The Gospel Truth
So, we’re a couple of days away from Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Sunday depending on which part of the world you live in. Usually Easter Sunday is when most churches put on the hog…massive plays with a huge band and smoke….ha ha brings back memories. :) Of course these semi-productions are to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. Right? Or has it become the time when churches attempt to entice the crowd that goes to church only on Easter and Christmas? Surely, this cannot be a bad thing, what a great opportunity for the Easter Lilies to hear the Gospel. Right? However, this is what has been circulating in my dome. How many people are going to even hear the gospel this coming week?
The Gospel means “Good News,” and in God’s mind I believe prior to hearing it there wasn’t any “Good News” for human beings. The Gospel isn’t “Better News,” assuming that there was something good before. On the contrary, it’s the greatest news ever heard, it is truly ‘Good News’. But how many Church goers this Sunday are going to hear it? Do we even remember what it is?
Well…..
The following is not the Gospel:
- If you accept Jesus you’ll be rich: Very popular ‘Gospel’ but not the Good News Jesus came to bring.
- If you accept Jesus all your problems will be gone: Not sure where this came from but this obviously is not in the bible: Just ask Christians that don’t live in America.
- If you accept Jesus you’ll be completely healed. It is true that God does heal and many people are healed. But this isn’t the Gospel. Just ask The Apostle Paul.
- Social Justice is a very popular ‘Gospel’ these days: It’s great to help the poor and share the wealth, but that isn’t the Gospel either.
- Saving the planet and staying green is another very popular philosophy being pedaled as a key part of the Gospel: In essence if you would like to save our planet, Jesus is now the guy with the resources enabling you to be a part of saving planet earth. Even though Christians should do more for the environment as stewards, it is not the Gospel.
These views are all fringe ideologies. They don’t remotely address the real issue on the human scene, which is separation from God through sin. I assure you, in 20 years those views are going to be considered useless by God seekers. Why? Because its not the message of the Christ and like every other message it will fade. They are, in my opinion simply floating ideas attempting to give Christianity relevance and purpose in the world. It’s not the ‘Good News’ that people are longing to hear.
So what is the Gospel?
It starts by understanding that there isn’t anyone that is righteous/good, no not even one. For everybody has sinned and falls short. It’s also important to understand that the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life. The Gift we speak of is Jesus. The same Jesus that died on the cross, was buried and on the 3rd day rose again. He was seen by over 500 people and he ascended into heaven. You see, God so loved everyone on this planet that He gave His only son that anyone who believes in Him will not die but instead, live forever. To assume that everyone that shows up at church knows this, is to assume a lot.
Jesus is the central figure in the Gospel. It’s not about Jesus fitting into our worldview, it’s about us fitting into His. Here is how it works. When the Gospel is clearly delivered the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and we respond in repentance. We confess our sin, believe in Jesus and we are saved.
That’s just straight bible, not shaken or stirred. If people aren’t convicted of their sin, pitching them anything from the above list is a grave deception. Jesus said, listen, if I am lifted up I would draw all men unto me. Nothing else needs to be lifted up. No one can respond to the Gospel unless they hear it. For faith can only come by hearing and hearing by the Word of God = Jesus = The Good News……The Gospel.
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Thank you so much for the reminder. As I think about any Holiday and the efforts by many chruches to demonstrate in big productions the Gospel. What good is this if, 1st, people there are just drawn in by the music, dance and acting. 2nd, the church are using Holiday’s for church economic gains. Christian’s understand the reason for a joyous production, however non-christians going to such events are need to see the love of God. Although I love to celebrate our Lord in all forms, I need to be more aware of my brother’s and sister’s through the Holy Spirit and reach out and show the love of Jesus. Salvation is what should be foremost for anything we do.
Your blog really woke me up is some area’s of my life that had fallen asleep. We all need this word you gave. Blessings brother.
I went to my mom’s church on Easter. Included in the responsive reading was, “He is risin. Praise the Lord. Alleluia!” And everyone read it in a monotone. Well, not quite everyone – I was there. (And probably there were a few others scattered in the crowd.) My initial reaction was to giggle. But I think now, a more compassionate response would have been to cry. To cry out to God, so they would not be able to say those words so complacently.
PK could you imagine an angel using “He is Risen” as one of the pronouncements of Jesus when the saints are in heaven? Could you imagine the response knowing that our salvation hung on the fact that the Resurrection was true. Could you imagine all of heaven responding? Oh, gives me goose bumps.
If I’m ever confused about what the Gospel really is, I go back to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to see what Jesus actually said, what He did, and what His attitude was towards people and situations. Jesus made it completely clear that everyone was infected by sin; we were born into, habitually practiced it, and that sin was separating us from God. People were helpless to bridge the gap that sin created, but the Father, God, had sent Jesus specifically for that purpose. He was to be our Redeemer. And it took a repentance from dead works and an acknowledgment of that sin, a change of heart, in order for that to happen.
Some people heard Jesus gladly, but for self-righteous religious people, Jesus words drove them crazy; crazy enough to make them plot His murder. Think abut that: Jesus was not oppressing, or beating, or inflicting any pain of any kind on the religious establishment, but because He spoke of them needing to repent, and ask for a change of heart, it drove them crazy.
The Good News is that we can be saved from our sins! We don’t have to die and go to hell because of them, we can receive eternal LIFE because and through Jesus!
I agree with you Ryan, that we don’t need to add anything to the Gospel or try to make it fit into our worldview. Jesus made things clear and simple. And since He was God in human flesh, I believe He knew what He was talking about.
Great word Scout, The Truth can be very offensive. I hold your view dearly, I believe if you’re ever unsure of Paul, John, Moses or any of the biblical writers as it pertains to the clarity of the Gospel, look at the life of Jesus in the Gospels. I believe this is where we stumble… at the Christ.
I’m still wrestling with this question. Can someone be saved if they never heard the Gospel? Let me add this….a clear presentation of the Gospel?