As I study the Bible I am impressed by how mysterious and beautiful the Gospel of Jesus Christ is. It is amazing to me that Jesus Christ died for all mankind, while we were sinners, and that all we have to do is respond in faith to step into a relationship with God that is abundant with grace (Romans 5:1-11). I don’t understand it all and I expect that on this side of eternity I will never completely understand the glory of Christ, but I appreciate it … and I believe in it.
Paul used the example of Abraham to illustrate how we are saved by faith rather than deeds.
Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness (Romans 4:3)
Notice what Paul doesn’t say. He doesn’t claim that Abraham understood it all. He never claims that Abraham understood how God was going to give him and his wife children as such an advanced age. The how was a mystery to Abraham; yet he believed God anyway.
In the same way, the Christian doesn’t have to understand how Christ’s act on the cross allows access to God … rather, the Christian need only to respond in faith. On my day of conversion I understood little about God, the Bible, or the debates within theological circles. I knew only one thing … Christ was beautiful and died for me. I understood that my acknowledgement of Christ’s sacrifice somehow allowed me to approach a God whom I had never believed in and ask for forgiveness. More than anything, I felt the overwhelming affirmation that God loved me and expressed that love through Jesus Christ.
As Christians, we often ruin the Gospel.
We make the Gospel message about so much more than the mystery of Christ. We add rules and superfluous beliefs to the mix. Here’s a top ten list of things we Christians love to add to the gospel of Christ:
- You must be a republican.
- You must be a democrat.
- You must be against abortion.
- Marriage is between one man and one woman. Homosexuals need not apply.
- The Bible is infallible in every sense of the word.
- All drinking, swearing, smoking, and any other visible sins must cease immediately.
- Divorced people are one step above sewer scum.
- Hell is a real tangible place and you’re in danger of being sent there every waking minute of your life.
- Let’s not even mention evolution.
- Prayer belongs in schools!
Make no mistake, Christ will shape how a person views every item on that list, but that’s not the point … here’s the point – it’s often not enough for Christians that an unbeliever would come to Christ … sure, we want them to come to Christ, but more than anything we want them to come to Christ while agreeing with us on every single issue. Isn’t it overwhelming enough for a nonbeliever to entertain the thought of Christ as Savior without being forced to make up their minds on every facet of life?
The Bible just tells the unbeliever to come to Christ in faith.
Without a doubt, salvation will eventually shape the way a believer sees everything in his or her life. My views on nearly every subject have done a 180 since Christ entered the equation; however, none of it happened on day one. Christ has slowly worked me. My views have slowly changed and I have become more graceful in my daily walk. I thank Christ for changing me and pray that He will continue to chip away at my person until I look more like Him.
I pray for those I love to have that same experience.
Just come to Christ in faith.
Beautiful.
Writer Clark D. Goble started this blog as a means to chronicle his imperfect walk with a Perfect Savior and invites you to join in on the conversation. He also invites you to check out the links to his work. Most often, Clark writes about Jesus and theology. He also enjoys writing fiction in a variety of genres.
Todd French is an information technology professional and a resident of Columbus, Ohio; where he shares a humble abode with his darling wife and beautiful daughters. His interests run the gambit from reading voraciously all forms of fiction to rooting for the Cleveland Browns.