What is the gospel?
For some time now that question has swirled around in my mind. The reason being, we call ourselves Christians, possibly evangelical, but do we really know what the gospel includes. We are told that we should share the gospel with others, our life is the gospel others see, and were it not for the gospel all hope would be lost. So, exactly what is this gospel.
There is no doubt in my mind that in the time we live, the gospel has been diluted, soiled, and commercialized to the tenth degree. "Pastors" stand behind pulpits, in places like Houston, that cost more that my truck and smile to tell people to think positively and everything will be okay. Is this the gospel? No need to change lives, no newness of life, no hope in holiness and conformity to Christ.
Paul begins the eighth chapter of the book of Romans with these words: "there is therefore now NO condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." That's a bold statement! How could he proclaim such freedom, liberty and life. THE GOSPEL!!! Romans 1-7 is a treatise on the gospel. Roms. 1-3 states sin is a disease that has infected all men, by Adam sin entered into the world and all men died. Physically? Yes. That's not an answer you hear to often. We forget that death is imminent in all our lives because of the power of sin. Roms. 4-6 give the hope of a newness in life. Is it through practice, morality or positive thoughts? NO!! It is through faith alone in the pursuit a lover has for the one who is loved. Romans 5:8- while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Paul concludes with the ongoing struggle and pursuit of godliness, or Christlikeness, in his life. The answer? You guessed it, the gospel: "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God- through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
So, what is the gospel? Simple... There is a Father that is in love with His children that is willing to sacrifice of Himself to have a relationship with that lost child. As John Piper has said, "God is the gospel." Yes, this does include the cross, death, burial and resurrection. But do not forget all these things are contingent on a Father that evermore loves His children. So many times, I think we forget the goodness of gospel. So much so, that our lives become mundane and dutiful. With God as the gospel in mind, our world is now a ministry. Take a moment today and look around at the people you know that this would change there lives. Not mundane anymore. Paul says in the following verse of Roms. 8 that this can only be seen and exhibited by a life in the Spirit. Many times the people around you will be convinced more by seeing Christ (the gospel) in you than the verbal package it comes in.
"More often than not, it is what you are rather than what you say that will bring an unbeliever to Christ. This is the ultimate apologetic.... YOUR LIFE." William Lane Craig- Reasonable Faith
There is no doubt in my mind that in the time we live, the gospel has been diluted, soiled, and commercialized to the tenth degree. "Pastors" stand behind pulpits, in places like Houston, that cost more that my truck and smile to tell people to think positively and everything will be okay. Is this the gospel? No need to change lives, no newness of life, no hope in holiness and conformity to Christ.
Paul begins the eighth chapter of the book of Romans with these words: "there is therefore now NO condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." That's a bold statement! How could he proclaim such freedom, liberty and life. THE GOSPEL!!! Romans 1-7 is a treatise on the gospel. Roms. 1-3 states sin is a disease that has infected all men, by Adam sin entered into the world and all men died. Physically? Yes. That's not an answer you hear to often. We forget that death is imminent in all our lives because of the power of sin. Roms. 4-6 give the hope of a newness in life. Is it through practice, morality or positive thoughts? NO!! It is through faith alone in the pursuit a lover has for the one who is loved. Romans 5:8- while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Paul concludes with the ongoing struggle and pursuit of godliness, or Christlikeness, in his life. The answer? You guessed it, the gospel: "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God- through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
So, what is the gospel? Simple... There is a Father that is in love with His children that is willing to sacrifice of Himself to have a relationship with that lost child. As John Piper has said, "God is the gospel." Yes, this does include the cross, death, burial and resurrection. But do not forget all these things are contingent on a Father that evermore loves His children. So many times, I think we forget the goodness of gospel. So much so, that our lives become mundane and dutiful. With God as the gospel in mind, our world is now a ministry. Take a moment today and look around at the people you know that this would change there lives. Not mundane anymore. Paul says in the following verse of Roms. 8 that this can only be seen and exhibited by a life in the Spirit. Many times the people around you will be convinced more by seeing Christ (the gospel) in you than the verbal package it comes in.
"More often than not, it is what you are rather than what you say that will bring an unbeliever to Christ. This is the ultimate apologetic.... YOUR LIFE." William Lane Craig- Reasonable Faith
posted by michael sapp | 11:38 AM
1 Comments:
Sapp,
nice post, but I'm not quite sure I'm on board with you completely. If the Gospel is mostly about soteriology, how are we to understand the context of Mark 10:45, where the "Ransom for many" comes in a context of being different from the worldly kingdoms? In line with this kind of idea are passages like Is. 52:7 "how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace...who says to Zion,"Your God reigns." Also in Acts 17:7 Luke says that the people in Thessolonica got ticked off because Paul and his folks were proclaiming "another King--Jesus". It seems from these and a few other passages suggest that the heart of the Gospel is Jesus becoming King and that as a result you get within that package the justification by faith/grace.
Just a thought. What say you?
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