Category: What Is the Gospel?

Was the Virgin Birth Truly Necessary?

The virgin birth is one of the key doctrines of Christianity. In this article, I will show why it is so essential and necessary.

The true story of Jesus begins with his mother Mary receiving an incredible announcement from the angel Gabriel.

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” 29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” 34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:26-35 (NLT)

Why would God use something that is seemingly impossible, even ridiculous to some, as the means of bringing His Son into the world? Isn’t the resurrection a big enough hurdle for the modern rational mind without injecting a virgin birth into the Gospel story before we even get started? Why did God ask Mary to endure what was an apparent very large blemish on her character? I feel sure that most doubted her story. She must have endured the critical gaze of those who thought she was a loose woman with an illegitimate son. And how about the pain and confusion this abnormal birth caused Joseph? Couldn’t God have done this some other way? Apparently not.

The Bible reveals that Jesus is the God-Man, fully human and fully God. The human part is easy to grasp. The God element is more difficult and is something we must see by faith and revelation.

After his resurrection, Jesus confronted Thomas the doubter, who previously announced that he would not believe that Jesus rose until he put his fingers in the nail holes and his hand into his side. When Jesus suddenly appeared to him in answer to his request, Thomas blurted out: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28) It was rather easy for him to arrive at that conclusion while standing in the presence of the risen Lord. The Holy Spirit must open our spiritual eyes for us to believe.

John the Baptist announced to the world that Jesus is the Lamb of God. What a shocker that message must have been to his listeners! Jesus was to be a human sacrifice! Most who heard those words probably concluded that John was just using poetic language. Even Jesus’ disciples, who heard the Lord tell them repeatedly that he would die on a cross, lived in denial regarding his coming crucifixion. No one grasped up front that Jesus would be God’s blemish-free substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of mankind.

Jesus had to be a man without sin who also was fully God in order to become the perfect sacrifice who could pay the just penalty for our sins.

Jesus also had to become a true man because the first man, Adam, sinned against God and earned the death penalty for the entire human race. Since then every human being has become a co-conspirator by personally sinning. Jesus had to be truly God because only God is perfect enough to make a perfect offering.

In order for Jesus to be a human and at the same time avoid being born with a wicked and debilitating sin nature, which the rest of us inherit from Adam and our own natural fathers, he had to be supernaturally begotten by God with a human mother.

For Christianity to work, this had to be. It is the divine logic. Jesus became the “second Adam,” the spiritual progenitor of a new race of people. His mother was a “standard issue” human being, but his Father was God. He was conceived by the operation of the Holy Spirit, which made him the most unique and important person ever to walk this earth. He had to be in order to accomplish his mission.

Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:47 (NLT)
The Miracle of the New Birth

But Jesus is not the only person who has experienced a miraculous birth. His virgin birth prepared the way for a multitude of equally amazing births in which God is also the Father.

Through the miracle of the New Covenant, which was inaugurated by Jesus’ death and resurrection, every person who puts his or her faith in Christ is born miraculously. It’s called the new birth.

Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ John 3:5-7 (NLT)

The only way for a sinful human being to become a child of God is for Christ to be born or formed inside him. The Bible uses different metaphors or images to communicate what happens through the new birth process. Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again. Obviously, Jesus did not mean that Nicodemus had to go back into his mother’s womb.

The new birth takes place when God’s life is planted inside a person causing him or her to come alive in the spirit.

Paul called it the new creation.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

Peter wrote that the new birth is a result of God’s seed being planted inside a person, an obvious analogy to the biological conception process.

since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 1 Peter 1:23 (ESV)

The truth God wants us to apprehend is that, through the new birth, we who believe become authentic children of God.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13 (ESV)

The new birth, like the virgin birth, is not religious jargon. It is real. It is a brand new beginning in God. It is the gateway to eternal life. It is the greatest gift of all!

The Divine Logos, who existed for all eternity as the Only Begotten Son of the Father, chose to become flesh so that we hopelessly estranged and lost humans could become part of the divine family and reconnected to God’s eternal purpose.

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, comes to live inside all born again people, giving us the same relationship with the Father  as sons that Jesus has, minus the divinity.

That is why we too can cry out, “Abba, Father,” and have it mean something.

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, Romans 8:15-16 (ESV)

If you think it’s hard to believe that God would humble himself to become a man, just consider how amazing it is for God to allow humans to become part of his divine family! And it all started with the virgin birth!

Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives. Galatians 4:19 (NLT)

In the verse above, Paul takes things a step further. He not only wanted his readers to believe the gospel and be born again; he also was vitally concerned that his disciples be conformed to Christ’s image or likeness in how they thought, spoke, and acted. He understood that our focus should not be on mere outward conformity. Instead, transformation must begin on the inside, in the spirit, where the seed of God is planted and where the Holy Spirit dwells.

It is in the spirit that we are united with God’s Spirit, and it is from there that the life of God permeates our entire being as leaven spreads throughout a lump of dough.

When the life within completes its course, we will look, act, speak, and think like our Lord. He will have been fully formed inside us, conforming us to his image. Then we will have come full circle, so to speak. The Logos (the eternal Word of God, Jesus) became flesh through what is called the incarnation so that humans could become like the divine Logos through the new birth (a repeat of the incarnation) and the ongoing inner transformation by the Spirit.

So, is the virgin birth something essential? Yes, it is, and so is Christ’s resurrection and the new birth. All are miracles from God that have elevated believing humanity out of oppression and hopelessness into the glorious privilege of being children of God!

Why did God use things that are so “abnormal” and, to the world, incredible? It was because there was no other way.

God uses what the world has a hard time believing to deliver those who have faith. Faith itself is a gift from God, something the Holy Spirit imparts. Without God’s gracious help, no one could ever really understand the Gospel message, but when our eyes and hearts are opened, we are born again!

If you have never believed in your heart that Jesus is who the Bible says he is, but something deep inside of you is drawn to this wonderful message of hope, you can ask God’s Spirit to help you. One of his names is the Helper. He will lead you into all truth. He will help you to know Christ through revelation. He will help you to become a true believer. You too can experience the miracle of the new birth, too. Perhaps now is the time for you to offer a prayer from your heart. God will hear you. If you open the door, he will come in.

A Sample Prayer

Dear Lord, I want to be part of your family. I need your help. Holy Spirit please open my spiritual eyes, unstop my deaf ears, and soften my hard heart so that I can believe. Jesus, I ask you to come into my life and change me on the inside. I ask for the forgiveness and life that you died to give me. I surrender my life to you. Now I depend on you to do the rest. Amen.

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Have We Been Inoculated Against the Gospel?

If we are inoculated against a disease, we are given a weak form of it to stimulate the development of antibodies so that later we will be able to defend ourselves against the actual disease. Is it possible to be inoculated against the gospel?

Some who call themselves Christian quite often act no differently from those who do not confess the name of Jesus. Why is that? Our opinions have little consequence, but our convictions are what really matter. A conviction is the result of our believing in something or someone so strongly that we feel compelled to act upon it. Conviction leads to commitment. Belief without commitment to act is not the faith of the Bible.

If  our profession of faith in Jesus the Lord does not change how we live, it likely was not accompanied by faith in our hearts.

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

The confession part is relatively easy. We can intellectually agree that we want to escape hell and go to heaven without ever received true revelation of who Jesus is. People can say all sort of things with their mouths, but only God knows what is happening at the heart level.

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? James 2:14–20 (NLT)

From a spiritual point of view, if we are not changed, the gospel has done us no good. In fact, it may have actually harmed us because at the Last Judgment we will be held accountable for knowing the truth and rejecting it.

I call this being “inoculated” against the gospel.

This can happen if we understand just enough of the truth to be deceived into thinking we are just fine with God, without ever seeing who Christ is by revelation in our hearts or truly acknowledging him as Lord as well as Savior.

Consider the following words of Jesus:

I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16 (ESV)

Sadly, the condition of being lukewarm describes countless churchgoers. It means we have little or no ardor or zeal, no joyful desire to follow Jesus wherever he may lead, no wish to dedicate our lives for his glory, and no willingness to sacrifice and suffer for him as may be required.

Lukewarm people are loyal to themselves, not to Jesus.

Do Christians live much differently than those who do not confess Christ? I quote from The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience: Why don’t Christians live what they preach? by Ronald J. Sider.

To say there is a crisis of disobedience in the evangelical world today is to dangerously understate the problem. Born-again Christians divorce at about the same rate as everyone else. Self-centered materialism is seducing evangelicals and rapidly destroying our earlier, slightly more generous giving. Only 6 percent of born-again Christians tithe. Born-again Christians justify and engage in sexual promiscuity (both premarital sex and adultery) at astonishing rates. Racism and perhaps physical abuse of wives seems to be worse in evangelical circles than elsewhere. This is scandalous behavior for people who claim to be born-again by the Holy Spirit and to enjoy the very presence of the Risen Lord in their lives.

In light of the foregoing statistics, it is not surprising that born-again Christians spend seven times more hours each week in front of their televisions than they spend in Bible reading, prayer, and worship.1 Only 9 percent of born-again adults and 2 percent of born-again teenagers have a biblical worldview.2

Perhaps it is not surprising either that non-Christians have a very negative view of evangelicals. In a recent poll, Barna asked non-Christians about their attitudes toward different groups of Christians. Only 44 percent have a positive view of Christian clergy. Just 32 percent have a positive view of born-again Christians. And a mere 22 percent have a positive view of evangelicals.3

Evangelicals rightly rejected theological liberalism because it denied the miraculous. In response, we insisted that miracle was central to biblical faith at numerous points including the supernatural moral transformation of broken sinners. Now our very lifestyle as evangelicals is a ringing practical denial of the miraculous in our lives. Satan must laugh in sneerful derision. God’s people can only weep.

The Core Issue: Do We Know Who Jesus Is?

At one point during Jesus’ three-year itinerant ministry, he asked his disciples a very important question.

  • Who do you say I am?

People in Jesus’ day, and through the years, have held various opinions about Jesus’ identity. His contemporaries regarded him as a prophet and a teacher. Some even thought that he was the long awaited Messiah, the coming king in the line of David. Others saw him as a trouble maker, a dangerous imposter, a blasphemer, or a threat to political stability and Israel’s favored status with Rome.

The question of Jesus’ identity is the most important one in our lives. How we answer that question will determine how we live.

If our answer regarding Jesus’ identity does not make a practical difference in our lives, we can know for sure that we do not yet know him as the Bible presents him – the Risen Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

The proper and expected response made by those who wake up to who Jesus truly is will be to lay down all previous plans and dreams in order follow him wherever he may lead.

Becoming a follower of Christ is like signing a blank check and handing it to the Lord with the understanding that he can and will fill in the amount when and how he decides.

This no doubt sounds extreme to those who have grown accustomed to a mere “churchianity” that requires no more of us than some level of church attendance, giving, and, perhaps, serving in some capacity at scheduled services.

When Jesus asked his disciple band, “Who do you say that I am?,” Peter responded in a way that has reverberated through the ages.

Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17  And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 16:16-17 (ESV)

The word “Christ” is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word “messiah,” which means anointed one. The implication was that he was and is the promised king in David’s line. The Jews eagerly waited for this Messiah King who, they thought, would liberate them from Roman tyranny and restore Israel’s political, social, and spiritual fortunes. The phrase “son of God” most likely was another way of saying he was the Messiah. Jesus acknowledged that Peter received this revelation from his heavenly Father.

This was how Jesus gauged the activity of the Spirit in his disciples. Had they yet seen and understood who he really was and is? The same is true today. Have we yet seen as we should?

Peter was ready to follow his messianic king all the way to victory, even if he died along the way. Peter’s view of Jesus propelled him forward as a faithful follower. However, Peter’s understanding of Christ’s identity was still incomplete and insufficient to give him the strength to keep going during the difficult tests that lay ahead. When the populace welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem just prior to his crucifixion, they viewed him hopefully in the same light as Peter. The Bible records that they shouted:

…“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10  And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11  And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” Matthew 21:9-11 (ESV)

They believed Jesus was a prophet, the coming messianic king, but, like Peter, their understanding was not complete or sufficient, and, unfortunately, many who claim the name of Christian today also have an incomplete understanding of who Jesus is.

When Jesus did not deliver the expected “goods” 2000 years ago, the people quickly turned on him and assisted the Jewish rulers in putting him to death. People are eager to follow someone who will give them success, wealth, health, and power, but Jesus did the very opposite. He offered his disciples the opportunity to suffer for his name as they took the gospel message to the ends of the earth.

Today many so called Christians face similar crises of faith when Jesus does not turn out to be who we expected.

What Peter did not understand is that Jesus is not only the prophet and the expected messianic king, but he is also the Lamb of God and the prophesied Son of Man, the victorious Lord of Lords mentioned in the Book of Daniel. Peter did not realize that Jesus had to suffer as God’s Lamb in order to restore us back to a right relationship with his heavenly Father. This was confusing and offensive to Peter. Jesus’ arrest in the garden, shook Peter’s faith to the core. He was ready to fight for his messiah king, but not at all prepared to watch him die as God’s Lamb. Unknown to Peter, suffering had to precede glory. The cross had to come before the resurrection. The Lamb ministry prepared the way for Christ’s glorious role as the risen Son of Man.

The role of suffering is not understood by many of us. We are willing to give allegiance to someone who will bless us, but not to a Lord who might requires us to suffer. (2 Timothy 2:12)

Who Is Jesus to Us?

Conversely, many us who call ourselves Christians only see Jesus as the crucified Lamb of God who provides forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life. We do not truly believe or act as if he is the undisputed Lord of all. We may attend church services on a regular basis and give to the ministry, but otherwise we are content to live as if Jesus has no actual claim upon the rest of our lives.

We act as if we believe that Jesus simply wants to get us to heaven, but has no great interest in how we live here and now.

Jesus’ resurrection changed everything. According to Paul, he arose in power in order to bring the nations to “the obedience of faith.” (Romans 1:4-5)

Faith has two components. One is agreeing with and receiving God’s truth about Jesus. The other is declaring allegiance to the King.

If our belief in Christ does not result in our declaring unqualified allegiance to him, we have not really believed.

Confessing that Jesus is Lord is the door through which every child of God must pass in order to partake of the new birth and salvation. (Romans 10:9) It is instructive that Paul did not tell us to confess that Jesus is God’s Lamb and our Savior. He told us to confess his lordship. The early Christians were not put to death for proclaiming that Jesus was their personal Savior. No, they refused to back off from declaring that he was and is Lord, even over Caesar.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47  Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48  he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49  But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:46-49 (ESV)

In Jesus’ day, plenty of people were ready to call him Lord, but far fewer were prepared to live as if they meant it. If Jesus is our Lord, he asks us to bring every area of our lives under his dominion. This is the nature of true repentance.

Those who simply want a free pass into heaven without surrendering their lives to Jesus’ lordship cannot truthfully call themselves disciples. Maybe they can claim the title of “believer,” but even that is suspect, if we translate faith as allegiance.

Conclusion

The New Testament makes it abundantly clear that salvation is by faith-allegiance to Christ in light of his finished work on the cross and his resurrection. Paul summarized:

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. 10  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)

I firmly believe in the doctrine of justification by faith. By placing our faith in Christ and his finished work, we partake of all the benefits of what he did and who he is. The Holy Spirit comes to live inside every disciple to begin a lifelong transformation process of conforming us to think, speak, feel, and act as Jesus. Jesus made it very clear, however, that wolves disguise themselves in sheep’s clothing.

Only God knows the heart. We must judge by what we observe. As Jesus said, we can know people by their “fruit,” in other words, by what they do.

True faith bears good fruit (the fruit of the Spirit, the results of our ongoing character transformation); whereas, a bad tree produces bad fruit. (Jesus’ own words) It’s important for us who claim the name of Christ to be fruit inspectors, beginning with our own tree. Do our lives match our profession? Do we live as if we truly believe that Jesus is Lord of Lords, or have we settled for something far less? What would happen if the entire church would start living as if we believed that Jesus is the coming glorious Son of Man instead of a mere personal savior? Why don’t we find out?

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Water Baptism: Our Pledge of Allegiance to the King

 

Water baptism is a public pledge of allegiance to Jesus the King.

One of the core parts of the Gospel is that Jesus fulfilled God’s promise to King David that one of his descendants would occupy Israel’s throne forever.

“When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13  “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” 2 Samuel 7:12-13 (NASB)

When Jesus rose from the dead, he was confirmed as the promised Davidic King, the Jewish Messiah, the glorious Lord of Lords, who now sits at God’s right hand, possessing all authority in heaven and earth and ruling over his kingdom until his enemies are completely subdued. One day he will come again as the glorious Son of Man in Daniel 7:13-14 to judge the living and the dead and share his glory and authority with those who declare their allegiance to him.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20  teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB)

The only proper response to make to such a Person is to give him our allegiance, trust, love, and loyal service.

An Old Testament Example of Pledging Allegiance

When David, the called and anointed but yet to be crowned king of Israel, was hiding in the wilderness to escape King Saul’s jealous and murderous pursuit, men began to recognize David’s leadership and calling and realized that he was the future king of Israel. They heard about Samuel’s prophecy over him and how that prophet had poured oil over his head to anoint him as Israel’s future king. They knew that David had killed the giant and led Israel’s armies to victory over her enemies. The Holy Spirit inspired many to join his rag tag band of believers in the wilderness.

One such man was a leader named Amasai, who approached David at his hideout. When David questioned his intentions, whether he came as friend or foe, the Bible says that Amasai was “clothed” with the Holy Spirit, which means that Amasai become a spokesman for God at that moment. What came out of his mouth was a huge encouragement to David on two accounts. Here is what he said, which has been recorded for our benefit.

Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said, “We are yours, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers! For your God helps you.” Then David received them and made them officers of his troops. 1 Chronicles 12:18 (ESV)

On the one hand, Amasai spoke words of affirmation and encouragement to David. He prophesied that God would give David and his supporters success (shalom) in every way – peace, prosperity, health, wholeness, and victory. When he said, “your God helps you,” he described perfectly one of the most important ministries of God’s Spirit, whom Jesus called the “Helper” in John 14:16. He is the one who is called alongside and now lives inside true believers to enable us to enjoy God’s presence and fulfill God’s purposes for our lives. David was in a very stressful and discouraging situation, and these words must have refreshed his soul.

In addition, Amasai’s words were a  declaration of allegiance to King David and a model for us with respect to King Jesus, David’s promised descendant. It was a threefold declaration of faith: an acknowledgement of David’s identity as king, a profession of loyalty, and a dedication to service. This is what it means to “believe” in our Lord.

Being a Christian is much more than agreeing with a doctrinal statement of faith: it is trust in and loyalty to the risen King.

The Gospel Call to Allegiance

A good Gospel presentation should include the declaration that after his resurrection Jesus ascended into heaven and now sits at God’s right hand as the reigning Lord of all, who will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. Peter preached these words to Cornelius in the first Gospel presentation to Gentiles with the promise that “everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:43) It should be clear that the belief to which Peter refers is that Jesus is Lord of all. Paul confirms this in his famous rendering of the essence of what it means to become a follower of Christ.

because, 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. 10  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)

We confess what we believe; so, if we confess that Jesus is Lord, it is because that is what we believe. Confession of Christ’s lordship presupposes that we properly respond as his subjects, which is to give allegiance, honor, trust, love, and obedient service to him. Those who do this are forgiven of their sins of disobedience and disloyalty to God and his Messiah King. It’s really very simple, but often misunderstood. We are not asked merely to confess that Jesus is our merciful Savior who died for our sins as God’s Lamb, but who does not require anything from us. Rather, we are told to confess that he is Lord, which presupposes our love, loyalty, and obedience.

Any Gospel presentation that does not major on Christ’s identity as the risen Lord is deficient. Our response to this amazing news must include a declaration of allegiance to the Lord, or we are little more than Christian consumers who are looking for a “get out of jail free” card.

When we confess that Jesus is Lord, we acknowledge his true identity, declare our allegiance, and devote ourselves to a lifetime of service, just as Amasai did toward King David so long ago.

Water baptism is our public formal declaration of allegiance to King Jesus.

It is one thing to privately ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, but something else altogether to seal it by being baptized in water. Have you stood up for Jesus in public yet?

Prayer

You may wish to pray the following as a prelude to taking the step of publicly declaring allegiance to King Jesus.

Jesus, I recognize you are indeed Lord of all, just as the Bible says. When you rose from the dead and ascended to God’s right hand, you became my Lord. I bow my knee to you and pledge my loyalty to you. I give my life to you to use me as you see fit. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life! Help me to tell others about this great Good News and help them to be disciples, too. Holy Spirit, fill me and empower me to live the Christ life and to be a fisher of men. Amen.

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The “Lite” Gospel Could Send Us to Hell

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

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

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

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?

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?

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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The Second Coming Is Fundamental to the Gospel

Christ’s Second Coming is an important tenet of faith for Christians and is fundamental to the gospel.

1971. That was the year that the Holy Spirit opened my spiritual eyes and allowed me to see that Jesus is who the Bible says he is. The result was that my life was fundamentally altered. Everything changed inside. My purpose for living became entwined with Christ’s plan for my life, which resulted in pastoring a small church for thirty-four years and teaching the Bible for many more. I have written a few books, too. When God reveals Christ to us, the impact is dramatic. Just ask Paul the apostle.

You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it. 14 I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors. 15 But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him 16 to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. 17 Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus. 18 Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. 19 The only other apostle I met at that time was James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I declare before God that what I am writing to you is not a lie. 21 After that visit I went north into the provinces of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And still the churches in Christ that are in Judea didn’t know me personally. 23 All they knew was that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!” 24 And they praised God because of me. Galatians 1:13–24 (NLT)

During the sixties and seventies, God orchestrated a gigantic in-gathering of people into his kingdom. Some called it the “Jesus Revolution,” during which thousands of so called “hippies” and others from that generation of “Baby Boomers,” as well as people from other age groups, became followers of Christ. Concurrent with that “awakening” was another “movement” called the Charismatic Renewal, in which thousands, if not millions, of people across a wide range of denominations and “non-denominations” received what many call the baptism and fullness of the Holy Spirit, complete with speaking in tongues, prophecy, and other manifestations of God’s Spirit. Many of those who came to Christ during that time became leaders in the church. What God did during that decade still impacts the church more than fifty years later.

One of the hallmarks of that ingathering was a profound interest in Christ’s Second Coming. People were fascinated with trying to piece together a proper sequence of future end-time events. Those who professed to know all about it worked out all kinds of charts showing their predicted scenarios. Many of us expected that Jesus would come very soon, just as did the early church.

The Gospel is the good news about a person named Jesus, who is the promised Messiah King of Israel. His grand mission is to reclaim and transform all creation under God’s rule. Jesus began his public ministry by proclaiming that “the kingdom of God is at hand.” The reason he could say that was because the King himself was then present on earth. Wherever king went, the kingdom was at hand. He introduced his kingdom rule into the lives of those who followed and believed in him by releasing them from the power of the devil and sin and calling them to follow him without reservation or hesitation.

His new way of living asks us to renounce all competing allegiances and surrender to his lordship in every area of life. This is what it means to follow Christ.

While he was here on earth physically, he was the epicenter of the kingdom of God and the focus of the messianic expectations of those around him. These expectations reached a crescendo when he entered Jerusalem on a donkey to the shouts of the crowd: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Those present proclaimed that he was the long promised successor to David’s throne – the Messiah!

Believing that Jesus was a spiritual and political threat, the religious and civil authorities put him to death, apparently dashing the hopes of his followers. But this was all part of God’s eternal plan to redeem us from our sins. The Messiah King first had to suffer and die in order to pay the penalty for our sins. Three days later our hope was restored when Jesus emerged from the tomb! For forty days he instructed his band of faithful followers in the things related to his kingdom. Then Jesus ascended to heaven to sit at his heavenly Father’s right hand upon the throne of God, waiting for his enemies to be made his footstool and for the appointed time for his return, this time as the victorious and glorious King of Kings, the Son of Man prophesied by Daniel, who will judge the living and the dead and put an end to every other rival kingdom. He will permanently install God’s long awaited rule over all creation!

The Second Coming will be the culmination of God’s grand plan to redeem and restore all things to himself through his Son.

On Pentecost the Holy Spirit was unleashed to baptize and empower Christ’s followers. The apostle Peter, filled with the Spirit, preached the first sermon in this new age of the Spirit-filled church. His conclusion is quoted below.

“So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” Acts 2:36 (NLT)

Peter’s listeners responded, “What should we do?” Why would they feel the need to do anything? It was because they realized that they were answerable to God for rejecting and murdering his Son, who, amazingly, was still alive and sitting on God’s throne!

Jesus’ resurrection made him the de facto ruler of the universe to whom everyone must answer.

Behind Peter’s words is the understanding that Jesus will come again as the glorious Son of Man to judge every human being and punish those who choose to reject his benevolent rule.

The gospel is an invitation to all who have previously rejected the Messianic King to finally get right with God by confessing that Jesus is indeed the LORD, who has risen from the dead and who will come again one day to judge those who reject his kingly authority.

In Acts Chapter Three, Peter again preached.

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. 20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. 21 For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.  Acts 3:19-21 (NLT)

The Gospel preaching of the early church was completely focused on the person named Jesus Christ, his lordship, and the Second Coming, which included the resurrection of the just and the evil, the last judgment, and the restoration of all things under God’s rule. It is no wonder that when this Gospel is preached, whether then or today, that those who hear and believe will become intensely interested in Jesus’ Second Coming!

The faith that saves is based on the Gospel revelation that Jesus is the Messiah King who is coming again to firmly establish God’s rule on planet earth.

Sadly, if all we do is present this glorious coming Lord as a “personal Savior” who rescues us from the consequence of our sin, it is no wonder that some people are not greatly moved and changed when they believe in him. A “personal savior” requires little or nothing from his adherents, but the glorious Lord of lords expects complete surrender from those who follow him!

Have we yet seen him for who he really is? Have we surrendered to him? Until we do that, we have not really known him.

Ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and heart, just as he did for those who heard Peter’s sermon so long ago.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, I ask you to reveal Jesus to me so that I may properly surrender my life to him. My desire is to know Jesus to the greatest degree possible and serve him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Amen.

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