There are three groups of people in relation to the gospel of Christ – those who know, that is, really know, those who think they know but don’t know, and those who don’t know, either because they have never heard or never I have heard enough to give them a clear overview. They are all in this triple group. As you can see, the second two groups are actually one, but for the sake of clarity, I’ve split them into two. So the purpose of this short article is to get your thoughts moving and to encourage you to reflect on which group you are in.
• CENTER
Many in the second group, who have a strong belief that they know The Everlasting Gospel, are familiar with teaching how to love your neighbor as yourself, work for righteousness for the oppressed, and be merciful rather than condemn. They know about going to church and even praying and reading the Bible, believing in God and following Christ, and the need to baptize and born again.
They consider these beliefs, more or less, to be the heart of the gospel of Christ. But while they are important, if you thought putting these truths into practice was the gospel, they are not. You missed the center.
Then we come to those who do not claim to know the gospel of Christ, even though they have few ideas, such as following Jesus or going to church, either because they have never heard clearly or have never heard, or because they can say that it has never been explained to them, and besides, it doesn’t matter because they have no special interest.
Well, do you identify with any of these descriptions to see where you fit into the spectrum I have covered so far as I believe a very large number of people include in this kind of description?
• SURPRISED
What about those who really know what sets them apart from everyone else? Are there any secret beliefs they learned like entering a secret society? No, but there are some extremely important differences.
Here they are: these are the people who have found out they are lost and far from God. But then they were shown something of the glory, majesty, and holiness of the true and living God, and they came to see God’s glory in Jesus Christ. Something else? Yes, they heard the voice of God calling them and understood that God is full of undeserved blessings and grace for them and for all who will come to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ. They are also people with a sense of wonder that God was in Christ when He was hanging on the cross, and that He was there for them – Christ died for the wicked.
• TRUST
And it was there, on the cross, and only there, all the sins of all the dark, guilty and damned hearts that ever trust in Him, including their own, were judged, and God’s holy justice was fully settled. forever. For Christ, dying in the place of others, fell in love, bore the condemnation that rightly belonged to them.
He, Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God, died for their sins, so now they were freely forgiven, freed from all guilt, and blessed with Christ’s perfect righteousness on their account.
These people were no better than anyone else – in fact, they found they were far worse than they thought they were – guilty lost, and helpless to save themselves, but they saw that despite their sins God loved them with a love that reached straight from heaven to your own life.
• GIFT
By the gift of faith in Christ, they believed in the good news that Christ saves through great salvation, that he saves sinful rebels from God’s eternal judgment, wipes out all their bad history, forgives all their sins freely and justly, and introduces them to his family. They were born again through a special act of the Holy Spirit and became part of the universal family of God.
Develop a courageous discernment of the purity of the Gospel
The gospel of Christ has always been the subject of controversy over its essential core and what it intends to achieve, including its authority and relevance to the people of today. Here is a brief look at the center of The Everlasting Gospel of Christ and why we must be vigilant and guard against any subtle assimilation into contemporary thought that is going on around us.
Often, the illusion of progress given by movements such as spiritual formation and contemplative prayer, new evangelicalism, conditional immortality, theistic evolution, neoliberalism, an integrationist approach to contemporary psychology, support for contemporary worship, and emerging church cultures and those sensitive to explorers, and much more.
· A DIVINE REVELATION
The Gospel makes a big claim to its own authority. Jesus Christ claims to be nothing less than God incarnate – the Creator of all things. The eternal Son of God who fulfills the prophecies of the Old Testament down to the last detail and whose sin offering is God’s effective, saving love poured out in grace.
The Gospel is not a few vague ideas from which we choose our very few personal preferences; it is a clearly expressed verbal revelation in the Bible. God has spoken. The gospel is his last and best word for this world. The Gospel exalts the Lord Jesus Christ, and His finished work is central and supreme; the only Savior of sinners there will ever be. And they are all called to repentance and faith; trust in Christ to reconcile us to the Father.
GOD’S CHARACTER
The revealed character of God, glorified in his holiness. Perfect in all His attributes, is essential background for understanding the gospel. Miss it and you will miss the gospel. The open moral opposition of all mankind inherently against God into which all have fallen root in history and active today. The Bible teaches that this universal moral disobedience is at the root of sin and is unimaginably serious because it direct to God, the moral ruler of the universe. And calls for the most severe punishment.
The honor of being a personal moral agent, made in the image of the Creator, is immense – without measure. The shame that sin brings to our Creator is also immense and beyond measure. But sin is wickedly deceptive. And it always seeks to present itself in a favorable light. As not deserving the supreme punishment of eternal separation from God.
· FIGHTING FOR THE GOSPEL
So how important is the gospel of Christ to your life? Did God use it to give you new life in Christ, wash away your sins? Justify you, and bring you to Himself? Oh, the gospel is the greatest good news we will ever hear! The angels intrigued by the incredible depth of love that God in Christ will reach. All the way to the cross to save lost rebels!
Does the church you attend know how to keep the gospel with passion, grace, and discernment? Consider this carefully and make sure you do not unconsciously give your support. Encouragement to a ministry that has begun to lose – and there are many with which it does in these fall days – even churches that have the name of being alive. Few leaders may be sensitive to subtle correction – many may not. Besides, it is always difficult to influence people who consider themselves impeccable and committed to influencing their flock!
· CHECK YOUR PERCEPTION
Consider these points carefully, making sure you clearly understand the nature of the doctrinal deviation. How its broad meaning and association with a broader. Looser ethos is subtly or even more openly undermining historical biblical Christianity. Prayerfully find a church that supports your faith with love and gracious endurance, and consider joining that church. Let it be a question of earnest prayer.
Have an introductory discussion with both sets of pastoral leadership. Write down your fears and concerns, and carefully evaluate your responses, and then make a decision. Some churches have a solid doctrinal basis but have in practice abandoned that basis.
These are big problems – sometimes they bring a lot of heartache and soul-deepening. But many people have the idea that they will just stay and have some light in their compromised church.
It is a recipe for gradual assimilation. And over time they will likely find that they will be more accommodating. And even if the increase in compromise may end up justifying their position as what will do the most good. This is where pragmatism begins to rule the decision-making, not the word of God. You definitely better do God’s will when you have the opportunity!
Maintain the purity of the gospel, live the gospel. Share the gospel, and then have close, church-based fellowship with others of like mind.
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