The Gospel (What Is a Healthy Church?)

At the core of our faith lies a profound mystery - the gospel of Jesus Christ. This good news has the power to radically change lives, offering hope and salvation to all who believe. But what exactly is the gospel, and how does it continue to work in the lives of believers long after their initial moment of faith?

The gospel, simply put, is the good news of Jesus Christ. It's the message that God, in His infinite love and mercy, sent His Son to live a perfect life, die on the cross for our sins, and rise again three days later. This sacrificial act opens the door for all who believe to receive forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and eternal life.

But the power of the gospel doesn't stop at the moment of salvation. It continues to work in the lives of believers, transforming them from the inside out. As the Apostle Paul boldly declared in Romans 1:16-17:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'"

These verses reveal several crucial truths about the gospel:

1. It is powerful: The gospel isn't just a nice story or a set of moral guidelines. It is the very power of God at work in our lives.

2. It is for everyone: No matter who you are or where you come from, the gospel offers salvation to all who believe.

3. It reveals God's righteousness: Through the gospel, we see God's perfect character and His plan to make us righteous.

4. It is received by faith: From start to finish, our relationship with God is based on faith - trusting in Him and His promises.

The transformative power of the gospel works in three key stages:

1. Justification: This is the moment when we first put our faith in Christ. Our sins are forgiven, Christ's righteousness is credited to us, and we receive the Holy Spirit. It's a complete change of status before God. At that moment that we believe in the gospel, we were saved from the penalty of sin.

2. Sanctification: This is the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ. The Holy Spirit works in us, gradually transforming our thoughts, attitudes, and actions to align with God's will according to the truth of God's Word. Throughout this process we are being saved from the power of sin.

3. Glorification: This is the final stage, when we will enter into eternal glory to be with God and perfectly conformed to the image of Christ. At this point, we will be saved from the presence of sin forevermore.

The beauty of the gospel is that it doesn't just save us from something (the penalty of sin), but it saves us for something (a life of purpose and transformation). As we continue to live by faith, we should see evidence of God's work in our lives. The famous hymn writer John Newton captured this idea beautifully:

"I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I wish to be, I am not what I hope to be; but by the grace of God, I am not what I once was."

This ongoing transformation should affect every area of our lives:

1. Our minds: As we study God's Word, the Holy Spirit gives us new insights and understanding.

2. Our hearts: We begin to feel conviction over sin and a growing desire to please God.

3. Our actions: We start to live out God's commands, loving Him and loving others in practical ways.

The gospel calls us to a life of faith - not just believing certain facts about Jesus, but entrusting our whole lives to Him. This kind of faith isn't always easy. It means being unashamed of the gospel, even when the world mocks or rejects it. It means trusting God with our time, our resources, and our future. It means continually turning away from sin and toward Christ, even when it's difficult.

But as we live by faith, we begin to reveal God's righteousness to the world around us. Our transformed lives become a powerful testimony to the reality and power of the gospel. We may be the only representation of Christ that some people ever see - what an incredible responsibility and privilege!

It's important to remember that this transformation is a process. We won't be perfect this side of heaven, and our growth may not always be linear. There will be ups and downs, struggles and victories. But the key is to keep walking by faith, trusting that God is at work in us.

The gospel isn't just for new believers or for those moments when we feel particularly spiritual. It's the foundation for our entire Christian life. We never outgrow our need for the gospel. Each day, we need to remind ourselves of who God is, what He's done for us in Christ, and who we are in Him.

As we reflect on the power of the gospel, let's ask ourselves some challenging questions:

- Am I living as though I'm unashamed of the gospel?
- How has the gospel changed my life since I first believed?
- Am I continuing to experience the transforming power of the Holy Spirit?
- In what areas of my life do I need to trust God more fully?
- How can I more effectively share the hope of the gospel with others?

May we never lose our wonder at the gospel's power to save and transform. Let's continue to center our lives on this good news, allowing it to shape our thoughts, emotions, and actions. As we do, we'll find ourselves growing more and more into the likeness of Christ, revealing God's righteousness to a world in desperate need of hope.

Remember, the gospel isn't just something we believed once upon a time. It's the very power of God at work in us today, tomorrow, and for all eternity. Let's live in light of this amazing truth!