Gospel

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But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. Philippians 3:7-8 KJV

Some best selling books written by Christian leaders would have us believe Christianity is all about us. It is about our purpose, our life and our wellbeing. Little is said about our sins, our fallen nature, the need for redemption and the pouring out of our lives to fulfill God's will and not our own.

In essence, they make it seem as if the Gospel is no longer about God or how He wants to shape us and mold us to be more Christ-like. Instead, it is about thinking positively, getting to know more people, being the best we can be, finding our own purpose and using our Adamic skills for God.

These modern day authors do not write about the glory of Christ. Instead, they follow the secular world and spend time answering the age-old questions of "Why am I here?" "How can I make me a better person?" "What's in it for me"

Thus, the gospel no longer seems to center around Christ. Instead it centers around us. It is about you and it is about me.

If you read many of the new writings from popular authors, you would come away with the idea that whether we have Christ or not, God is pleased with us. He adores us. And He only wants to give us His best.

Well, my Gospel says something different about those who are not in Christ. It says those without Christ are on death row, headed for judgment day. I see nothing in the Word that honors those who refuse Christ.

Now, don't get me wrong. God loved us enough to send His Son Jesus to die for us on the Cross. That's a great love for His creation. I would never discount this. No greater love has ever taken place. However, He did this, not for our sake, but for His. It's always been about Him. It's never been about us. And the fact that we can be better people by thinking more positively, acting better, making more friends or connections and never dealing with what is at the core of salvation is very misleading.

Christianity is not about making us successful or rich. It is not about five points and a prayer. It’s not about us. It is all about Christ and what He did for us. For we have nothing and are nothing without Him.

Paul didn't write about how we can profit in this life. He said all my education, and all my past deeds are all rubbish. They do not profit me. All for greatness of knowing Christ, I have lost all things.

Again, Paul writes, For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:� (Rom. 9:3 KJV).

The Psalmist writes, He maketh me to lie down in green F71 pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.� (Psa 23:2-3 KJV).

And even the forgiveness we have is not for our sake. The Lord said, "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.� (Isa. 43:25 KJV).

God calls us to a life of absolute surrender. I write this, not as one who can say I have attained this. There are things in my life I hate and God is working on them. But one thing I know, it is all about Him. It is not about us. His work of mercy is about Him. His forgiveness is about Him. His will for us is about Him. His purpose for our life is about Him. Our struggles are about Him. Even our surrendering is not our work, but His.

Andrew Murray writes, "God comes and offers to work this absolute surrender in you. All these searchings and hungerings and longings that are in your heart, I tell you, they are the drawings of the divine magnet, Christ Jesus. He lived a live of absolute surrender. He has possession of you; He is living in your heart by His Holy Spirit."

Yes, these contemporary writers want to make us feel good. They, who do not want to remind us about sin or our lost state of being, are not doing us a favor. They are not giving us the whole counsel of God. And in many cases, they are interpreting the Word rather liberally, in order to make their claims.

Paul warned Timothy about this very day. He writes, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables?" (2 Tim. 4:3-4 KJV). In essence, they will be re-inventing truth or teaching falsehoods.

Paul exhorts Timothy to preach in season and out of season. To preach the truth from God's Word. To rebuke, reprove, and exhort. He told Timothy to do this with all longsuffering and sound doctrine (2 Tim. 4:2).

In other words, Paul reminds Timothy to use the Word to convict, refute and expose sin. He was to use the Word to patiently correct and encourage others.

People wonder why our children have become so unruly. It's because we no longer refute, expose, convict and correct their behaviors. If our earthly children act like they do because we do not step up and do what is necessary to snatch them from the fires of hell, then how can we believe a gospel that only encourages will prepare us for the kingdom tha is coming?

This feel good gospel offers us a false sense of goodness without the need to deal with our sins. Without conviction there can be no change in our hearts. Without conviction we would continue to believe the gospel is about "you" and "me"rather than Him. And in doing so, we will have our ears tickled, while they, the enlightened feel good teachers sow their seeds of destruction.

1 Murray, Andrew, The Practice of God's Presence, p. 182, Copyright 1999 by Whitaker House, New Kinsington, PA

Lynn Sheldon is the Founder of GodFire Revival and Discipleship Outreach. This ministry distributes both nationally and internationally their Christian discipleship programs. They also develop Discipleship Models through their Faith ‘n Fire Power Schools: Visit http://faithnfire.org or Contact Lynn Sheldon: [email protected]

http://godfirerevival.org

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