There is a misconception among many Christians these days that the gospel is for unbelievers and that believers move on to more "profound" things. It is absolutely true that the gospel is for unbelievers. We are to preach the message of Christ's life that brings us righteousness and his death that brings us forgiveness. We should urge unbelievers to heed the gospel's message and repent of their sin and turn to Christ. However, we are to preach the gospel to one another as believers as well. We never graduate from the gospel, but continue forward in our education and strive to become "doctors" of the message of grace - experts.
Biblical evidence for this is found in Romans 1:15 as Paul is beginning his letter to the church in Rome. He tells these believers, "So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome." Paul had not been to see the Roman Chrisitians. They had been evangelized and formed as churches by Paul's understudies, Paul had not been there to evangelize or meet the believers. Paul longed to go see the believers and share in the fellowship of Jesus Christ with them. Part of that fellowship was to preach the gospel to them, not because they didn't have it or know it, but because it is a message, the message, that must be repeated over and over again. The gospel must be shared by believers, to believers.
What does that mean for us today? It means that as believers we should be preaching the gospel to ourselves daily. It means we should be sharing it with our brothers and sisters in Christ in our homes, churches, and other places. The reason we keep preaching the gospel is that it continues to ground us in the reality of God in His holiness, justice, and power. It grounds us in the reality of the sinfulness that marks our lives and our complete unworthiness. It grounds us in the life-giving sacrifice of Jesus Christ who atoned for our sin by his death and it is the basis of our hope in his resurrection. We are grounded in the reality that he who predestined us, called us, he who called us justified us, and he who justified us will glorify us (Rom. 8:29).
This is good news worth repeating every day, even with believers.
Share this with others by clicking the buttons below
I might not speak in eloquence or moving words with regard to the gospel, as some might think should be in order to be told. In addition, I might be more near an elementary level than truly edified in the Bible. Regardless I am a Christian and it is my responsibility just as it is yours. Right or wrong it is a seed for others to be drawn closer to our King. Too much time is spent on living here and now verses eternity. In my journey back to Christ, the written word and gospel are the only thing capable of engendering true solace in my life here on earth. When I die I surely will be an unhealthy human being as well as a sinful broken individual. But none of this will ever stop me from being a Christian begging for forgiveness and doing all I can spreading the gospel.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAmen Andy. The gospel is the wonderful message that brings us to salvation and it is the wonderful message that keeps our hearts firmly rooted in Christ. What an amazing message that is! It took sinners like us and turned our hearts to our great God and King. May we always keep preaching to ourselves and others brother.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Erik