The Gospel is the good news that leads to all things new, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17.
It is more than the facts about the Gospel; it is the story of how God reconciles us to Himself through love, "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;" 2 Corinthians 5:18.
God wants us to come to Him just the way we are. He wants all of us; heart, soul, and mind, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." Matthew 22:37. Jesus died for us while we were still in our sins, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8. Once we learn how much He loves us, we can then love Him, "We love him, because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19.
When we love Him, our lives change, "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." Galatians 2:20. His presence in our lives leads us to live the way He created everything to work together for good, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28. The overriding principle that marks everything that leads to His way of life is love because He is love, "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." 1 John 4:8. Everything He thinks, says, and does is out of His unlimited love.
Therefore, we sin whenever we think, say, or do anything that does not abide in God's love, "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." John 15:10. Sin because it works against love and leads us away from God, who only does things that demonstrate His love, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." James 4:17.
Before Jesus came to show us how to live, we were dead in our sins, walking towards our death, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15. But Jesus came to save us by showing us what love is, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:17. Unconditional, unlimited, reckless love that draws us to the Father and His circle of love, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:44.
Sin is more than breaking His law, which was weakened by our flesh, "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:" Romans 8:3. Sin breaks our relationship with God, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Isaiah 59:2 and eventually breaks our relationships with others. The lures that lead to sin will steal, kill, and destroy everything we choose to love because only love can heal and nurture our souls, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10.
God created everything to work together for good, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28. We have responded by enjoying what He has made while telling Him we didn't need Him, "Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord." Jeremiah 17:5. We wanted to do things our own way, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 14:12. And so, we live in a dying broken world of our own making, "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." 1 John 2:17.
The good news is that we can repent (turn around) any time we choose to, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." Acts 3:19. When we do, He covers us in His love, and our lives begin to change, "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." Romans 12:2. He doesn't condemn us with guilt and shame—we do that ourselves. Instead, He continues to wrap us in His love, and our lives continue changing, "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18.
He tells us that all things are possible when we abide in His love, "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26. Life in Christ is the easiest and happiest way to live. It improves each year and continues for eternity.
Jesus is the only way to this better life, leading to peace, beauty, happiness, joy, and abundance, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6.
God has placed us in unique places throughout this world. This blog is about sharing His Word; please share it with those you believe would be blessed by hearing it. Bless you! If you want to receive the Quarterly Newsletter, email us at bill@reasoningwithgod.com. If you want to read past blogs, go to https://www.reasoningwithgod.com/blog.
Comments