What is the "gospel"? (Romans 1:16) If it is the "power of God" then I desperately need to know what it is, to believe it and to apply it in my life. (Galatians 2:20)
But the answer to this question, "What is the gospel?," can be presented in various ways, all of them correct. It is like answering the question, "What is the ocean?" You can answer that question by saying, "The ocean is the water you find lapping up on the beach at hide tide." Or you can answer the question by saying, "The ocean is the water you find one mile deep on the bottom of the ocean floor." Both would be true. The first is a "shallow or surface or simple or 'shore'" answer and the second is a "deep or complicated or 'floor'" answer. The first answer is simple enough for a child to understand (John 3:14-16; Acts 16:31; Luke 18:9-14) and the second answer is difficult enough to keep the greatest minds wrestling for their entire lives (Romans 11:33-36; 2 Peter 3:16).
On the 'shore' the gospel is simply what God has done in Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3-8) and what God has promised us because of what He has done in Jesus Christ (Luke 24:44-49). It is not what we must do or what our commit to Him must be. It is what He has done and what His commitment to us is (Hebrews 6:13-20; Genesis 15:17)!
The gospel is an ocean of grace. It is the good news of salvation (rescue from all that is bad and enjoyment of all that is good in God)by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone.
But there is so much more to be said and believed and lived out! It will take the rest of our lives to plumb the depths of the riches in Christ (Colossians 2:2-3). To God be the glory!
No comments:
Post a Comment