Grace For The Journey

Over the last couple of days, we have been learning about “What is the gospel?”  From our last two blogs we can formulate a one sentence definition:

The gospel is the news

That Jesus Christ,

The Righteous One,

Died for our sins

And rose again,

Eternally triumphant

Over all his enemies,

So that there is now

No condemnation for

Those who believe,

But only everlasting joy.

AS we continue to look at the biblical teaching on the Gospel, I want to use today’s blog to bring it down to our lives.  The Gospel is not only about what Jesus has done for us through the cross and His resurrection it is also about what He is continuing to do through our lives as we surrender to Him daily.  Let’s consider some important truths.

The Gospel is . . .

1) A Power You Never Outgrow.

You never, never, never outgrow your need for the gospel. Don’t ever think of the gospel as, “That’s the way you get saved, and then you are able to leave it and do something else.”  That is not what the Bible teaches.  The Bible says in Romans 1:5, “Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name.”   We are strengthened by God through the gospel every day to live for Him and lift up His name from the moment we are saved until the day we die.  You never outgrow the need to preach gospel and live by its power (Romans 1:16).

2) A Principle That Strengthens You.

The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that we whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.”

God does not only save us from hell and for heaven but that we might be used by God to help others see the difference He can make through a life that is yielded to Him.  Our life, after we are saved, is to be all about Jesus.

3) A Provision That Is Perfect for Your Needs.

The Gospel, as it relates to our lives, is perfectly timed, perfectly applied, perfectly suited to our need.  Someone has said, “That’s why the Bible is so thick: because there are so many different needs that you have.”  Throughout the Bible there are suitable places where the gospel is unfolded for you, so that if you immerse yourself in the whole Book, always with an eye for what Christ has done for you and purchased for you in this thick, glorious history of God’s interaction with people, He will give you what you need.

The Bible says in Romans 16:25-27, :Now to Him who is able to establish you, according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting, for obedience  to the faith – to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.”

Because God came into history in Jesus Christ, Who died in order to destroy the power of sin, Satan, hell, and death, God is able to give us all that we need to love Him and lives for Him.

4) A Plea To Believe.

I know that there are people reading this who are not trusting Jesus Christ, and therefore can only expect condemnation.  So, I’m just going to plead with you here: Lay down that rebellion; embrace and accept the gospel that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Righteous One, died for your sins, was raised on the third day, triumphant over all His enemies, reigns until He puts all of His enemies under His feet, offers forgiveness of sins and a right standing with God.  Come freely through Him alone, by His grace alone, and by faith alone.  I plead with you:  Don’t try to please God in your own strength or way.  It will not be enough.  Only one source of live and strength will be enough – the life and strength that God gives according to the Gospel.

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”