The Gospel - Jeremiah's Vow

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

This is part of the series”What is the Gospel?”

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”

This is part of the series “What is the Gospel?”

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”

This is part of the series “What is the Gospel?”

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 part of the series “What is the Gospel?”

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”

This is part of the series “What is the Gospel?”

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,

²⁵Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. ²⁶So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. ²⁷But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” [1 Corinthians 9:25-27]

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”

This is part of the series “What is the Gospel?”

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.

Culture’s Impact on Conversion

Jonathan Dobson writes for the Acts29 Network about the need to understand and adapt the way that we (Christians) present the gospel to those outside of the church. We all know, to varying degrees that our experience of the gospel and our response to the gospel is unique, but what do we do when we change the cultural context? In Conversion & Contextualization Dobson looks at the experiences of missionaries in the 19^th and 20^th centuries describing the frustrations and challenges they faced as they shared the Good News expecting conversions to follow the same pattern across the cultural spectrum.

UPDATE (2/4/16): The link has been updated and a PDF created and attached for future reference just in case.

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

This is part of the series What is the Gospel?

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!

²² “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know– ²³ this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” [Acts 2:22-23 ESV]
¹⁸ knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, …. ²⁰ He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you ²¹ who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. [1 Peter 1:17-21 ESV]
⁴ But when the fullness of time had come [the predetermined time had arrived], God sent forth his Son, … ⁵so that we might receive adoption as sons. [Galatians 4:4-5 ESV]

What is the Gospel? (Pt. 5) – “The Remedy Delivered (Pt. 1)”

This is part of the series What is the Gospel?

One of the most wonderful aspects of Christianity is that God is not far off. God is not so distant that He cannot be known. God is not so mysterious that He cannot be found. It is the one of the greater wonders of the Christian faith that God has come down to earth and made abode with humanity. The doctrine of the Incarnation is relevant to the Gospel because it speaks to the seriousness of the sin. Only God could resolve and reconcile the broken relationship between humanity and God; and the broken relationship between humanity and itself. John captures it so beautifully when he said that, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). God has literally pitched His tent in our midst and has condescended so that we may have access to Him. Peter Lewis in his book The Glory of Christ makes these powerful statements about Jesus being delivered through Mary’s womb.

“If this humanity is less than full and true, then He is inadequate as a mediator; incompetent as a sympathizer; and disqualified as a redeemer. If (save for sin) He is not all that we are in our uttermost humanity, then He cannot perfectly represent us either in His life or in His death. If He does not descend to us from God, then He cannot lift us up to God.…it is in the Humanity of Jesus that we encounter the nearness of God” (pg. 142, 143)

The Gospel message makes no sense if the Savior is not like the sinner. Only one who is like us can stand as an advocate, as a representative and plead for salvation on our behalf. And so we are confronted with the Incarnation and its importance to the Gospel message that Jesus had to become like us so that we could become like He is.

What is the Gospel? (Pt. 4) – “The Birth of Sinful Men”

This is part of the series What is the Gospel?

King David tells us in Psalm 14 that the fool has said in their own heart, “There is no God.” If sin finds its birth in the perverted idea that God is not necessary, where do sinful men come from? Do they not come from the practice of this thought? In Genesis, the enticement for Eve was not the fruit. The temptation was the possibility of being like God. It was the snare of desiring what should only belong to God. Every adult knows the bliss of child-like innocence. There are things that we just wish we didn’t know.

Sinful humanity is the result of its persistence to pursue what only God can comprehend. Why do you think that so many question the existence of God because of the evil that exists? That is a question that is so big only God can make sense of it. That is why when we sin we are standing in the wrong place. God is sovereign. We should step down from His thrown and trust that “for those who love God all things work together for good” (Rom 8:28). Even the things that are hard to understand.