Wednesday, April 9, 2014

The Gospel is:

Yesterday I posted a video that explained what the Gospel is.  In this post I want to elaborate on what the Gospel is.  This post will not provide an exhaustive answer and I thank God for that because there is an eternal depth to the Good News of what Jesus is doing in the world.  Nonetheless here is some things the Gospel is with Scripture references:

Eternal Life
The Gospel is getting and having God forever.
John 3:16 and John 17:3

Free Costly Grace
The Gospel is a gift but the cross proves it wasn't free.  I'm borrowing heavily from Bonhoeffer's The Cost of Discipleship here.
Ephesians 2:8 and Romans 3:24

The Renewal of All Creation
"God has opened the door to His new world and has invited us in." N. T. Wright
Revelation 8:19-21, Revelation 21:5 and 2 Corinthians 5:17

New Lordship
We are not free agents.  We were created to worship and will worship and serve something or someone.
Romans 6:15-23

Reconciliation
This is our most desperate need.  "If God is for us, who can be against us?"  Imagine the opposite.  Reconciliation is the first need we must have the Gospel remedy.
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 and Romans 5:8

Adoption
To paraphrase J. I. Packer, this is the crown jewel of the Gospel.  The enemy has been made a son.
Galatians 4:1-7 and John 1:12-13

This is a snapshot of what the Gospel is.  Please look up the verses referenced above because they have real power.

The Gospel is what I wrote above, but it is something else... The Gospel is Now!  Go and share the Good News today.  The Gospel is also meant to be enjoyed today.  Is the Gospel only something stored for us in heaven.  No.  The Good News of what Christ has done for us is being experienced now and is our mission now, and it is the source of our future hope.

Enjoy the Gospel, live the Gospel and share it with urgency today.


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