The Gospel Purpose
Oswald Chambers wrote about alone-time with God in his devotional, My Utmost for His Highest. When God gets us alone through heart ache and we are speechless, and unable to ask even one question, then he will begin to teach us. The disciples didn’t understand the answers to their questions until they received the Holy Spirit. We cannot understand the problems and questions of others until we’re alone with them. Likewise, until we’re alone with Jesus, we cannot quiet our own hearts to hear one on one what he has to say to each of us individually.
The important thing is to understand the purpose of the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sometimes we don’t understand because of poor teaching. Other times it’s because of apathy. However, there are two foundational verses in the scripture that answer the questions about the purpose of the gospel. One is Galations 2:20. The other is Ephesians 2:8. Many of us have memorized these verses. The question is, “do you understand these verses?”
According to the King James Version of the New Testament, Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Some organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous were founded on the truth of scripture. Their 12-step program came directly from biblical fundamentals. Like the AA program, the constitution of the United States was also built on the truth of scripture.
John Lynch describes the purpose for the gospel in his book “The Cure.” According to John’s illustration, there are two paths. One path says, “please God.” The other says, “trust God.” The first path leads to the room of good intentions. It contains passionate immaculate people. However, this room is masquerade party where everyone wears a mask. The unspoken message here is that God loves you, but he disapproves of you when you mess up. Most days you receive an “atta Boy.” Other days he condemns you for having missed the mark. After a while, you come to the realization that everyone in the room is hiding behind his mask. When no one is looking, you slip out the back disillusioned at the hypocrisy. The road takes you back to the fork in the road. The other path is the road of grace. This road leads to a room of messy people. Everyone in this room talks about their failures and shortcomings. However everyone in this room believes that God loves them and likes them even when they mess up. In this room even though everyone confesses his failures, God is in the room. He smiles and says, “I’m big enough to handle anything that comes up. I’m wildly in love with you ,even on your worst day. I just want you to love me no matter what. You can love me when you experience my unconditional love for you.”
The average guy feels unworthy, guilty, and ashamed because he is. However, the essence of God is unconditional love. For even while we were dead in trespasses and sins, Christ died for the ungodly. Jesus came not to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved. He took our sin and nailed it to his cross. When God sees us he doesn’t see the filthy robes of our sinful flesh. Instead he sees the righteous robes of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17-18 says, “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one (Adam); much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.). 18. Therefore as by the offence of one (Adam) judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus Christ) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”
Sin is missing the mark. However, we’re forgiven not because of our righteousness but because he who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him. We’re righteous not because of who we are but because of who he is.
The world says that we’re justified and made righteous because of our works. The culture says, “You get what you work for…life is a meritocracy based on good works.” However Ephesians 2:8 says, “by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.”
The context of this verse says in Ephesians 2:1-2, “AND you hath he quickened (made alive,) who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. As the apostle Paul said, “O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this dead body?” According to Ephesians 2 verses 4-5: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”
Upon salvation, God breaths new life into those who are born again of his spirit. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Salvation is not because of who we are but because of who God is. Jesus said blessed are the meek and humble, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the poor in spirt, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
James 4:17 says, he who knows to do right and does not do it, to him it is sin. God has given his word so that we have a standard for righteousness. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Christianity is a rescue effort for desperate men. Therefore, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repent means to change direction. It means to turn from the will of my sinful flesh to the will of God. Jesus said before he raised Lazarus from the dead, “I am the resurrection and the life. Though he were dead yet shall he live.”
David repented after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba. He wrote Psalm 51 from a broken and contrite heart of repentance. He said, “HAVE mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” David continued in verses 10-12: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”
The gospel message is the good news of salvation. Even though sin means to miss the mark, the emphasis of this word is not on “missing” but on the mark itself. Therefore I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. It’s not about what we do but rather for whom we do it. Therefore whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it heartily as unto the Lord and not unto men.
The question is, “do you want to spend the rest of your life learning to become just like Jesus?” It’s not about me, it’s about him. Galatians 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Our worth, our value is not in our own flesh. Our value is in him alone. Therefore as the Apostle Paul said, there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus… We have been made righteous according to the spirit of God in Christ in us the hope of glory. According to Romans 12:1-2: “I beseech you therefore brethren that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy (and wholly) acceptable unto Him, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
We are not what the world says we are…we are what God made us in Christ. We rejoice not in our sin but because of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. We rejoice in him alone…He is the object of our affection… Our reasonable act of worship…
May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael