8 (NIV)
1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

The gospel is of “first importance.” It is the message that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day—according to the Scriptures. This shows us the gospel is not a random event in history but the unfolding of God’s divine plan, prophesied long before it was fulfilled.

The gospel is a divine accomplishment. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, several things were achieved:

Our sins were forgiven (Colossians 2:13–14).

God’s wrath was removed (Romans 8:1–2).

Eternal life was made available (John 3:16).

These are not abstract concepts—they are historical, completed acts. God did the work. We simply receive the gift.

This leads to the most vital point: The gospel must be received by faith. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:2, “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.” It’s not our moral efforts or religious performance that save us. It is receiving and believing the good news of what Christ has done, as John 1:12 declares, “To all who received him… he gave the right to become children of God.”

This weekend at Keys Vineyard Church, we will discuss all this and more, so be sure to join us in person or online.

Steve Lawes is a pastor at Keys Vineyard Church and also the founder of the Online Bible Institute Network.