Is the Gospel simple or complex?
The Gospel is both simple and complex. It is simple because forgiveness comes entirely through Christ's finished work—His death, burial, and resurrection—not by anything we do, providing complete forgiveness past, present, and future. It is complex because it surpasses human comprehension and will not be fully understood this side of glory.
Les explains that in Galatians 2:20 Paul makes the classic statement that he is crucified with Christ. That is the very function of the Gospel: Christ died for the sins of the world, was buried, and rose from the dead. When we come under that forgiveness, we are forgiven everything—past, present, and future—and will never come into God's presence with sin on our back, because it has all been paid for. Les notes this is beyond human comprehension; he cannot understand it but believes it because the Book teaches we have been forgiven all trespasses, not because of anything we have done, but because of what Christ accomplished on our behalf. That is what makes the Gospel so simple, and yet so complex. Les says we will never understand it this side of glory. Paul then goes on to say that even though he is crucified by identification with Christ's death, yet he lives, and the life he now lives in the flesh is lived by the faith—Les prefers the faithfulness of the Son of God.
More Questions
Why is the Gospel described as simple yet complex?
Les explains this while returning to Galatians 2:20, where Paul says he is crucified with Christ. The Gospel's function is that Christ died for the sins of the world, was buried, and rose again. When we come under that forgiveness, everything—past, present, and future—is forgiven; we will never enter God's presence with sin because it has all been paid for. Les says this is beyond human comprehension: he cannot understand it but believes it because the Book teaches we are forgiven all trespasses, not by anything we have done but by what Christ accomplished. That is what makes the Gospel so simple yet so complex; it will not be fully understood this side of glory. Paul also goes on to say that though he is crucified by identification with Christ's death, yet he lives, and the life he now lives in the flesh is lived by faith, which Les prefers to call the faithfulness of the Son of God.