Is the Gospel only for unbelievers?

The gospel is vital for sanctification just as it is for justification. So, the gospel has an ongoing role in the life of a believer. And we understand that holiness flows from the gospel; humility, hope, love, grace, kindness all of these things that a Christian ought to live out flows from their understanding of the gospel, from the daily application the gospel to their life, from the daily work of the Spirit of God in their lives.

I think also really crucial to that is understanding and reminding ourselves daily of the gospel of Christ—that assures us that we positionally are the children of God, and so when we operate out of that understanding in our hearts and in our minds, we begin to live out of great assurance in what God has done for us.

But I also like what Paul says you know in in 2 Corinthians 3:18. Let me just read that for you—it's a great verse that talks about our sanctification and he says this “We all with unveiled face beholding the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the same image from one degree of Glory to Another.” And I think what he's talking about is that that transformation in the Christian life comes from our constant ongoing beholding of Christ.

And so, we do that in the gospel and so there's that ongoing relevance of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ that enables us to live the life that God has called us to. We can't do it in our own strength. we're completely and totally dependent on God for his ministry in us and then ultimately through us as well. So yes, the gospel is absolutely essential for believers in their sanctification.