The Implications of the Gospel, Part 3

(originally published in our local newspaper on 1/25/12)

Last time we looked at the “big picture” implication of the gospel message. And it would be appropriate to clarify that yes, it is a message, but it is also more than that. It is a message that has cosmic implications because it deals with the spiritual and natural world, too. In other words, it’s a message about what Jesus has done that affects the space/time continuum. It’s about the Kingdom of God coming to bear on all of creation.

But this week I want to focus in on a couple of ways in which the gospel message affects our relationships. For many, the gospel is more easily understood in cosmic scope, but less understood in practical day-to-day ways. The reality is, each of us needs the gospel every day. We need it in every moment, opportunity and situation.

One of the core doctrines of the Christian faith is our “Union with Christ.” This is the Bible’s way of speaking of what Jesus has done for us. He has obeyed where we failed to obey, died a death we should have died, and was resurrected to defeat death thus adopting us into his family when our faith is placed in him. “In him” are the words the Apostle Paul often uses to describe our union with Jesus. His point: he has brought unity to our relationship so that when the Father looks at us, he sees Jesus. This gives us a new identity.

And this new identity gives us value, not because we are something special—we certainly are not!—but because Jesus gives us his inherent value and status before God having brought us near to the Holy One.

Here’s where it gets a bit more practical.

Most of us are insecure in our relationships. We tend to buy things we don’t need to impress people we don’t like with money we simply do not have. And we have this perpetual “need” to feel needed and valued by others. So we often, though disguised in the sin of pride, prop ourselves up because we care what others think of us. We say, “Look at me! Look what I did! Check out what I did on Facebook! Me, me, me and me!”

The gospel challenges this propensity. It says that our value is not found in what other people think of us. When our lives our driven by the gospel we don’t “need” anything but Jesus. What people think of us doesn’t matter because what God thinks of us has taken primacy in our lives.

Jesus has brought us near to our Maker. He’s done so by the blood of the cross. We are now called to put to death what is earthly in us and instead, “Put on…as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” (Colossians 3:12-13). Seek to live a gospel-driven life that is secure in Christ Jesus.

The Implications of the Gospel, Part 2

Last week we explored the definition of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15. There are many other passages we could look to in order to understand the gospel, not the least of course, are Jesus’ first words in Mark’s Gospel narrative, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (1:15). Do a word study sometime on the word “gospel” (Greek, euangelion). The word appears over seventy times and always refers to good news, joyful tidings, and “good report.”

What’s interesting, however, is that in the Roman context of the New Testament world the word in question was often used to refer to the good news that a new emperor was born, a savior who would bring peace to the world. Furthermore, this emperor was considered the “son of god” and as history shows, most of the emperors deified themselves hoping to be worshipped my mortal men.

When the Apostle Paul says that Jesus is Lord he’s directly attacking the commonly held notion that Caesar is lord. He’s saying, in effect, “Your god is no god at all. In fact, you believe Caesar is lord because he says so. I believe Jesus is Lord because Jesus, rather than conquering by violence, conquered all things, including that guy you worship, by dying and was vindicated (“justified,” validated and declared to be truthful) by his resurrection from the dead.” (See 1 Timothy 3:16).

The response called for last week was a repentant heart. The first implication of the gospel this week is on an earth-shattering scale. The implication is that the powers that be in the world are corrupt. They are cronies who are self-deceived and blinded by the evil one. The gospel is the only good news that provides the only hope for this world. This sounds offensive and is often purported to be so. But Paul says that the foolishness of preaching is what God has chosen to use to inject his message of salvation to a world that loves darkness (1 Corinthians 1:21). Paul goes on to say that God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise.

This seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it? For the GodMan, Jesus, to enter our culture, die a gruesome death for our sins and rise again to kill death? Paul says, and we say, emphatically: “No!”

The good news changes things. It changes the corrupt governments and corrupt “power” that people think they have. It changes everything, including creation itself (Romans 8:18-30). The very first implication of the gospel is that God has chosen to intervene in the world, shaming the wise, destroying worldly power and ultimately freeing all of creation from bondage. The gospel is a game-changer.

The Implications of the Gospel, Part 1

(From my article in the local paper last week.)

If there’s something I’ve learned about faith, Jesus and Christianity it is this: the gospel is something we need every second of every day. As I open up the Scriptures and study the life of Jesus and the theology of the New Testament, I conclude that we are all on a journey and have to revisit the good news over and over again. We never outgrow our need for the gospel, nor do we move on from it. It applies to every situation, circumstance, thought, action and opportunity.

Furthermore, Tim Keller once said that the gospel is not the “ABC’s” of Christianity. It’s the “A-to-Z.” What Keller was getting at was the reality that for many Christians, the gospel is simply that thing you believe when you first become a Christian and after that you move on to bigger and better things (whatever that means). The biblical vision for the gospel, however, is that it is the news that sustains you until God sovereignly takes your life.

Before we look at the implications of the Gospel in the next few weeks, I want us to define it. The Apostle Paul defines the Gospel this way in 1 Corinthians 15:1-5 (ESV), “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.”

According to this passage the gospel consists of 5 things: (1) It is “according to the Scriptures”—which means that the Old Testament is an integral part to this news; (2) It is the climactic story of Jesus—his death and resurrection being the central part to that story in the overall story of Israel; (3) It is the grounds for our justification—“in which you stand” is Paul’s way of assuring the Corinthian church that Jesus is the bases for salvation (not our good works!) and that we are “declared right” in the eyes of the Judge because of Jesus’ substitutionary death for us; (4) Jesus “appeared”—thus showing his followers that God has vindicated him (through resurrection), and showing the world Jesus is who he says he is; (5) You must receive it (Paul reminds them of the gospel that they “received”).

The first reaction we should have towards this good news is a repentant heart. The Offended Creator of the Universe has chosen to intervene in the Story He is telling by crucifying His Son. This cannot be responded to with ambivalence—no, we must respond confessing our sin, trusting in what Christ has done (Romans 10:9). Salvation begins and ends with the realization that we are sinners, but God intervened refusing to allow us to have the final word of sin. That’s the gospel we glory in (1 Timothy 1:3).

new year, new affections.

I’m excited about the opportunity that I have this month to write for our local paper. Each month, pastors in the area are able to take turns writing and January was my turn. I’ve never done this before, but alas it was fun. Here was last week’s article:

It’s here. It always comes whether we want it to or not. And many of us respond differently to the reality of a new year.  Some of us come to the realization that we are aging—and aging fast! Others decide that it is time to use up that gym membership we pay for but never use; and still others anxiously wait to see what might be around the corner hoping and praying for a different job, life, situation and circumstance.

But isn’t it interesting how we look at our various situations and hope for change when the reality is that change first needs to start in the heart? What if a doctor diagnosed you with cancer and instead of addressing the root cause, told you to just go home and take some Tylenol? Let me explain.

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV) reads, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Often in the Old Testament the “heart” refers to the center of one’s being—the center of the soul and personhood. It’s what makes you, you. Without that spark, that animated soul, your body would simply be inanimate flesh. So the heart is absolutely vital and central.

Jesus said in Mark 7:21-23 (ESV), “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” When we look at the world around us, oftentimes we deem the wrongs of society as being transcendent (“out there”) rather than being the direct result of a wicked heart. Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV) reads, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

The reality is, our hearts are filthy. The deepest parts of our souls are polluted because naturally, we want what we want and tend to not care about “those people.” And you’re guilty. So am I. We are all guilty. Year after year, we are guilty of mocking God, and belittling his name. We exchange the glory of God (Romans 1:23) and rob him of what he deserves. And the result is always sin, destruction, and ultimately death.

But the gospel of Jesus speaks to your circumstances: your financial burdens, marital stress, job loss and anxiety. It speaks to the depths of your soul and provides nourishment for it. Our circumstances aren’t the only problem: our hearts are. And the gospel reaches down, destroys our sin and saves us.

What you need this year is new affections.

Jonathan Edwards wrote in Religious Affections (1746), “For although to true religion there must indeed be something else besides affection, yet true religion consists so much in the affections that there can be no true religion without them.”

The heart of the issue (pun intended) is that our hearts are filthy, yet Jesus cleans them. Our minds are polluted but Jesus changes them. Our affections are slanted towards things that are not God but Jesus realigns them. This year, treasure God above all things; have affections for our great Savior.

who will you cling to…

in 2012?

Let’s get serious for a moment. A new year brings excitement. It’s often looked at as a “fresh start” in life. We can exercise more, take on the new dieting plan, read the bible in a year, mend broken relationships, get promoted at our jobs, and possibly even take that European vacation we’ve always dreamt about. And these are great things and you should do them for the Glory of God.

But let’s face it.

We might die this year. Our spouse might get cancer. One of our kids could have a freak accident and lose his/her life. You might lose your job, your house, car and possessions in a fire. You might get in a car accident. You might go blind. The stock market might crash (again). Gas might jump to $5/gallon. You might experience some of the most devastating things you’ve ever faced in your life.

The question is: what will you cling to? Better yet: who will you cling to?

Will you cling to the all-knowing Creator God? Or idols?

Will you cling to Jesus, the Redeemer and Lord? Or be lord yourself?

The reality is, all of those things described above happened in 2011–and they will happen again this year. And maybe it will be you.

Who will you cling to in 2012?