Followers

12/29/23

The Gospel of Costly Grace
from Dietrich Bonhoeffer
 
Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again . . . .

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It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: "ye were bought at a price," and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us.
 
Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.
 
118 words
 
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 – 1945) was, says Wikipedia, “a German Lutheran pastor, theologian and anti-Nazi dissident who was a key founding member of the Confessing Church.” The quotations above come from his 1937 book, The Cost of Discipleship.
 
The words I found especially compelling from Bonhoeffer about the gospel of costly grace are these. “It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner.”
 
Many today want a grace that accepts the sinner by excusing sin, as if God doesn’t care about sin, as if it costs God nothing to forgive, as if there is no expectation that we repent and seek transformation. Bonhoeffer called this cheap grace. True grace is costly because it “cost God the life of his Son.”
 
Bonhoeffer’s resistance to the Nazi government was borne out of his loyalty to Jesus, and it cost him dearly. He was executed in the final days of the Nazi regime. He fulfilled what has become perhaps his most famous quote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
 
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please leave them below.
 
Next post: January 2, 2024, “Reign of the True King” from Tim Mackie
 
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12/26/23

The Word Became Flesh
from John, a friend of Jesus

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:1-5, 14, NIV

98 words

Years ago I met and had a conversation with one of my favorite authors. It’s as if I already knew him from his books and articles, which I had quoted many times. I admired his courage to ask the hard questions, even when he didn’t know where they would lead.

As it turned out, this author was all I expected and more. I found him to be humble and personable and genuinely caring. Then I introduced him to a crowd of about a thousand, eager to hear him speak.

The Word of the Old Testament had already taught us that God is perfectly just and merciful, righteous and holy, faithful and unfailing, slow to anger and abounding in love. In the Hebrew scriptures we learned what God hates and what God loves. We discovered the holiness this holy God desires from us. We meet a God who would rather bless than curse, forgive than punish, restore than destroy.

In Jesus we meet the Word in person. “The one and only Son” is the fullest expression of God. In him we see God’s glory face to face. He is all we expected and more.

E. Stanley Jones, the renowned Methodist missionary a century ago, said that John 1:14 was perhaps the most important verse in the Bible. He wrote an entire book, The Word Became Flesh, with 364 devotionals based on that one verse.

In the Old Testament God’s presence was made known to the Israelites, veiled in a dense cloud at the sacred tent called the Tabernacle. Now, God’s presence is made known to us in the unveiled tent of flesh in the person of Jesus.

And we have found him to be “full of grace and truth” (NIV), “full of unfailing love and faithfulness” (NLT). And the good news is that God is like Jesus.

I welcome your comments below.

Next post: December 29, 2023, “The Gospel of Costly Grace” from Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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12/22/23

Mercy from Generation to Generation
from Mary, the mother of Jesus

“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
    and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
For the Mighty One is holy,
    and he has done great things for me.

"He shows mercy from generation to generation
    to all who fear him.
His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
  He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
He has brought down princes from their thrones
  and exalted the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
  and sent the rich away with empty hands.
He has helped his servant Israel
  and remembered to be merciful.
For he made this promise to our ancestors,
  to Abraham and his children forever.”

128 words; Luke 1:46-55 NLT

I contend that Mary and/or her family members were among the eyewitnesses Luke interviewed before composing his “orderly account” of Jesus’s life (Luke 1:2-3 NIV). The first two chapters of Luke’s Gospel reflect Mary’s point of view, while Matthew’s Gospel puts Joseph center stage of the birth narrative.

Mary’s song is historically called the Magnificat from the first word in the Latin translation. You will find parallels here to Hannah’s song, who praised God for her miracle child (1 Samuel 2:1-10).

The first part of Mary’s song is personal, praising God for what he has done for her. She isn’t specific about that, but the angel Gabriel and her cousin Elizabeth have already let us know what God has done. She is a “lowly servant girl” who will forever be called blessed for being, as Elizabeth says, “the mother of my Lord” (Luke 1:43).

Then Mary begins her OMG. Through her son the Messiah, our merciful and mighty God shows favor through all generations to “all who fear him,” to the humble and hungry.

In contrast, God brings judgment upon “the proud and haughty,” princes (not known for being humble) and the rich (who are never hungry and are rarely generous with those who are). This reversal is common in Luke’s Gospel where the oppressed and outcast are, in God’s kingdom, lifted up.

No wonder Timothy is instructed to tell rich Christians “…to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others” (1 Timothy 6:18 NLT).

If the gospel we proclaim does not sound like good news to the poor, forgotten, abandoned, hungry, and oppressed, then it’s not truly the gospel—or at least not all of it.

Next post: Tuesday, December 26, “The Word Became Flesh” from John, a friend of Jesus

Please comment below. Thanks.

-st




 

 

12/19/23

Receive Abundant Life
from Wes Johnson

It is revealed in the Bible that God wants each person to live an abundant, purposeful life with God.  God’s design for your life is to walk with you, through the Holy Spirit, to guide and strengthen you to live humbly, yet confidently for God’s purposes. 

You receive this full abundant life by first, trusting Jesus’ death on the cross has saved you from a self-centered life which darkens your vision to God’s ways.

Secondly, by trusting Jesus’ redemption will keep transforming you into the person God created you to be until your desires are the same as God’s desires.

100 words

Wes and I were introduced to each other last month by a mutual friend. He is pastor of Living Hope Family Church of Sebeka, Minnesota. He is also founder of Grace3 Ministries, “proclaiming holiness of heart and life.”

You can tell Wes has put a great deal of reflection into this OMG. He states the goal of the Christian life in a few ways:

  • “to live an abundant, purposeful life with God,”
  • “to live humbly, yet confidently for God’s purposes,”
  • to be transformed “until your desires are the same as God’s desires.”

I appreciate the bookends in this OMG, “God wants” in the first sentence and “God’s desires” in the last. The gospel starts and ends with God.

He outlines two steps to receive this “full abundant life” (John 10:10). First, we experience justification by “trusting in Jesus’ death.” I like how Wes describes our sin and idolatry. He calls it “a self-centered life which darkens your vision to God’s ways.”

Second, “trusting Jesus’ redemption will keep transforming you.” He avoids theological jargon and makes the goal of sanctification accessible.

I love hearing from you! Please add a comment.

Next post: Friday, December 22 “Mercy from Generation to Generation” from Mary, the mother of Jesus

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12/15/23

Hide and Seek
from Bracken Sheldon

Like a game of hide and seek,
but we each got lost the longer we looked
for a place to hide.

Lost in perfectionism.
Lost in work.
Lost in public opinion.
Lost in an escape from reality.
Lost in family politics.
Lost in being better than the Joneses.
Lost in pleasure.
Lost. Lost. Really lost.

I AM seeking.
Looking where you wandered.
Looking where you fell.
Looking with eyes of love.
Looking with a heart of compassion.
Until you are found in Me.
Until your wounds are healed.
Until you are safe in My Arms.
Lost no more.

98 words

I met Bracken years ago when he was a teen in my brother’s youth group. For a while I got to be his pastor, and I count him as my friend. After some stints as a pastor and other occupations, Bracken is now aiming toward ordination next year in the Church of the Nazarene. His calling is to be an evangelist and to strengthen churches in renewal and evangelism.

Bracken’s OMG reminds me I am so lost that I cannot fathom how lost I am. But I am never so lost that God cannot find me.

For those who may not be familiar, “I AM” refers to Yahweh, the name of God in the Old Testament, usually translated with all caps as LORD.

This OMG points us to Jesus who says, “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11). “…the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10:3).

“And when he has found [his lost sheep], he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders” (Luke 15:5). Or as the Shepherd says in this OMG, “…safe in My Arms. Lost no more.”

Please leave a comment below.

Next post: Tuesday, December 19, “Receive Abundant Life” from Wes Johnson

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12/12/23

Grace, Hope, Mercy Where None Should Be Found
from Rachael Denhollander

Should you ever reach the point of truly facing what you have done, the guilt will be crushing. And that is what makes the gospel of Christ so sweet. Because it extends grace and hope and mercy where none should be found. And it will be there for you.

I pray you experience the soul-crushing weight of guilt so you may someday experience true repentance and true forgiveness from God, which you need far more than forgiveness from me—though I extend that to you as well.

87 words

Occasionally, I will stray from posting the OMGs of only pastors and professors, and today is one of those. These words were spoken in court by Rachael Denhollander to Larry Nassar, the former doctor at Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics who had sexually abused her and dozens of other girls. While calling for the maximum penalty for Nassar at his sentencing, at one point Denhollander looked him in the eyes as she spoke these words. You may want to read them again now.

I found the quote above in Joshua M. McNall's book, How Jesus Saves: Atonement for Ordinary People. The full transcript of her heart-rending but compelling testimony can be found on CNN’s website.

God’s wrath is also good news. Justice will ultimately prevail. In the sentence before this quote, Denhollander says to Nassar, “The Bible . . . carries a final judgment where all of God’s wrath and eternal terror is poured out on men like you.” And yet she offers him the gospel, which “extends grace and hope and mercy where none should be found.”                                                                                                              
Perhaps this is how the Apostle Paul felt when he humbly confessed, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15).

What’s your reaction to Rachael Denhollander’s OMG? Share a comment below.

Next post: Friday, December 15, “Hide and Seek” from Bracken Sheldon

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12/8/23

The Greatest Love
from Fr. Jayden A.M. Hagood

For many Christians, the Old Testament can be a minor hang up for the New Testament. However, Jesus summed up the whole of the Law and the Prophets in 53 words in Matthew 22:37-40, but take note there is only one thing they have in common, love.

What does Christ teach us that love is?

The answer, John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Following that, we are met with the Cross of Calvary, where John 15:13 played out to its fullest, and we learn of the good news of God’s love for humanity.

106 words

I knew Jayden when he was a teen at my church in Lincoln. Since then he has become ordained in the Old Catholic Church of the Americas, part of a movement that separated from the Roman Catholic Church in 1874. Old Catholics share similar beliefs with Roman Catholics, except they do not require clergy to be celibate and do not believe in papal infallibility and supremacy. Jayden is a bishop-elect and serves congregations in Lincoln and North Platte.

The good news is always an announcement, and the foundation of that announcement is, as Jayden says, “God’s love for humanity.” This love was supremely demonstrated in Jesus and his willingness to die on the cross for us. The Apostle Paul says succinctly, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NIV).

We must never proclaim a gospel that does not lift up God's love for sinners. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).

Thoughts? Encouragements? Complaints? Share your comments below.

Next post: Tuesday, December 12, “Grace, Hope, Mercy Where None Should Be Found” from Rachael Denhollander

-st




12/5/23

Gospel for Toddlers and Elephants
from Timothy Keller

The gospel has been described as a pool in which a toddler can wade and yet an elephant can swim. It is both simple enough to tell to a child and profound enough for the greatest minds to explore.

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If I had to put [the gospel] in a single statement, I might do it like this: Through the person and work of Jesus Christ, God fully accomplishes salvation for us, rescuing us from judgment for sin into fellowship with him, and then restores the creation in which we can enjoy our new life together with him forever.

98 words

Tim Keller died in May of this year after a prolific career as a Presbyterian pastor, speaker, author, and apologist. The two quotes above are taken from the article, “The Gospel in All Its Forms.” It’s an important piece for expanding our understanding of the gospel.

Keller contends that “…there must be one gospel, yet there are clearly different forms in which that one gospel can be expressed,” and he cites how the Apostle Paul presented the gospel differently in various contexts.

He also adds, “Theoretically, grasping the full outline should make Christians interested in both evangelistic conversions as well as service to our neighbor and working for peace and justice in the world.” 

The ultimate destination of the saved is not a disembodied eternity in heaven; it’s a restored creation, where heaven and earth are united in holy community. And if God plans to restore creation then, certainly he wants us to join him in that work now. The vision of a restored creation is part of the gospel.

Hope you’ll leave a comment.

Next post: Friday, December 8, “The Greatest Love,” from Jayden Haygood

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12/1/23

"Second Adam”
from Charles Wesley

Christ, by highest heav’n adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come,
offspring of the Virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity;
pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Come, Desire of Nations, come,
fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conquering seed,
bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Adam’s likeness now efface,
stamp Thine image in its place;
Second Adam from above,
reinstate us in Thy love.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

100 words

Set to Felix Mendelssohn’s tune, my favorite Christmas carol is Charles Wesley’s, “Hymn for Christmas-Day,“ known to us as “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing.” I always smile when I hear it at the end of It’s a Wonderful Life, and it was a staple at my Christmas Eve services. Charles was John Wesley’s younger brother and wrote the lyrics to more than 6500 hymns!

Here we have two of Charles Wesley’s verses, though the latter may not be familiar to you. It was included in the new hymnal, Our Great Redeemer’s Praise, which is where I found it.

The third line strikes me as odd, “Late in time behold him come.” Was Jesus late? Wesley would never have said that. It simply means the arrival of the “incarnate Deity” marks the beginning of the last days.

The latter stanza also refers to Jesus as “Desire of Nations,” citing Haggai 2:7, “And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come” (KJV). Jesus meets our deepest desires, when he sets up residence within us.

The third and fourth lines take us back to God’s curse upon the serpent in Genesis 3. Jesus is the seed of the woman who will bruise (crush) the serpent’s head. Then in lines 5-8 Adam is the representative of humanity, and we each bear his sinful likeness. But Jesus has come as the second Adam (1 Cor. 15:22, 45), representative of the new creation and a new humanity, so that we may bear his righteous image and be reinstated into right relationship with God.

This hymn has so much gospel in it! Thank you, Charles!

Please leave a quick comment below! Thanks. 

Next post: Tuesday, December 5, "Gospel for Toddlers and Elephants" from Tim Keller

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11/28/23

“Many Religions, One Gospel”
from E. Stanley Jones

All religions teach man's search for God -- the Gospel teaches God's search for man. Therefore there are many religions, there is but one Gospel. You do not find God at the topmost rung of the ladder of worthiness, having climbed it rung by rung. You find Him at the bottom-most rung of the ladder. He comes down the ladder in incarnation to us and offers us salvation, not as those worthy of it, but as sinners. "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." He offers us redemption in a nail-pierced hand -- offers it free!

98 words

Wikipedia identifies E. Stanley Jones (1884 – 1973) as “an American Methodist Christian missionary, theologian, and author.” He lived during my great-grandmother’s generation. Of his books I’ve read, the one that impacted me most was his daily devotional, Abundant Living. I also appreciated his biography of Mahatma Gandhi and his autobiography, A Song of Ascents. The quote above is from his book, Conversion.

Jones was known for his roundtable discussions with people of other religions in India where he served as a missionary. He had great respect for people of other faiths, but he was thoroughly Christian. He knew that the gospel is unique. The world’s religions are about climbing to the top of the ladder to save ourselves. The gospel is about God climbing down the ladder to save us sinners.

We must always proclaim the gospel and its power to rescue and transform us. If we don’t, Christianity will devolve into just another religion where we attempt the impossible, to make ourselves worthy.

If you’ve been blessed by the OneMinuteGospel blog, please leave a comment below.

Next post: Friday, December 1, “Second Adam” from Charles Wesley

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11/24/23

“What Is the Gospel?”
from N.T. Wright

[Jesus] is now Lord of the world, and he summons all people everywhere to live under his Lordship, which means turning away from idols, i.e., repenting from sin and the idolatry which causes it, and trusting him. 

Not so that we can escape this world and go somewhere else called heaven, but so, as he establishes his sovereign rule on earth as in heaven, we can be already, in the present, gospel people—people who are, in our own lives, living, breathing advance examples of the new creation which he is going to bring about.

95 words

N.T. Wright is my favorite Bible scholar and theologian. He’s an Anglican and served for a while as Bishop of Durham, but most of his life has been spent teaching and writing over 70 books. He has written devotional commentaries on the entire New Testament in the For Everyone series. You will also find his many videos on YouTube. I often listen to the podcast Ask N.T. Wright Anything.

Today’s OMG is a quote from Wright’s five-and-a-half-minute video, “What Is the Gospel?” I urge you to watch the entirety, because my quote leaves out some important context, such as how Jesus sees the good news through the lens of Isaiah 40-55.

Notice that Wright does not talk about atonement. Though that’s important, he focuses on the good news that through Jesus, God has begun to reign.

I invite you to write a comment below. 

Next post: Tuesday, November 28, "Many Religions, One Gospel" from E. Stanley Jones

-st





11/21/23

“Tell the Story of Jesus”
from Dr. Scot McKnight

The earliest Christian gospel was to tell the story of Jesus. It was to tell the story that Jesus lived, that he died at the hands of sinners unjustly, that God overturned his death and raised him from the dead, that he ascended, and that he is coming back to rule.

So, the gospel was first and foremost to tell the story of Jesus. It wasn’t to tell the story of how to get saved, although this story saves people. It was instead to tell the story about Jesus. “Jesus is the King”—"Jesus is the Lord”—is the central gospel affirmation of the New Testament.

106 words

Scot McKnight is an ordained Anglican and professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary (American Baptist) in Lisle, IL. Among his more than 50 books is The King Jesus Gospel. I’m not personally acquainted with McKnight, but I appreciate his work.

This OMG is a quote from a Seven Minute Seminary video from Seedbed, where McKnight traces his clarified understanding of the gospel, based on 1 Corinthians 15 and the sermons in Acts. You can watch the entire video here

He claims that the gospel is bigger than an offer of personal salvation. It’s the announcement of who Jesus is, of what he has done and will do. I believe McKnight gives us an important word for our time.

Next post: Friday, November 24, “What Is the Gospel?” from N.T. Wright

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11/17/23

“Only Jesus Alone”
from Isaac Chua

The world was broken
Sin entered in
Death and destruction
Surrounded within
But God did not choose
To leave us alone
He sent His Son
Jesus Christ to atone

Jesus
Jesus
The way, the truth, and the life
Only Jesus alone.

Jesus came to this earth
Fully God fully man
He walked as one of us
So on Him we could depend
His sacrifice on the cross
Paid the price once and for all
So now we are free
Forgiven evermore

Jesus calls us to follow Him
Obeying and trusting
He brings healing and joy
With peace surpassing understanding

Amen.

100 words

Isaac and I became acquainted as pastors serving in the Great Plains United Methodist Conference. Today he is the pastor of the Wellington Methodist Church in Wellington, Kansas.

I love that Isaac composed his OMG as lyrics to a song. He has never performed this song with anyone – until now. This is the premiere! Click on the video window below to listen.

In the first stanza we find that “The world was broken . . . But God did not choose to leave us alone.” Jesus, “fully God, fully man,” was sent as the atoning remedy to our sins. The result is freedom and forgiveness. And by following him in obedience and trust, Jesus “brings healing and joy with peace . . . .”

Perhaps Isaac’s song will give the gospel a hearing with those who would otherwise ignore it.

Next post: Tuesday, November 21, “Tell the Story of Jesus” from Dr. Scot McKnight

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11/14/23

“Good to Bad to Good!”
from Rick Just

The Christian faith? Good News, Bad News, Good News.

The good news? Genesis 1 reveals that in the beginning God created all things good. All of creation, including relationship with God and each other, was very good.

The bad news? Genesis 3 reveals that sin led to pain and heartache, even death. Relationship with God and each other was broken with no way on our own for it to be restored.

The good news? God provided a way for our relationship with him and each other to be restored (John 3:16). Because of faith in Jesus, we are given new life, for now and eternity. All is restored! Sounds like good news to me!

114 words

I got to know Rick Just when we were United Methodist pastors in the Great Plains Conference. Today he is pastor of Asbury Church, a Global Methodist congregation in Wichita, Kansas. I know Rick loves God, his family, Jesus, and the church. He’s also an avid bow hunter.

Rick’s OMG presents a memorable three-point outline. The first good news proclaims a good God who created us to give and receive love. The bad news comes from a rebellious humanity who “exchanged the truth about God for a lie” (Romans 1:25).

The final point presents good news of a restoration in that broken relationship made possible by Jesus and received by those who put their faith in him. This is the subject of the entire Bible from Genesis 3:15 on, where God pronounces the serpent’s future, that the offspring of woman “will crush your head.”

Next post: Friday, November 19, “Only Jesus Alone” from Isaac Chua

Please leave a comment below!

-st




 

 

11/10/23

“Jesus Is Lord of All”

from Corey Jenkins

Christ Jesus: From everlasting to everlasting, He is the Word of God Who came to live among us, being born of the Virgin Mary.  

He showed us how to live and love, then died according to the Scriptures for our salvation.  He arose again, taught us even more about love, then ascended to God the Father.  

Because of His willing sacrifice, God gave Him the name to which every knee will one day bow.  He is Lord of all, to the glory of God the Father, and will come again to gather His faithful people!

95 words

Corey and I have been acquainted for at least 20 years as United Methodist pastors. Today he serves the Sidney Global Methodist Church in Nebraska. His favorite pastime is riding his motorcycle on the lonely highways of the Nebraska panhandle.

Corey’s OMG puts Jesus’s title first. Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ. Some notable Bible versions are translating the word simply as king: King Jesus. Corey points to Jesus’s deity, referencing Psalm 90:2 and John 1:1, “…from everlasting to everlasting you are God” and “the Word was God” (NIV).

Then Corey outlines the story of the four gospels from Jesus’s miraculous conception to his ascension. This is the heart of the gospel message. Then he turns our attention to the future when “…every knee will one day bow” to Jesus, who “will come again to gather His faithful people.” Jesus has prepared a glorious eternity for us, because “He is Lord of all.” That’s good news!

Next post: Tuesday, November 14, “Good to Bad to Good” from Rick Just

-st

 


 


11/7/23

“The Whole Revelation of Jesus”
from John Wesley’s sermon, “The Way to the Kingdom”

The gospel (that is, good tidings, good news for guilty, helpless sinners), in the largest sense of the word, means, the whole revelation made to men by Jesus Christ; and sometimes the whole account of what our Lord did and suffered while he tabernacled among men.

The substance of all is,

‘Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners’; or

‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, to the end that we might not perish, but have everlasting life’; or

‘He was bruised for our transgressions, He was wounded for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.’

112 words

John Wesley lived his entire life in the 1700s. Under his leadership and the power of the Holy Spirit, a massive spiritual movement took hold called Methodism. Wesley was an evangelist, and the method of Methodism was his way of turning converts into disciples.

In the opening sentence Wesley equates the gospel with “good news for guilty, helpless sinners.” We need the gospel, and it’s just what we need! You will not hear the gospel as good news until you realize who you are and what you need.

Wesley lifts up two important New Testament uses of the word “gospel.” One refers to all that Jesus said, his “whole revelation to us.” The other refers to all of Jesus’s life, “the whole account of what our Lord did and suffered.” When we tell others what Jesus said and did, we are sharing the gospel.

Then Wesley quotes three Bible verses, each of which summarizes the gospel: 1 Timothy 1:15; John 3:16; Isaiah 53:5. I encourage you to look them up in your own Bible and commit them to memory.

Please share your comments below. I’d love to hear from you!

Next post: “Jesus Is Lord of All” from Corey Jenkins

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