The Gospel Series - Jeremiah's Vow

What is the Gospel? (Pt. 15) – “Victory!”

I hope you have benefited from out time spent looking at the multi-faceted diamond of the Gospel. We have discovered that God is holy and that our sin has kept us separated from God. We have looked to Jesus as the ultimate remedy for reconciliation with God. We have been confronted with the fact that it is through repentance that salvation is procured. As a result of salvation, we are given a new life, a new purpose, and a new journey. The Gospel is such a wonderful truth if we would just embrace it and live it out to the end. One of the more comforting realities of the Christian faith is that we are provided with the final scene. God inspires hope in His children because He is able to let us take a peek at what awaits us.

Paul in 1 Corinthians provides us with some insight to into what he calls a mystery. A mystery is not something that is unknowable, but something that has not yet been made known. Paul declares a mystery for all that believe: “Behold! I tell you a mystery. …When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [1 Corinthians 15:51, 54–57 ESV] The Gospel’s ultimate goal is to bring Victory over sin; Victory over Death; Victory in Christ! Learn to love the Gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation for all who will believe it [Romans 1:16].

What is the Gospel? (Pt. 14) – “The Death of Death”

One of the most glorious realities of the Christian faith is that death has been defeated. In the crucifixion and death of Jesus I have the wonderful truth that God has died for my sin. When we couple this remarkable truth to the equally wonderful truth that Jesus was raised from the dead we are confronted with a new reality – Death’s power has been defeated. Paul tells us that it was through sin that death was introduced into the world [Romans 5:12]. It is because of this sin that death brings fear to our hearts and minds and we find our joy melting away. Paul again tells us in Romans 6:23a that “the wages of sin is death.” We have earned the death that we will suffer because of our tendency to do our own will rather than God’s. We have earned the penalty of sin, but God has done something so incomprehensible that most who hear this message don’t believe it.

Even though we have earned death, “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” [Romans 6:23b]. Because Jesus took upon himself the punishment for sin He had not committed He was able to divert the justified wrath of God away from us. We still have to pass through the dark door of physical death. But through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross death is defeated and we no longer have to fear the destination that lies on the other side. If we follow Jesus He will lead us through death into new life.

What is the Gospel? (Pt. 13) – “Obedience is Greater than Sacrifice”

Jesus’ final admonition to the disciples has been called the Great Commission. Matthew records it this way for us: “¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” [Matthew 28:19-20 NIV]. Jesus said in another place, “And you are my friends, if you obey me” [John 15:14 CEV]. The idea of the word obey is that of a continued process. Jesus is telling us that we are His friends, His faithful servants if “we keep on doing” what He has commanded.

I have often wondered at the meaning of this phrase: Obedience is Greater than Sacrifice. It has not been until now that I understand its meaning. If God makes His will known we are commanded to obey. But what if the result of obedience is death, as it was for Jesus? What will we do then? I think that this is the mystery inherent in the command. God is not asking us to submit to pain, suffering or injustice. God has called us to submit to Him, trusting that the ends that lie outside of my purview will achieve the ultimate will and purposes of God. Sacrifice can be self-serving because it validates us and our motives. But obedience only serves the greater good of the one who commanded us to act. When we obey we are bending our will to that of our King. If we have committed our lives to the service of Jesus, then everything else is just what we do in the line of duty. No more reward will be offered other than the praise of our God, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Is that enough for you?

What is the Gospel? (Pt. 12) – “Submit Yourself Unto The Lord”

Several months ago I had a thought about how God desires for us to relate to Him when we are confronted with the Gospel. The line of thought that I followed revolved around two words—Submission and Surrender. While I believe that both are aspects of the Christian journey, the more I thought about it the more I leaned toward submission as the appropriate response to God. God desires for His children to grow in faith and relationship with Him. This process is called Sanctification (which I understand to mean “becoming like Jesus”). Why is sanctification important? It is important because it serves as an indicator of the progress we have made in our walk with God. Are we striving for God’s will? Do we see the world through His eyes?

Submission and Surrender are a part of this unfolding drama in that it reveals to God the inclination of our Heart. What is the difference you may be asking? I would have to say that it is choice. When I submit I am voluntarily ceasing from pursuing my own program. I have decided to defer, to consent to the will of God. Surrender is different in that it implies the end of a valiant, yet fruitless attempt to win against the opponent. Surrender is the need to back down under compulsion. Many may hear the gospel and it goads them into rejecting its message. For this person the option chosen is that of surrender. They have to be made to give in. The Gospel will feel like a battle to be won, and yet they will never overcome. The bible says that every knee will bow. Then there are those that hear the gospel and rejoice because it is Good News to their heart. Submit yourself unto the Lord and allow God to order your steps.

What is the Gospel? (Pt. 11) – “A New Journey”

The salvation that the Gospels herald produces new life in us as we are born again; it fulfills the purpose of God by re-creating us into a new creation, and finally it puts us on the road of a new journey. We are on a journey to a new land. The writer of Hebrews captures the beauty of this when they tell us that “by faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. … For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” [Hebrews 11:8-10, ESV]. By faith, we believe and live and journey with God. We are not called to know the destination.

All that God gives to us is the assurance that on this journey we will walk with Him through the trials and triumphs that life will hurl our way. Even Peter spoke of the transient nature of the people of God in this world [1 Peter 2:11]. This world is not our home. The quicker we realize that our faith in Christ has altered our trajectory from eternal suffering to eternal joy the more we will prize and participate in the process of growing in our understanding that “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” [Romans 8:28, ESV]. God is calling us to join Him. He still desires to walk with His people, if they would but come [Genesis 3:8].

What is the Gospel? (Pt. 10) – “You are a New Creation”

As we have looked at what the Gospel is we have not touched on one key question regarding the Gospel’s ultimate purpose. Some may say that it is the salvation of the world. Others may say that it is to appease the wrath of God. Still others might say that it is because of God’s love and grace that the gospel was and continues to be given. But I find Paul’s declaration in 2 Corinthians 5:17 to be interesting. Paul says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” It speaks to a reality of what God desires for all of creation. In Colossians 1:16 Paul tells us that “[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” The idea here is that in Jesus we find that the creation was to have an existence similar to that of Jesus Himself. Jesus is not the first creation but is before creation.

The word “firstborn” speaks to his primacy over all things. He comes to us because God has sent Him. The importance of this to the Gospel is that in Jesus we find the purpose of creation—it is for Jesus [Colossians 1:16]. But there is a problem; the creation has fallen because of sin. The presence of the Gospel is God’s remedy in and through Jesus to correct the wrong of sin. The only way for that remedy to take effect is for there to be a new creation, not only in the world [Revelation 21:1], but also in the inhabitants of the creation. The Gospel’s ultimate purpose is re-creation.

What is the Gospel? (Pt. 9) – “What does it Mean to Be Born Again?”

This is the question that Nicodemas asked Jesus one night when he came to see Jesus [John 3:1-15]. Jesus has retreated to pray and here comes a member of the Pharisees, a ruler in the Jewish community. Nicodemas wants to know what it is that Jesus is teaching and asking of those that choose to follow Him. Jesus, in answering the question, points to an unusual moment in the history of the Jewish people. Because of the peoples impatience God sends “fiery serpents” among the people of Israel and because of these serpents many died [Numbers 21:6]. God instructs Moses to make a serpent of bronze and set it on a pole. This is the very image that is used in the medical profession today.

The instruction by God was that anyone that looked upon the serpent would be healed. Being “born again” is the process of looking upon Jesus, believing that in that act, in putting our trust in the instrument of the cross and in Jesus the Crucified the benefit and healing and salvation that God has promised will be transferred to us. Salvation is a leap, but it is not a leap over a cliff into the unknown. Salvation is a leap into the promises of God. The question that God forces us to answer is this, “Will we look to Jesus and receive the redemption that has already been offered?” [Hebrews 10:1-12]

What is the Gospel? (Pt. 8) – “Commit to Repentance”

One of the key aspects of the Gospel is that repentance is not a one-time thing. We must commit ourselves to repentance. I mentioned previously that repentance is the turning away from sin. But many times we mistakenly believe that our lives will only require one course correction. Sin is always around us, tempting and tricking us into believing that we have arrived. There is no arriving while we walk this earth. We are on a journey. We are constantly moving towards God’s presence. It is because of this striving that we must commit to turning away from sin. Paul said, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” [Romans 7:15].

Paul was familiar with the Olympic games of his day and used an athletics illustration to help the Corinthians understand that the life of faith should be run as if to win the prize—eternal fellowship with God. Repentance, I believe, is the means by which God adjusts our course in life to run the race of faith well. Look at what Paul says,

Paul desires to remain qualified; therefore, he must be constantly evaluating what he does in light of Scripture and God’s character to finish the race well. We should emulate Paul’s example as we live the Gospel out in our lives.

What is the Gospel? (Pt. 7) – “The Challenge of Repentance”

Jesus tells the story of a young man that had many possessions. He is commonly called the Rich Young Ruler. This young man comes to Jesus and asks him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” [Mark 10:17] Jesus replies that he must keep all of the commandments. This young ruler confesses that he had done so since the time of his youth. Jesus then drops the bombshell. Jesus tells him that there is only one thing that is left wanting in the young man’s life. All of the possessions that the ruler has must be given away to the power and then he would have the eternal life he sought. This is the challenge of repentance.

Jesus does not call us to only charity, but sacrificial charity. Jesus does not command service at our convenience, but total submission to his will. Jesus is not asking us to modify our behavior; he is calling us to crucify our flesh. Repentance literally means to turn around or away from. But how can we turn away from sin if opportunities for sinning surround us on every side? The answer is that we must turn to Jesus. We must look to Him and no longer look to anyone or anything else. This young man was depending on his “great possessions” [Mark 10:22] to get him through when only God in and through Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit could do it. The gospel tells us that this man went away “sorrowful”. God is calling us to accept His challenge to repent, to turn away from the entanglements of the world and totally rely upon Him [1 John 3:7]. The Gospel life that Jesus proclaimed is not easy, but it is worth the cost.

What is the Gospel? (Pt. 6) – “The Remedy Delivered (Pt. 2)”

As we approach Easter I am confronted with the same question I find myself asking during this time of year, “Was there another way?” The answer to this question is a resounding “No.” The way of the cross is the way that God has chosen to supply redemption to sinners. As one reads the gospels it is obvious that Jesus understood that the culmination of His ministry would be death. But there is something else that is wound into the fabric of the biblical narrative. The crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth was not an afterthought as a response for Adam and Eve’s sin.

The cross was the intention of God from before creation.

As Christian people we value Free Will and it can be difficult to resolve this tension, but the Bible reminds us that we are responsible for our own response to the Gospel. We should allow God the freedom to reign over creation in whatever way God deems appropriate, even if we don’t understand. The Remedy was delivered just as God had planned and determined. Glory to God!