The Gospel is becoming unrecognizable, we need to look back in order to move forward
A simple but effective way to share the Gospel is through the ‘four spiritual laws.’ Written in 1952, it’s still widely used by evangelicals. But as knowledge peaked to new heights, it lost its appeal to the children of the internet. The enemy watered down the Gospel.
Today, it’s easy to be called a Christian. Say the “sinner’s prayers,” accept Jesus into your heart, and voila—you are a son of God! Daily repentance, the need to work out your salvation, became optional. After all, we are saved by grace.
Philippians 2:12
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
WE MUST WORK OUT OUR SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING.
1. Pluralism replacing the Gospel
In 2021, a survey by Probe Ministry showed that almost 70 percent of born-again Christians believe one can get to heaven through Jesus Christ or another religion. In short, Jesus is not the only way to heaven, and the gospel is one of many options.
2. The Gospel never evolved
The Gospel has never changed or evolved. But some preachers have made it unrecognizable. Worse, woke churches have destroyed it by ordaining women and transgender pastors into the pulpit. After all, God loves us unconditionally.
Influential preachers like Ravi Zacharias, Bill Hybels, and Mark Driscoll, to name a few, have brought shame to the body and trampled the blood of Jesus—and they proclaimed themselves saved by the Gospel.
Hebrews 10:26
Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.
3. Coloring the Gospel with shades of gray
Jordan Peterson said, “In order to be able to think, you have to risk being offensive.” The New Testament repentance is about changing one’s mind; something superstar preachers avoid because it’s an inconvenient truth.
They avoid that part of the Bible that is offensive to sinners, even though God makes no excuses for how He judged people in the past—even annihilated them.
They avoid that part of the Bible that is offensive to sinners.
4. The cheap gospel of ‘hypegrace’
In cheap grace, preachers talk lavishly about blessings, the reason Joel Osteen is so popular. You will not hear him say anything offensive to sinners like you and me.
In Asia, Joseph Prince, author of Hypergrace, (wrongly) claims we must not preach the Ten Commandments because they kill. It has become offensive! Like the charismatic Steven Furtick, these vibrant preachers have created another Gospel.
For Prince, the idea of the Christian life is to be “effortless.” But for Peter Tan Chi, “A matured Christian life is not difficult—it is impossible!”
The Gospel is offensive to the one who refuses to submit to God’s Holiness
Decades ago, Christians need not point out that abortion, same-sex marriage, porn, or unmarried couples living together was a sin. Today, many Christians don’t even find these sins offensive: pastors need to preach repentance.
Repentance
It is a turning from sin and—along with Faith—is a constitutive part of Christian conversion. It is also a necessary part of the ongoing Christian life. Repentance is best seen as including both intellectual and affective components. [Gospel Coalition]
The most terrifying truth in the Bible
The Gospel points towards God’s love. But He, being good and loving, is perhaps the most terrifying truth in the Bible. In Luke 18:19, Jesus asked, “Why do you call me good?… Only God is truly good,” He said.
That verse meant that if only God is good, we are objects of wrath because all of us have gone astray and turned to our own way (Isaiah 53:6). Yet, God still gave us a way to escape hell.
Share in the suffering of Christ
Remember, the evidence of your faith is when you love God by loving others. Faith without work (the work of helping others) is dead (James 2:14-26).
The life of a true Christian is never effortless. Our trials make us partners with Christ in His suffering (1 Peter 4:13). But rejoice, The Lamb of God has overcome the world! (John 16:33).
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