Category: The Gospel

The “Lite” Gospel Could Send Us to Hell

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In an effort to make the gospel more appealing to the masses, some people preach what I call a “lite” version, which can send us to hell instead of saving us. “Lite” beer and diet colas are designed to taste as much like the real thing as possible, but with fewer calories. We are always looking for ways to cheat the natural consequences of our behavior. Sadly, the substitute ingredients are often harmful to our health, and usually the “lite” version does not taste as well as the original. Surprisingly, such lite versions can work to add weight instead of what they claim. Almost always the more costly and “real” way of producing something will yield superior results, but people who have grown accustomed to the inferior product may actually prefer it over the original.

When it comes to the gospel, the same sort of thing is true.

Over the years, well meaning people have crafted the “gospel” in such a way as to make it quicker, easier, more “palatable,” and less costly to become a Christian in order to mass produce conversions.

Below I will compare and contrast the true gospel with what I perceive to be an inferior “lite” version.

  The True Gospel Gospel Lite
Message Jesus is the Lamb of God who died for our sins. He rose again as Lord of Lords and commissioned his church to go and make disciples. Afterward he ascended to heaven, from where, as the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit and Lord of the Harvest, he poured out the Holy Spirit on the church, empowering her to fulfill the Great Commission. He will come in again in glory as the divine Son of Man to judge all peoples and rule over God’s kingdom forever. Jesus died to provide forgiveness for our sins.
Desired Response Repent from our self-directed lifestyle, confess that Jesus is our Lord, receive the forgiveness he provides whereby we are made part of God’s eternal family, declare our allegiance to him through water baptism, receive the baptism in the Spirit, and join his Great Commission army. Repent and receive forgiveness for your sins, whereby our membership in God’s eternal family is assured.
Big Difference The true gospel emphasizes surrender to Christ’s lordship and participation in the Great Commission. Gospel lite may lead to receiving the blessings of the gospel without a true surrender to Christ’s lordship.
Methods The Holy Spirit must work in the heart of the hearer to bring him or her to a place of revelation of Christ’s lordship and surrender to it. This cannot be rushed. The preacher looks for some evidence of a true conversion. Receiving the Lord is made straight forward and “easy.” If you want what the gospel has to offer, simply repeat the sinner’s prayer, as is often led by the person sharing the gospel. Afterward, you are told that you are saved, no matter what interaction the person has made with the Lord at the heart level.
Results A life of surrendered discipleship. A belief that one is saved and going to heaven.
Danger A person may realize the high cost of following Christ as a disciple and choose not to become one. A person may never truly “see” who Jesus is (Lord of Lords and King of Kings), but may merely go for the sales pitch – Pray this prayer and you can go to heaven.
Distinguishing Marks A person coming to Christ under the true gospel will call Jesus Lord. A person who is a product of Gospel Lite may only recognize Jesus his or her “personal Savior.”

The Gospel Lite salvation process may be more like an assembly line than the fine work of a craftsman.

If we want to maximize the number of people who get “saved” at a church service or evangelistic meeting, we should streamline the process, making it quick and simple. It might go something like this. After explaining that all men are sinners and need a savior because otherwise we are destined to hell, the preacher might invite all present who want to receive Jesus as their Savior, to raise a hand or come forward and pray the “sinner’s prayer” as led by the preacher. Such a process provides people with a simple one-step process to become a child of God and provides ministers with an easy way to count conversions. Afterward, the one who prayed is assured that he or she is now saved and going to heaven. But is this indeed the case?

Jesus said that it is necessary to “behold” him, to see who he really is, in order to believe in him and be saved. (John 6:40) This can only happen when the Holy Spirit opens our eyes. Faith is two-fold: it includes both trust and allegiance. When we behold the Lord, we surrender our lives to him and receive from him all he died to give us.

Jesus liked to ask people who they thought he is. He wanted to see what the Spirit of God had revealed to them.

Like our Lord, we should be observing what the Spirit is revealing to people about the Lord.

When Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?,” he did not ask them to repeat his leading words: “You are the Messiah King who will die for my sins and rise again as Lord of Lords.” Instead he simply allowed them to speak. When Peter confessed his faith in Jesus’ being the Messiah, our Lord knew that God had revealed this to him.

We likewise should encourage people to seek the Lord until they find him, ever watching to see what God is doing in their lives.

When they are ready, we can assist in the birthing of a new person into God’s kingdom, as a kind of spiritual midwife. Salvation is always a miracle of recreation and transformation orchestrated by the Master Craftsman, the Holy Spirit.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT)

If we package the Gospel in a “lite” version, leaving out the time needed for the Spirit to do his work, we may unwittingly abort the conversion process.

Sadly, if we prompt someone to believe they are saved before they know that Christ is Lord by faith in their hearts, we may actually “inoculate” them against the possibility of a true conversion, leaving them convinced they are already “saved” without their ever having been born again.

During the first Great Awakening in the colonies in the late 18th century, preachers encouraged their hearers to seek God and, if necessary, to “wrestle” with him, until they found him, knowing that those who truly belong to Jesus will eventually “hear his voice.” (John 10:27)

Just as there is no way to instantly produce a human being, there is no shortcut to birthing someone into the kingdom of God.

Why, then, do we leave out the seeking the Lord part of the process, preferring to shorten things down to simply repeating a prayer? Do we skip the step of requiring people to seek God for themselves because we do not believe Jesus is able to communicate adequately with the seeker? Have we failed to grasp that unless the Spirit of God draws a person, they cannot come to Christ? (John 6:44) Do we not realize that no one can know the Father unless Jesus wills it and reveals the Father to them? (Matthew 11:27) Are we unwilling to simply leave people in the hands of God, knowing that he loves them far more than we do? Do we believe that the new birth depends more on us than on God?

Conclusion

Having made my point, that we must allow for the Spirit to do an inner work in a person before leading them to believe they are saved, let me emphasize that sometimes, many times, people are genuinely and deeply saved by responding to the preacher’s call to “pray after me.” That is because the Spirit has already been at work in their lives and prepared them for that moment. But in the case of those who are merely responding to a man, we must not lead them into the deception of thinking they already are saved, because they may cease the process of seeking the Lord.

Compounding the problem, our consumer culture draws people toward a message that encourages them to receive all the benefits of the gospel at the lowest possible cost to themselves.

They do not realize that when we receive all that Jesus died to give us, he asks us to give all of ourselves to him and his mission.

Confessing him as Lord is much different that asking him to be Savior.

According to Paul, the confession of Christ’s lordship is what actually saves us. (Romans 10:9)

The gospel does include receiving forgiveness of sins and eternal life, but those glorious benefits are not the whole gospel or even the heart of the gospel. They are benefits of our believing the gospel.

The gospel is not only about my personal forgiveness and regeneration, which are indeed important, but it is about the restoration of all things under the Lord Jesus.

As Peter put it in another place:

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.  Acts 3:19-21 (ESV)

The early Christians were hounded, persecuted, and put to death because they proclaimed that Jesus is Lord over all things, even Caesar. Christians were taught to be loyal subjects of the empire (pay taxes, obey magistrates, give respect), but they could not obey the government if they were commanded to acknowledge that the supposedly divine Caesar was Lord over all.

It is unlikely that Rome would have persecuted a group who merely claimed that Jesus is a personal Savior.

Jesus is much more. He deserves our complete allegiance and will ultimately rule over every nation and kingdom. Every knee one day shall bow to him. Proclaiming such a gospel will likely get us into trouble with those who hate Christ’s rule because it means that we can and will only give a qualified form of allegiance to every other person and institution. The evil and worldly powers that want to dominate and rule us do not like this.

So what do we do with all of this?

I believe that it is crucial that we adjust how we present the gospel to conform to the message preached by Peter and the other early apostles.

We must not limit ourselves to the plan of salvation and merely ask for decisions for Christ. Instead, we must ask for and expect repentance, baptism in water, the infilling of the Spirit, and a commitment to the Great Commission. We must expect believers to immediately become disciples – followers of Christ and fishers of men, who apply Christ’s radical rules for living to their lives. We have short changed ourselves and God for far too long!

Prayer

Lord Jesus, forgive me for seeing you and presenting you in a partial, self-serving way. Forgive me for stripping the gospel of its power and minimizing it to a mere plan of salvation. Help me to fully devote myself to you and your kingdom. Help me to faithfully share your gospel every chance I get. Make me your follower and a fisher of men. Give us disciples who will go and make disciples. Amen.

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The Gospel’s Claim on Us

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The gospel has a claim on our lives. When prospectors in the Old West mined or panned for gold, they would “stake a claim,” meaning they would stake off the boundaries of the land they legally claimed or owned to keep claim jumpers at bay if they happened to find gold.

The Bible says that God chose us before he ever created the world. (Ephesians 1:4) In a very real way, Jesus staked his claim on us when he died for us. When we believed the gospel, we agreed to that transaction, and we now belong to him. (1 Corinthians 6:19) Every time the gospel is shared, it requires the hearer to make a decision regarding Christ’s lordship and ownership.

The gospel makes a claim on everyone who hears it, forcing us to respond in some fashion. We can declare allegiance to Jesus, ignore the message, or fight against it.

The Jewish leaders of his day made their decision. Most of them rejected him, his message, and his kingdom. Fulfilling Jesus’ prophetic parable about the wicked tenants, they put the Son of God to death. (Luke 20:9-18) When Peter made his first gospel presentation on Pentecost, his Jewish hearers were pierced to the heart when he accused them of complicity in the treacherous betrayal and regicide of the Messiah. They had played a part in the murder of God’s Chosen One, the Son of David, the coming Judge of the whole earth. On hearing Peter’s words and realizing their guilt, they were desperate to try to set things straight. This was the response for which Peter and God were looking.

We were not in the crowd that yelled, “Crucify him,” but we have been among those who have rejected his claims to Lordship. We too are guilty of rebellion against God’s rule. Just as those who heard Peter’s first sermon begged for a way to get things right, the gospel should stir us to want to be forgiven and reconciled to the coming King and Judge. The glorious good news of the gospel demands a response greater than simply agreeing with its facts. If we are not motivated to do something to get right with God, it is doubtful that we have really understood.

Asking for forgiveness, turning away from a self-directed way of life, and declaring allegiance to God’s King is the response God desires.

If we reject the gospel’s claim on our lives, we will one day encounter the Judge of all the earth and give account for that decision. Indifference is just one more form of rebellion that begs for judgment. How can God excuse our being uninterested in the most important person in the universe and rejecting his gracious offer to be reconciled? But, if we respond properly, knowing and enjoying God for all of eternity opens up to us.

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37  Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38  And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39  For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40  And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41  So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. Acts 2:36-41 (ESV)
Prayer

Jesus, up to now I have never truly understood who you are. Now I see that you are the focus of the entire Bible. You are the Lamb of God who gave your life for me. I receive all you died to provide for me. Thank you for forgiving my sins, giving me eternal life, giving me a right standing with God, making me God’s child, and setting me free on the inside so I can serve you. Please baptize me in the Holy Spirit and empower me to be your witness. I surrender my entire life to you, my glorious Lord. Use me as you see fit. I ask especially that you will give me opportunities to share the gospel with others and to mentor those who come to you in repentance and faith. Amen.

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The Gospel Raises the Dead

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The gospel has the power to raise people from the dead. Jesus told his disciples:

And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8  "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Matthew 10:7-8 (NASB)

Jesus commissioned his disciples to announce the presence and power of God’s kingdom by preaching the good news of his, the king’s, arrival and ministry and by demonstrating the king’s delegated power and authority. This was done by healing, setting people free from demonic oppression, and raising people physically from the dead. Jesus also promised all who would follow that we would do even greater works than he did after his ascension into heaven (John 14:12).

Our Lord sent his Holy Spirit to empower us to preach the gospel and do miracles in his name as a testimony to the truthfulness of our words. (Acts 1:8)

In my lifetime I have seen God heal and set people free from demons, but not once have I witnessed a physically dead person being brought back to life. I must add, however, that I have heard of that happening and have even talked to people who said that they saw it happen in other countries. Why is this not taking place where we live? Is it a sign that we lack faith? Will this miracle become more prevalent as we draw closer to Christ’s Second Coming? I imagine the answer to these last two questions is yes and yes. But, let us consider another side to this.

Every single person who is born into this world, according to the Bible, is “dead in sins.” (Psalm 51:5, Ephesians 2:1) This is because we inherit Adam’s fallen nature. We come into this world separated spiritually from God with an inborn default propensity to pursue selfish and rebellious desires and to try to live independently from God. When we act on these propensities, we add our sin to the cauldron of evil that calls for God’s judgment. The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)

Jesus came to rescue us from this nightmare situation. He paid the penalty for our sins, taking our judgment of death upon himself. After three days, God raised him from the dead, making him the Author of Life. In Jesus’ own words, he is the “resurrection and the life!”

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26  and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26 (NASB)

Each time someone is spiritually reborn through faith in Christ, God brings a dead person back to life. 

He gives us everlasting life in the spirit. Unless Christ returns first, every one of us will die physically, but Jesus taught that our new spiritual life transcends physical death. When we who believe die physically, we will experience a “seamless” transition into the manifest conscious presence of God. This is because everyone of us is already there spiritually.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5  even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6  and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:4-6 (NASB)

When we share the gospel and our hearer responds in faith, we have a part in God’s raising him or her from the dead spiritually speaking, which will one day result in his or her receiving a new resurrection body at the Second Coming. (John 6:40)

Being spiritually made alive again is a far greater thing than simply restoring life to a physical body.

Born again people will live forever with God, even after they die bodily. People who are merely physically raised from the dead will one day die again, and, if they are not reborn through the gospel, they will suffer eternal death.

Every single person who confesses that Jesus is Lord and believes in his or her heart that God raised him from the dead becomes a brand new creation, made alive from the dead, never to experience eternal death and separation from God.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)

The new birth is a miracle of the first magnitude that rivals creation.

The light (revelation) of Christ shining into our sin darkened hearts is even greater in some way than the light God spoke into existence during creation, because it reverses the curse upon sin and causes a dead person to come alive and be brought into God’s family to live eternally.

For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NASB)

The new birth is a spiritual resurrection.

For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you." Ephesians 5:14 (NASB)

So, do not be intimidated or feel like a failure if you have never physically raised someone from the dead. Perhaps one day we will even witness dead bodies coming to life again. Until then, however, every time we preach the gospel, we put ourselves in a position to see an even greater demonstration of Christ’s life giving power, the spiritual resurrection of a spiritually dead individual. That gives us a good reason to share the gospel and glorify God as we await the return of Christ and the glorious resurrection of all the dead.

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The Gospel and Deliverance

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The gospel provides deliverance from demonic oppression.

And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Matthew 10:7-8 (ESV)

Everywhere Jesus went he manifested the reality of the kingdom of God by setting people free from demonic oppression. He commissioned his disciples to do the same. This commission is still in effect.

Deliverance from demons, like healing, is clear indicator of the presence of the King and the advance of his kingdom.

But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Matthew 12:28 (ESV)

The Bible teaches us that evil spirits are real, not some remnant from a per-scientific worldview. Demons seek to capture, torment, and destroy people. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who came to set captives free and provide peace and protection. One of Jesus’ names and roles is Redeemer. A redeemer is one who purchases the freedom of another in order to set them free. Jesus paid for our freedom with his blood.

And they *sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Revelation 5:9 (NASB)

His death and resurrection through belief in the gospel sets people free from everything that wishes to enslave them, so that they might serve God freely, joyfully, and wholeheartedly.

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20  that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21  Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22  God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.Ephesians 1:19-22 (NLT)

All power and authority was transferred to the risen Messiah King at his resurrection, which he uses to liberate Satan’s former captives. Jesus gave authority over evil spirits to his disciples, which is backed up by the unstoppable power of the Holy Spirit.

The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 18  And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19  "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Luke 10:17-19 (NASB)

Evil spirits must obey when followers of Christ command them to leave. The Holy Spirit enforces our commands when we operate in the authority of Christ. When disciples of Christ cast out demons, it is a clear demonstration of God’s power and Christ’s authority.

Like healing, deliverance confirms the authenticity of the gospel message.

The early church carried forward this practice as part of its gospel message.

Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13  None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14  And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15  so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16  The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. Acts 5:12-16 (ESV)  

And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7  For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. Acts 8:6-7 (ESV)

Today people in the secularized West, where so-called science is worshiped, often try to explain away demonic activity as being some form of mental instability or other medically defined disease. However, if we maintain that Jesus actually knew what he was talking about and that the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit, we must take demons seriously. Conversely, many people are terrified by the demonic, having gotten all their information from horror movies which glorify evil.

The reality is that demons exist, but they are under the authority of Christ and must obey Christ’s representatives.

(You can read more about our authority to cast out demons by clicking here.) Please keep in mind that demons are real, Christ has already defeated them, followers of Christ have authority over them, the Holy Spirit backs up that authority, and casting them out is a sign of the presence and power of God’s kingdom. When we preach the gospel, we should expect to encounter demonic oppression in people and be prepared to use Christ’s authority to handle the situation. When we do that properly, it confirms the truth of the gospel.

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How Well Can You Share the Gospel Story?

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God wants us to be fluent enough in the gospel to share it like a story. Jesus frequently used stories because they are such a powerful way to communicate.

The gospel is the true story of Jesus Christ set in the context of Israel’s history with God.

Each of the four Gospels are presented in story form. We learn about Jesus from seeing how he was born, lived, died, rose again, and later ascended into heaven, where he now rules, waiting for the Father’s set time for his return to judge all people. In the Gospel story, we see how our Lord Jesus interacted with God the Father and those who lived around him. We listen to his words and marvel at his deeds.

In the gospel, we encounter the Creator and Sustainer of the universe who became a human being.

Each one of us has a personal story to tell, too. Our life stories are set in the context of the history of our families, when and where we have lived, what we have gone through, decisions we made, opportunities we received, victories we won, battles we lost, and any number of factors that make us unique and interesting.

Being a witness for Christ involves telling our own stories, with a special emphasis on how Jesus intersected our lives and the difference he made and is making. Ideally, our story should enable us to share His story, so that Jesus can become a major part of our listener’s story, too.

If we familiarize ourselves with the gospel message, we can learn to present the Jesus story in our own words. Through practice we can get more and more proficient and confident. When we are able blend our own story with the story of Jesus, it can be very effective. The Apostle Paul was a master at telling his own story and going right to the punch line of the gospel message – Jesus’ death for our sins and resurrection as the Lord who will come again as the judge of all the earth.

The Gospel can be presented in a variety of ways, depending on the leading of the Holy Spirit and the need and openness of the hearer. Below are some of the essential elements of the Gospel story. It is a good idea to study these in order to be able to share from the heart. If you can mix in a few relevant Bible verses, it will be even better.

The Essential Elements of the Gospel

  • Creation. This is where it all started for us. The creation story includes acknowledging that the Creator has always existed and reigns supreme. Creation means we owe our very existence to God, upon whom we were meant to rely. John Chapter One reveals that Jesus is the Creator. (John 1:3)
  • Mankind’s Rebellion. Adam and Eve chose to believe the devil’s lie that God cannot be trusted. They disobeyed him in an effort to become like God in order to be able to navigate life on their own. The essence of sin is self rule apart from God. Adam’s sin brought death to the human race and separated us from God. (Isaiah 53:6) This rebellion against God’s rule has permeated all of humanity and is the basic sin for which we need forgiveness and restoration. People are unable to save themselves because we are all sinners under judgment. Salvation would have to come from elsewhere.
  • Promise of a Savior. God took the initiative to provide amnesty and forgiveness to all those who want it. He promised Abraham, who became the father of the Jewish people, that one of his descendants would be a blessing to the entire earth. (Genesis 22:18) He later promised King David, one of Abraham’s offspring, that one of his descendants would rule on God’s throne forever. (2 Samuel 7:12-13) God also promised that he would establish what is called a New Covenant, which would provide people with a “new heart” toward God and forgiveness of sins. (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
  • Birth of Jesus. The four gospels show how Jesus’ birth fulfilled these prophecies and promises. As prophesied, Jesus was born to a virgin through the supernatural activity of God. (Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:22-23) The eternal and pre-existent Son of God became a human in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. (John 1:14) This enabled him to be a perfect sacrifice for our sins, in accordance with John the Baptist’s announcement that Jesus was the Lamb of God. (John 1:29) He lived and died in complete obedience to his heavenly Father, undoing the rebellion of Adam, and became the progenitor of a new race of humans through what is called the “new birth.” (1 Corinthians 15:45)
  • Jesus’ Itinerant Ministry. Jesus spent three years announcing and ushering in God’s kingdom on earth. (Acts 10:38) As the Messiah King designate, Jesus preached the Good News of God’s kingdom rule and performed the works of that kingdom – healings, miracles, deliverances, resurrections, and forgiving sins. He befriended those who were humble enough to admit they needed him. He elevated the worth of women by including them in his traveling band of disciples. He taught with authority about God’s kingdom and his loving, but just, Father. Jesus claimed to be the one God had promised – the long awaited Messiah and eternal Son of God. In doing all this, he made the religious authorities jealous and angry; so much so that they put him to death as an act of supreme defiance against God’s rule over them.
  • Jesus’ Death, Burial, and Resurrection. As part of God’s eternal plan, Jesus was put to death on a cross as God’s Lamb, who took away the sins of the world. (Isaiah 53:7) He was buried, and after three days he rose again. His resurrection validated his claims to be God’s Messiah and the Lord of Lords. (Romans 1:1-4) His resurrection also proved that his Father accepted his sacrifice on our behalf. After appearing to his disciples and teaching them for forty days, he ascended into heaven where he now sits at God’s right hand as Lord of lords.
  • The Sending of the Holy Spirit. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to fill and empower his disciples to be bold and effective witnesses to his resurrection. He told them to go and make disciples throughout the world. (Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28:18)
  • Second Coming, General Resurrection, and Final Judgment. Jesus promised that he will come again to raise the dead and sit in judgment upon every human being who has ever lived. (Matthew 16:27) He will assign them their eternal reward, good or bad. He will reign forevermore as God’s King of Kings with his church at his side. (Colossians 3:1-4)

This is the Gospel.

The Desired Response

We share the Gospel to help people come face to face with Jesus’ claim to absolute sovereignty over all creation and his magnanimous offer to pardon all rebels who will accept his rule in their lives. Allegiance to Jesus is the desired response.

People need to know that only Jesus can provide forgiveness for our rebellion against the rule of God. They need to understand that they will be held accountable to him at the last judgment for how they lived and responded to the gospel message.

As part of our surrender terms, we are able to receive all the benefits of his death and resurrection: forgiveness, reconciliation to God, being set free from all that enslaves us, having our guilt permanently removed, and receiving eternal life, the indwelling Spirit, and all the benefits and privileges of being God’s child.

The true story of the gospel has the power to save people and set them free. (Romans 1:16) Let’s make a habit of sharing it regularly with as many as we can. If we work at it, we will become very good at sharing it. There is no telling how many people will one day thank us for this service.

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Is the Wrath of God Part of the Gospel?

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Even though it is not heard very often today, the wrath of God is actually part of the gospel message.

Most people know what “fire and brimstone” preaching is. The preacher focuses on God’s wrath against sin in an effort to motivate people to repent and accept God’s provision of forgiveness. It is sometimes viewed negatively as an attempt to scare people into the kingdom of God. However, Jesus was not averse to warning people of impending judgment.

I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. 5 “But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! Luke 12:4–5 (NASB95)

In contrast, many present day preachers portray God as a merciful and kind dispenser of good will and blessings, who wants everyone to experience the best that life has to offer, without ever calling people to acknowledge and repent from their sins. We used to call this kind of preaching “greasy grace.” The general idea about God that results is that he is a “smiley face” who doesn’t get “bent out of shape” if we break his commandments. The only thing he really hates is intolerance. Churches who hear this kind of message are encouraged to embrace the latest trends of  “morality” and lose touch with Biblical standards of morality.

Mercy without repentance is foreign to the Bible.

Forgiveness with Strings Attached

Jesus died as God’s Lamb, taking upon himself the just penalty for our sins, in order to offer forgiveness and reconciliation with God. This gift of God is freely given; however, it comes with “strings attached.” Jesus does not simply offer us a “get out of hell free” card with nothing required of us. He calls us to acknowledge his lordship over every area of our lives. (Romans 10:9-10)

Humanity’s root sin is rejection of God’s right to rule over us. It is only by acknowledging Jesus’ lordship that we prove we are genuine about repentance.

God’s Wrath: The Other Side of Forgiveness

It is good to emphasize forgiveness in our presentation of the Gospel, as long as we include the necessity of repentance.

The cross was necessary because God’s wrath against sin is real.

If, as some suppose, God does not really care whether we sin or not, forgiveness has no real meaning and the Gospel no has no significance. But, if God’s wrath against sin is real and his judgment is waiting for us at the end of our lives, forgiveness becomes extremely meaningful!

The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day utterly rejected his claim that he was their messianic king descended from David, the one about whom the Scriptures spoke. (Matthew 26:63-68) They condemned the Lord of lords to death, mocked and spat upon him, and had him nailed to a cross to die the horrendous and torturous death of a criminal. This was the sin for which Jerusalem was subsequently annihilated by the Romans in 70 AD, just as Jesus warned would happen. (Matthew 23:37-39)

After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, he poured out the Holy Spirit upon his disciples, empowering them to announce the good news that those who turn to Christ and acknowledge his lordship will be forgiven for their treachery. Many took advantage of this magnanimous offer and were saved. Others, however, turned their backs on God’s offer of mercy. God’s wrath awaited those who rejected Jesus’ lordship. The same is true for us today. Will we accept Jesus as the Lord and the coming judge of all humanity, or will we reject him and his rule, just as did the Jews so long ago?

If we acknowledge Jesus’ lordship, we will be forgiven and restored to a right relationship with God, become part of God’s family, and receive eternal life. If we refuse, however, God’s wrath abides on us and awaits us.

This is the clear teaching of scripture. Jesus said:

“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36 (NASB)

Therefore, it is altogether proper and necessary to impress on our listeners and readers the certainty of their running headlong into God’s wrath one day, unless they accept and declare allegiance to the one who absorbed that wrath for us on the cross.

Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica:

…you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, 10  and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (NASB)

It is clear from this passage that Paul majored on the need for us to be “saved” from the coming wrath of God. We should do the same.

Peter said that Jesus “ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this [He] is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.” (Acts 10:42 NASB)

Jesus emphasized and “ordered” that his disciples tell everyone that he is coming back as the Judge! Jesus will judge us for how we lived.

Did we dedicate our lives to him, or did we, like so many others, reject his claims of lordship, throwing away our opportunity to be forgiven?

How about you? Have you accepted or rejected God’s offer of mercy? Have you surrendered your life to Jesus’ rule, or do you persist in trying maintain self-rule, living independently from him? Have you made the choice that will enable you to encounter God’s mercy at the Last Judgment, or does God’s wrath await you? The choice is ours. Choose wisely.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I now realize that I have until now rejected your mercy. I have changed my mind and ask you to forgive me for my rebellious ways. I acknowledge and surrender to your lordship over my life and all creation. Thank you for dying for me on the cross. Thank you that, after you rose from the dead, you did not hold our sins against us, but offered us a chance to be reconciled to you and your heavenly Father. I am grateful that I am now included as one of God’s family. Thank you for eternal life. Thank you for sending your Spirit to live in and through me. Help me to be your disciple and tell others about this amazing good news. Amen

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How to Present a Concise Gospel Message

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Understanding the basic elements of the gospel message will enable us to share the good news in a concise way when we have limited time.

The gospel is the true story of Jesus Christ, who he is, what he did, and what he will do when he returns, which deserves a response of repentance and faith from the hearer. The gospel or good news is found in the four New Testament books that carry that name, the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Being able to summarize the Gospel is very important. Its core truths provide a framework for any presentation we have the opportunity to make.

The following passage from Peter’s first sermon on Pentecost in Acts Chapter Two is a great example of a brief gospel presentation.

"People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23  But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24  But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip... "This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33  "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. 34  "For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, 35  UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET."' 36  "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified." Acts 2:22-24, 32-36 (NASB)

Now, let us break apart what Peter said.

  1. Jesus died as the Lamb of God for the forgiveness of our sins. This ministry was prophesied by John the Baptist (John 1:29). After his death, he was buried.
  2. Jesus rose from the dead in power (Romans 1:4), which was witnessed by many people, and was exalted to the right hand of God’s throne as the Lord. He now has all authority (Matthew 28:18) and currently reigns in heaven. He sits at God’s right hand, and his church is spiritually seated with him (Ephesians 2:6 & Colossians 3:1), waiting for his enemies to be brought into submission. Jesus is both Lord and Messiah. He is the Son of God, the messianic King of Israel, who was introduced through prophecy by John the Baptist (John 1:34).
  3. Jesus ascended into heaven and “poured out” the baptism in the Holy Spirit upon the church to equip his followers to be his witnesses and fulfill the Great Commission. This fulfilled his role as the Baptizer in the Spirit and Lord of the Harvest, just as John the Baptist prophesied (John 1:33).
  4. A fourth point, which is implied in John 1:35, is that Jesus is the Son of Man (Matthew 25:31-32), who will return to earth in glory and triumph over his enemies. He will judge the living and the dead and rule over a new heaven and earth.

These gospel pronouncements, if understood and believed, will elicit a response of repentance, faith, and and allegiance to Jesus.

Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38  Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39  This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” 40  Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” 41  Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. Acts 2:37-41 (NLT)

Declaring allegiance to Christ and coming under God’s sovereign and benevolent rule is what saves us. (Romans 10:9-10) When we do this, our sins are forgiven and Jesus will send his Spirit to equip and empower us to be his disciples and witnesses.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (NLT)

Let me recap the four main points of the gospel.

  1. Jesus is the Lamb of God.
  2. Jesus is the Lord.
  3. Jesus is the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, and
  4. Jesus will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.

If we include these four points in our gospel presentation, we will have included the core truths that people need to understand. We can go into as much depth as we want relating to each part. You may wish to ask yourself, have I ever really understood the gospel and made this transaction with God? If not, why not now?

Prayer

Jesus, I realize that you are very great and deserve my worship and allegiance. I believe that you died for me and rose again as the Lord of Lords. Thank you for forgiving my sins and making a way for me to be right with Father God. Thank you for giving me eternal life. Thank you for setting me free so I can live for you. I receive you into my life to live through me. Baptize me in your Spirit and help me to live the rest of my days for you. Amen.

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Healing and the Gospel

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Physical healing is part of the good news about Jesus the Messiah King.

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2  and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal… 6  And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. Luke 9:1-2, 6 (ESV)

As proof of Jesus’ authority and ability to set prisoners free, he regularly healed people when he walked the earth. After his resurrection and ascension, his disciples also healed people through the power of the Holy Spirit to demonstrate the reality of God’s rule. Healing is linked to the gospel message.

Jesus launched his public ministry in a synagogue in Nazareth by sharing his messianic mission statement from the prophet Isaiah.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19  to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19 (ESV)

The Father in heaven sent Jesus to the earth to release those who under the oppression of the devil. This oppression manifests itself in many ways, including sickness and disease, which is sometimes caused by demonic oppression.

The gospel is not limited to the forgiveness of sins. It provides liberty to the entire being – body, soul, and spirit.

When Luke wrote his gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, he included this marvelous summation of Christ’s ministry, which was spoken by the apostle Peter:

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 (NLT)

The anointing of the Holy Spirit, mentioned in Luke 4:18, empowered Jesus (and us today) to heal those who oppressed by Satan by overcoming sickness, demonic oppression, and even death, not to mention the spiritual and psychological oppression related to sin, guilt, and condemnation.

Paul also operated in healing and miracles when he presented the gospel.

For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 (NLT)

Was this a peculiar operation of grace for those early days, or does it continue? Some theologians have proposed that the gifts of the Spirit ceased after the deaths of the twelve apostles and the completion of the New Testament. This is a human theological construct designed to account for the lack of the miraculous today by claiming signs and wonders were only for the early days following the resurrection, before the church came into possession of the New Covenant scriptures. According to this theory, now all we need to do is to proclaim the truth without having any confirming signs of Christ’s reign over the oppression of the devil.

It is always a bad idea to build our theology around our experience instead of around the Word of God.

Nevertheless it is a common practice, since we all tend to explain away that which makes us uncomfortable. It’s what psychologists call denial. We don’t want to be confronted by the truth; so, we build walls and fences to keep it at a distance.

The truth is that Jesus never stopped setting the captives free, body, soul, and spirit. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

If the early disciples needed the confirming signs of God’s presence and power in their presentation of the gospel, how much more do we need it? Evil and deception is just as strong today as ever, perhaps even more so.

We need both God’s truth and his power to be effective witnesses.

Denying the power of God to heal is a serious error which deprives our gospel presentation from being confirmed by the Holy Spirit the way God intended.

When Jesus sent out the seventy-two disciples in Luke Chapter 10, he told them:

Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ Luke 10:9 (NLT)

When we engage those who do not yet know Christ, it is a divine strategy to pray for their healing. When we do so, we give God the opportunity to reveal himself to the hearer in a way that confirms his existence, power, and love. Healing is a function of God’s divine compassion for our predicament.

Healing reveals God’s love in a way that anyone except the most hardened religious people can understand and accept.

Healing confirms the words of the gospel and opens the heart to believe that Jesus is both Lord and Savior. Some call miracles the “dinner bell” to salvation. Evangelists in third world countries know the importance of signs and wonders. Have we become so intellectual that we no longer require God’s power? How foolish!

We do well to take Jesus’ commands to those early disciples to heart.

We should look for any and every opportunity to pray for the sick in order to open the door to sharing the gospel of grace with people we know and love.

It is not up to us to actually heal anyone: that remains under God’s jurisdiction. However, as Christ’s representatives, we have an amazing opportunity to open the door for God to work. If we pray for the sick, we may see a miracle with our own eyes! More importantly, we may open the door for our hearer to receive eternal life through faith in Jesus!

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The Evangelist: Part 4 – Front Line Soldiers

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Evangelists are not only fishers of men; they also are God’s front line soldiers in a clash between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness.

The gospel is the most powerful weapon we have been given to bring down the kingdom of darkness. (Romans 1:16) Satan recognizes this and resists those who preach it in order to try to stop the advance of the kingdom of God.

Because evangelists carry the heavy weaponry of the kingdom of God and are targeted by the kingdom of darkness, they must be fearless front line soldiers.

Even though persecution is mediated through human beings who oppose the gospel, Paul made it clear that the real battle is a spiritual one.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)

Where evangelists preach the gospel, it opens the door for God’s kingdom to break through.

This happened in Samaria when Philip took the good news there. (Acts 8) Conversely, it is not uncommon for all hell to break loose, too, in a counter attack, as happened when Stephen preached to the Jews in Jerusalem (Acts 7) or pretty much anywhere Paul preached. It has been my experience as a pastor that the devil usually gets riled up any time an individual or group starts sharing the gospel.

The evil one will tolerate unopposed many church activities, but not the preaching the gospel or actively making disciples, the two chief components of the Great Commission.

If we are easily intimidated, he will push back against us and try to crush our resolve. Satan knows how powerful the gospel is. The bigger question is, “Do we?”

Jesus said that he was sending his disciples out as “sheep among wolves.” (Matthew 10:16)

It takes great courage from the Holy Spirit to go up against the powers of darkness to preach the gospel.

This is one of the chief reasons we need the baptism in the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8) When the first apostles were threatened and told not to preach the gospel any more, they prayed the following prayer, which should be ours, too.

And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30  Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31  After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:29-31 (NLT)
Conclusion

I hope that what I have shared in this series on the five-fold ministry gift of evangelist inspires all of us to become more dedicated fishers of men. May we all apply ourselves to becoming gospel fluent so that we are able to present Jesus from any and every angle, from Genesis to Revelation, depending on the need of the moment. May we all receive the baptism in the Spirit and enroll in the Great Commission army of disciples under the command of the Lord of the Harvest. Let us become proficient in listening to the Spirit’s voice and operating in the spiritual gifts. Let us determine to spend time in fishing for people. Lastly, let us also spend time in prayer for the lost, asking God to give us his heart for them. May the Lord open doors of opportunity for us to herald the gospel to individuals and great crowds. May he work in the hearts of those who hear to enable them to understand and receive the good news by faith. May the Lord give us great success as his ambassadors of reconciliation and may he raise up many more fishers of men and true evangelists. Amen.

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The Evangelist: Part 3 – Fishers of Men

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Jesus told his disciples that he would make them into fishers of men. The evangelist are specifically called to lead the way.

Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” Matthew 4:19 (NLT)

Jesus’ disciples fished for a living using boats and nets. There was nothing fun or romantic about it, but I imagine it was something that at some level they loved. Otherwise, why not find another occupation? Today we still have commercial fishermen, but most are recreational anglers who love the sport. They invest in acquiring the proper equipment, sometimes spending far more than what they could ever recoup in the value of the fish caught. Fishermen have to go to where the fish are. They cannot be passive just waiting at home for fish to show up. Avid fishermen learn as much as they can about fish, so they will not waste their time using unproductive techniques. They use all their creativity and expertise to catch as many as they can. For those who truly love to fish, it is almost an obsession. You will find them at the lake or the coast whenever they can find the time. If that is how you think of evangelism, you just might be a true evangelist.

Evangelists are deeply motivated to “catch” people with the gospel.

They dedicate significant amounts of time and effort in this pursuit. They invest in becoming fluent in the gospel by much study. We should allow ourselves to fall into the rut of using simplistic formulas and trite sayings or only sharing our personal testimony.

As seen in the four books called “gospels,” the gospel is the true story of an amazing Person that demands a response.

Evangelists practice presenting the gospel to refine their abilities.

They listen to the Holy Spirit to learn how to reach the hearts of lost people, just as Jesus did.

They work at becoming proficient in allowing the Holy Spirit to operate through them via the spiritual gifts, just as Jesus did.

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! Matthew 10:8 (NLT)

Evangelists use the spiritual gifts as “dinner bells” for salvation. God heals people and does miracles to reveal that he is real and cares about them.

Such demonstrations of power validate the message and the messenger, creating openness to the gospel.

Evangelists use the authority of Jesus to cast out demons when necessary, giving proof of Christ’s authority over the kingdom of darkness. (Luke 11:20) Evangelists are careful to keep themselves free from the corrupting power of money, freely giving away the good news.

There are evangelists who fish for people with huge nets, such as Peter in Acts Chapter Two, speaking to massive crowds, and there are those who go after individuals, such as Jesus at the well in Samaria or Philip sharing with the official from Ethiopia.

Evangelists listen to the Holy Spirit to learn how to present Jesus to people in a way that meets their deepest longings to be forgiven, to know God, and to experience his life and love.

Examples of Fishing for Individuals and Crowds

At the well in Samaria, Jesus showed us how to fish for the single individual. He addressed a very unlikely person, a Samaritan woman coming to the well alone in the middle of the day to draw water. Jewish rabbis did not talk to women, especially not Samaritan women or those who probably were being shunned by the other women in town. That did not matter to Jesus. He saw her as a lost sheep who would be open to him and his message.

Evangelists are not restricted by what people think.

They are not held back by man-made customs and rules. Their love for the lost overcomes traditional barriers. Evangelists engage least likely people that many in the church might choose to avoid, just as did Jesus.

[Jesus said]...“Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Mark 2:17 (NLT)

As a good fisherman, Jesus invited this woman into a conversation, hoping she would “take the bait,” so to speak. Unless we engage people in conversation, how will we ever be able to share the gospel with them?

Evangelists learn to use the art of conversation as a springboard for sharing the gospel.  They understand how to present Jesus in a way that arouses their curiosity and interest.

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14  But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” 15  “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” John 4:13-15 (NLT)

She did not grasp all that Jesus communicated to her, but she understood enough to make her want to find out more. This set up what became the turning point for the entire interaction.

When Jesus instructed her to go get her husband, which was the proper thing to do, it set the stage for him to operate in the spiritual gift of the word of knowledge. When he told her things that only God would know, it revealed to her that God and he knew about her sordid past and present, but loved her anyway.

Her encounter with God’s power and amazing love opened her heart to Jesus, instantly transforming the conversation.

She believed in Jesus, and God used her to win an entire village – all because Jesus loved the least likely, overcame cultural barriers, engaged her in conversation, and demonstrated God’s power and love to her. This is the way evangelists fish for individual people.

Peter used a huge gospel net to catch 3000 in a single message. He explained that Jesus, whom the Jews had just put to death, was the long awaited Messiah King. When they showed remorse and asked for help, he showed them how to escape God’s judgment for their recent horrendous crime of killing their own Messiah. Peter met a very real felt need in those guilty people by offering them forgiveness through the gospel, if they would pledge allegiance to the One they had previously rejected.

The evangelist helps people understand their sin of rebellion against God and offers a way of escape from God’s judgment through repentance and faith in Christ.

Fishing for people with the gospel under the direction of the Holy Spirit is most rewarding and exciting. There is nothing like it. Those who make a regular practice of praying for the lost, preparing their minds through studying the gospel, practicing their presentations to refine their abilities, learning how to operate in the gifts and power of the Spirit, and devoting significant amounts of time to the pursuit of lost people fulfill the call to be fishers of men. Who knows, the call of evangelist might be on your life, too!

One thing is for sure: we are all called to “go and make disciples.”

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