A Gospel Primer for Christians

     Milton Vincent is the Pastor-Teacher of Cornerstone Bible Church in Riverside, California. He has written a must-read book for every Christian. A Gospel Primer for Christians is a great aid to any follower of Christ. Vincent breaks down the book into 4 different secitons: Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily, A Gospel Narrative - Prose Version, A Gospel Narrative - Poetic Version, and Surprised by the Gospel. Vincent writes in the introduction:

     “…this booklet is based on the premise that all Christians should become expert in their knowledge and  use of the gospel, not simply so they can share it faithfully with non-Christians, but also so they can speak it to themselves every day and experience its benefits. In fact, if Christians would do more preaching of the gospel to themselves, non-Christians might have less trouble comprehending its message, for they would see its truth and power exuding from believers in indisputable ways.”

     We must strive to have the Gospel as “first importance” (1 Cor. 15:3) in our lives as Christians if we are to properly live the Christian life. This book is a great contribution to you cultivating that priority day by day.

Is the Gospel “good news”?

     As I made my way through John Piper’s God is the Gospel, there are a number of things that the Holy Spirit convicted me of. One of the main things that was brought to my attention is that I don’t ultimately view the Gospel as the “good news” that it truly is, and I think that there are many in the Church today that do the same thing. A lot of people will say stuff like, “We just have to share the good news” or “Go and preach the good news!” But, do we really believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is “good news”? I think that if we did, the majority of our church services, evangelistic efforts, and our own personal relationships with the Lord would be drastically different.

     In this book Piper’s overall point is that the Gospel is good news because God is the Gospel (hence the book title). What he means by this is that the news of the Gospel is good because of what it centers around: God Himself. Piper explains throughout the 179 pages of the book that the best thing the Gospel does for us, the most central part of the Gospel, is the fact that our faith in those truths bring us to God; the saving truths of Scripture allow us to come to God and behold Him and, as Piper would say, to “see and savor” who He is. This is the main thread that is woven throughout the book, and Piper shows how this is lived out in various aspects of our lives; I’ll let you read the book for yourself to get all the details.

       But why does this matter? Why is it so important to view the Gospel as “good news”? Well, I am convinced that the way that we view the Gospel dictates how its message will be preached and applied in our lives. So if I don’t see that the Gospel is good news because it allows me to behold my God (Isaiah 40:9), if I don’t see that “Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…” (1 Peter 3:18, emphasis added) then the Gospel won’t be shared, talked about, or lived out in a way that shows that. What you believe about the Gospel determines your behavior towards the Gospel. So without a deep, genuine belief in your heart that the Gospel is true and that the highest purpose of that truth is not to give you salvation, or forgiveness, or justification, but it’s to give you God and all other gifts of the Gospel flow from Him then that won’t be seen in your life. The Gospel is not good news because it makes us comfortable or wealthy, there is no evidence of that in Scripture, but the Gospel is good news because it opens the door for us to do what we’re made for: behold and know the almighty, sovereign, just, gracious God of the Universe. God, thank You that You have brough us to Yourself through the beautiful blood of Christ. Make the Gospel “good news” in the hearts of Your people.

    

The Unchanging Nature of the Gospel

    There are mornings when I wake up and for some reason I’m just not excited about getting into the Word that morning, or I’m just not looking forward to doing ministry that day. We all have days like these. There are other days when I’m the exact opposite; I wake up excited about having time to spend with the Lord and I’m motivated to live out what I learn from the Word. I’m not unusual in this sense at all; anyone who says that they wake up excited and can’t wait to get into the Word every single morning is lying. Also, there are times in my life when everything seems like it is going wrong. It’s as if it is impossible for one thing to turn out good for me. Once again, this is something that we all experience. In most cases, I end up allowing these circumstances to influence a negative outlook on the rest of life, especially my spiritual life.

     Looking back on how I’ve reacted to these feelings and circumstances, it just seems ridiculous to allow that which is temporal in my life to dictate how I view that which is eternal. It’s something that we all do. But I am so thankful to God that He doesn’t work according to how we feel. It’s not as if God becomes less of God just because we don’t “feel” His truth that day. God’s goodness doesn’t decrease just because our circumstances might not seem “good” to us. This tendency in our lives is a product of the culture that we live in. One of the main messages that flows out of our culture is to do follow your heart or just go with your feelings. We, as Christians, end up transferring this mindset into our spiritual lives and it distorts our view of God and His Gospel.

     But I urge you to cling to this truth: The truth and power of the Gospel are not dictated by how we feel about it or by what our circumstances may say. I have to preach this concept to myself over and over each day. Praise God that His Gospel of salvation is always true regardless of how we feel about it. Rejoice in the fact that no matter what your circumstances may be the Gospel is always powerful. Why is this? Because the Gospel is God’s Gospel. We serve a God that is immutable; He never changes. Therefore, the good news that is the message of our salvation will never change because the Author Himself never changes. God, thank you that You are eternal and thank you that Your Gospel that saves us is eternal. I am humbled by the fact that you work completely outside of us. You don’t need us, yet You choose to use us. “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” (Psalm 115:1).

“Where Have All the Men Gone?”

     Over at the New Attitude blog, Justin Buzzard has posted a must-read post on biblical manhood. He offers three short starting points for pursuing biblical masculinity in our lives. The three points are as follows:

“1. Establish a clear conviction of what it means to be a man from God’s Word. This requires effort and diligence in our study, prayer, and purposeful application. This is important because biblical masculinity undefined will inevitably become biblical masculinity unpracticed.

2. We must create and maintain an example worth following. We need to fight our sin, be doers of the Word We can serve our churches, our sisters, wives, children by being compelling examples of godliness (Philippians 3:17, Hebrews 13:7).

3. We must cultivate a holy ambition in our lives for the work of the gospel and kingdom work. We need to lead with zeal (Romans 12:8), to have a passion and unending enthusiasm to know Christ and the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3:7-12). This ambition should drive us to work hard and be courageous in the work of the Lord (1Corinthians 15:58) in the uniquely masculine ways God has called us to. “

     I love Justin’s point when he says, “…biblical masculinity undefined will inevitable become biblical masculinity unpracticed.” I think that’s so true and so evident in our churches today. Many people are asking the question of why guys aren’t stepping up to fulfill their God-given roles. I think one of the main answers to that question is because not very many guys have a solid, biblical understanding of what it means to be a godly man. Obviously, this is an area in which we as men will constantly be growing, but I think that gives us a place to start. In order for us to start living lives of biblical manhood, we must first define what biblical manhood is and where else are we to look except in the Word of God.

     There are some great resources that have been made available for this very purpose. I encourage you to visit CBMW’s Website (The Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood). You can read Justin’s full post here.

Comfortable Christianity

     The title of this post is a contradiction. The two words “comfortable” and “Christianity” have two completely different meanings. True Christianity is not comfortable; it’s anything but that. Do you think Jesus’ disciples were always comfortable as they followed their Savior? What about Paul? Was he comfortable as he traveled from city to city with the risk of death staring him in the face everywhere he went? This is something that the Lord has been teaching me lately: True biblical Christianity is not a call to be comfortable.

     Let me explain it this way. If we are truly pursuing Christ then the Gospel will be our highest boast at all times. As I look at my own life I see me boasting in the Gospel only when it is easy or when it is comfortable. If I’m only talking about the Gospel and sharing the Gospel when it’s comfortable then that’s not boasting at all; it’s nothing more than me flattering myself into thinking that I’m truly pursuing Christ. Exalting Christ and Him crucified means pointing to the truths of the Gospel with our words, thoughts, actions, and lives at ALL times, not just when it is convenient for us or acceptable to others.

I think it’s important to note when discussing this topic of comfort that our goal is not being uncomfortable. The end in our journey as believers is not discomfort, it’s treasuring and exalting God. The proper response to the realization that the message of the Gospel is on my lips just when it is comfortable for me is not to try and make myself uncomfortable. Jesus’ last words to His disciples aren’t, “Strive to be uncomfortable at all times,” but rather he tells them, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). So our highest priority as Christians isn’t to be uncomfortable; our highest priority is to advance the Gospel of Christ by the power of his Holy Spirit, and if that means being uncomfortable then so be it. God, grant your Church a holy boldness to share the good news of Christ who has brought us to you by His shed blood on the Cross.

The Reformation of the Church

     In his book, The Reformed Pastor, Richard Baxter gives some very valuable insight on how many people tend to view the reformation of the Church. Although these words were written over 300 years ago, they still speak volumes of truth to our present-day situation:

“Reformation is to many of us, as the Messiah was to the Jews. Before he came, they looked and longed for him, and boasted of him, and rejoiced in hope of him; but when he came they could not abide him, but hated him, and would not believe that he was indeed the person, and therefore persecuted and put him to death, to the curse and confusion of the main body of their nation…

…And the reason was, because it was another manner of Christ that the Jews expected; it was one who would bring them riches and liberty, and to this day they profess that they will never believe in any but such. So it is with too many about reformation. They hoped for a reformation, that would bring them more wealth and honour with the people, and power to force men to do what they would have them: and now they see a reformation, that must put them to more condescension and pains than they were ever at before. They thought of having the opposers of godliness under their feet, but now they see they must go to them with humble entreaties…O how many carnal expectations are here crossed!”

“Christians should be readers.”

     Over at the Desiring God blog, Josh Sowin has written a great post on the importance of reading in the life of the believer. I completely agree with Josh when he says, “Our culture has become aliterate. We have the ability to read but not the desire.” He goes on to write:

Reading is one of the best ways to develop our minds. It can help us to know God and ourselves, gain vicarious experience, increase our perception and imagination, train our minds to think critically and logically, and teach us self-discipline.

     I encourage you to read this post, and apply the principles presented to your everyday life. At the end of the post, Josh provides some great links to list of books that would be great for any believer to read. Reading isn’t just for pastors and theologians, I see it as an excerise for every believer so that we may better “love the Lord with all our…mind.” Check out the full post here.

New Attitude Conference 2007: Discernment

       I’ll be attending the New Attitude Conference in Louisville for the next couple of days. I’m really looking forward to the sessions that we’ll have throughout the conference; each session is on the topic of discernment. The speakers are Joshua Harris (discernment), CJ Mahaney (discern your heart), Al Mohler (discern your culture), Mark Dever (discern your doctrine), Eric Simmons (discern the graymatters), and John Piper (discern what pleases God: Himself and discern what pleases God: personal obedience). Bob Kauflin and his son, Devon, will be leading worship over the weekend. Here are a couple of blogs that will be liveblogging the conference:

• New Attitude Blog
• Tim Challies
• The Rebelution

The Exception

     After I posted my previous post on how the Cross of Christ and the truth displayed in that historic event negates all boasting in our lives, I realized that there was an exception to what I was saying. I think most of the people who read it understood that when I talked about boasting I was taking about boasting in ourselves–sinful pride. But I think that there’s one response to the truth of the Cross that is necessary to our lives as believers: boasting.

     There’s no doubt in my mind that I sound like I’m speaking out of two sides of my mouth, but let me explain what I mean.  The message of the Gospel nullifies all boasting in ourselves; our boasting is excluded by the law of faith (Romans 3). But there is one type of boasting that God permits, and even encourages, us to have in light of the Gospel. This is a boasting in the Cross itself. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians proclaims this truth, “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (6:14). Notice the word “except,” this signifies that Paul only desires to boast in the Cross and that alone.

     The question to ask is, “How do I boast in the Cross in my everyday life?” I think in order to answer this question we need to continue to look at Paul’s life. In most of his letters Paul writes to the different congregations about how he boasts about them, and how he boasts in his weaknesses, etc. Is Paul contradicting himself? No, because Paul sees the world through the lens of the Gospel. Paul sees all things in his life as “blood-bought gifts” (Piper). Paul knows that if it wasn’t for the death of Christ on the Cross then he wouldn’t have a church to write to, and if Christ hadn’t rose again on the third day he wouldn’t be convicted of his weaknesses. If the Gospel was a false message then Paul wouldn’t have had a Church to persecute before he became a Christian, and he never would’ve become a Christian after that. I say all that to say this, Paul sees all other boasting as boasting in the Cross of Christ.

     Is this how we see the Cross? Do we see all things in our lives as “blood-bought gifts”? Am I even seeking to boast solely in the Cross? The Cross “pours contempt on all our pride,” but are we only taking off the old self but not putting on the new self? We must do both; take off the past pride and arrogance in ourselves and things of this world, and put on the truth of the Cross and boast in that and that alone.

Why the Cross Negates All Boasting

     I am a prideful person. There are so many instances daily that my main focus is how I can be noticed and how I can get my name complimented and praised. If I was truly honest, I would admit that I want my own self and who I am to be lifted high and maginified. I think more highly of myself than I ought to; I’m consumed with self. Why do I say all this? Well, to ask for you to pray for me in this area, but mainly to expose this reality in light of the truth of the Cross. As I think on this truth, I don’t see any ground for my boasting. How can a man boast before the Cross of Christ? If you think about the Cross and what it means according to the Scriptures, there is no room to boast at the foot of the Cross. Yet, I continue to boast in myself; this is a result of not consistently preaching the Gospel to myself.

     There are a number of truths that can be seen in the work of Christ on the Cross, but there are two that the Lord has been constantly teaching me through His Word these past few weeks. One, God’s grace displayed on the Cross, and, two, man’s sinfulness displayed on the Cross.

     When we look at the truth of Christ being crucified on the Cross, God’s grace is put on full display. If you see the Cross but don’t see the grace of God, then I’m not sure what you’re looking at. The fact that a sovereign, holy, righteous God would send His Son, Jesus Christ, to a world full of sinners that would mock Christ and spit on Him, in order to save those very same sinners completely screams GRACE!! The only explanation for such an event is the grace of God. This undeserved gift of salvation through faith in the work of Christ is our eternal hope. The truth of Christ becoming a “propitiation by His blood” (meaning His death satisfied the righteous wrath of God, and, at the same time, covered our sins), and that we did nothing to earn this or to make it happen is a manifestation of God’s mercy and grace.

     Seeing the Cross not only means seeing God’s grace, but it also means seeing the greatness of our sin. “It was my sin that held Him there;” our sin was the reason Christ had to die. Christ’s death satisfied the penalty for our breaking of God’s law. But, the grossness of our sin is seen in the fact that it killed the perfect, spotless, blameless Lamb of God. See the nails in His hands and feet, the crown of thorns on His head, and the sword in His side– how sinful we are! We were right there with the crowds screaming, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” Our sins hammered those nails, our sins shoved the crown of thorns onto His brow, and our sins stabbed the sword into His side.

     The Cross displays both of these biblical truths. Our sin is great, but God’s grace “is greater than all our sin.” We are so wretched and depraved, but the God of our salvation is infinitely merciful and gracious. But we can’t leave Christ on the Cross; the Gospel wouldn’t be the Gospel if it wasn’t for the resurrection. Christ conquered the power of sin and death, and our souls can now have life through the power of His resurrection! May God continue to grow us in our knowledge of the beauty and depth of the Gospel.