It’s the greatest story ever told, and the treasure map is in the Bible.  That’s the Gospel. - Bob

Spirituality Column #850

February 28, 2023

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Preach the Gospel, Part 2

By Bob Walters

“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the Gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” Paul, 1 Corinthians 1:17

It’s the greatest story ever told, and the Apostle Paul knew the key was to keep the message simple, accessible, consistent, and reliable. Complexity kills accessibility.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is God’s announcement and invitation that sinful humanity, by recognizing and trusting the Lordship of His Son Jesus, is graciously forgiven and lovingly welcomed back into the eternal perfect garden of God’s Kingdom, rejoining our righteous Creator.  In the here and now, we are to love God and love others (John 13:34).

“Eloquent wisdom” may refer to the great human philosophers of biblical times – be they Greek, Roman, Hebrew, African or from the Far East – whose vain words were human pleas and propositions for truth and understanding.  Jesus surpassed all worldly knowledge and brought into humanity the righteous truth of God, i.e., the Gospel of Christ.

The Bible is indeed a treasure map guiding us to this divine gift. In toto, we have in scripture the game plan for our salvation.  Yet a few Bible highlights sparkle brightly …

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” Jesus’s message was love and faith, not condemnation.  We mustn’t love God to “avoid Hell” but for the joy of a loving relationship with God.  That’s the Gospel.

Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” “Repent.” Yes, shape up.  But “repent” actually means, “renewed thinking.” We must think like Christ, with humility, sacrificial love, and trusting obedience.  Better behavior helps us, but God already loves us.  That’s the Gospel.

John 14:6 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” The world imagines many “ways” to salvation, or maybe no salvation at all.  There is a path to God and one gate: Jesus Christ.  That’s the Gospel.

1 Peter 3:18 “…Christ suffered once for sin, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.”  Think about that: “suffered once.”  Our salvation is already achieved. Even in our fallenness, Jesus died to cover sin and heal our brokenness while restoring our lives in the Holy Spirit of God, “once for all.” (Romans 6:10, Hebrews 10:10).  Jesus did that regardless whether one believes it; it’s our gift to accept or reject. That’s the Gospel.

Psalms 16:10 “…you will not abandon my soul to Sheol (death), or let your holy one see corruption.” King David, in all his sin, is confident of God’s eternal protection, that God will not abandon him to death, and – unknown to David – prophesies of Jesus’s bodily resurrection.  Death is finally defeated in Christ.  That’s the Gospel.

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”  The gift of Jesus Christ is confidence in God’s reality, God’s grace, God’s love, and our restored relationship in God’s Kingdom; the Kingdom humanity once enjoyed in the Garden of Eden.  That’s the gift Jesus presents; the gift in faith we accept.  That’s the Gospel.

We call it “The Good News” and there is no other news like it.  Preach it boldly.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) notes a key stop on the treasure map: Acts 10:39-43.        

In any pulpit, "preach the Gospel" is simple and terrific advice.  But, where does one start? Or end? Here are some thoughts. - bw

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Spirituality Column #849

February 21, 2023

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Preach the Gospel, Part 1

By Bob Walters

“It is very hard for a man to defend anything of which he is entirely convinced.” – G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, 1908

My wife Pam and I provide a once-monthly Sunday church service at a Fishers senior center. She leads song, prayer, and communion; I do a 15-20-minute sermon.

Our long-time friend and pastor Russ Blowers (b.1924, d.2007), laid to rest in a nearby Fishers cemetery, has etched on his headstone below his name, simply, “Preacher of the Gospel.” This past week I thought, “Let’s do that: preach the Gospel.”

I was immediately stuck.  Where does one start?  Or end? I believe, know, live, and am entirely convinced of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I may doubt my understanding or the depth of my knowledge, but I don’t doubt the truth.  Chesterton’s point (above) is that we are surprised when we are questioned on things most obvious.

Like, why is civilization better than savagery? Why do you love your family? Your neighbors?  Your church? Your nation?  Why do you love Jesus?

Words fail us.  I can behold the forest … but I may not be able to explain a tree.

So, “preach the Gospel.” Ok.  Where does one start?  How about at the cross?

“Jesus died on the cross for our sins.” Yes, that’s certainly lesson number one.

But wait; Jesus was the son of God who died on the cross for our sins. 

But wait; Jesus was the son of God who, fully God and fully human, died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected.

But wait; Jesus, born of a virgin, was the son of God, fully God and fully man, who preached the truth of God’s love for mankind and God’s desire to restore us to fellowship in His Kingdom.  Jesus, hated by many, died on the cross for all humanity’s sin and sins – even the sins of those who hated Him – and was resurrected on the third day.  Jesus then sent the Holy Spirit – also God of the Trinity – to be our everlasting comfort until Jesus returns again to conquer Satan and restore God’s Creation to perfection. Jesus, son of God, was the perfect sacrifice of God’s sacrificial love.

That’s the Gospel truth.  With faith in Christ and trust in His identity, we are part of that plan; part of that Gospel.  That we are forgiven is icing on the divine cake and a necessary pre-condition to be alive in God’s righteousness.  But it is Jesus who saves.

Our faith isn’t the Gospel and the Bible isn’t our salvation; the person of Jesus Christ is the Gospel and the person of Jesus Christ is our salvation. The person of Jesus Christ is life and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is our treasure map back into God’s eternal Kingdom.

Beware the preacher trying to scare a wandering soul into the loving arms of Jesus by threatening the terrifying and deathly fire of hell.  Better to pursue God’s Kingdom by thinking about heaven with love, not hell with fear. That’s Gospel wisdom.

Better to know and live – now – in the love, forgiveness, and identity of Jesus.  Better to believe His truth, share His truth, live His truth.  Better to stake a claim in God’s Kingdom.  Better to embrace the fruits of the Holy Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) – against which there is no law, remembering Jesus fulfilled the law and God’s glory is the point.

Yes, shun sin and evil … but cling to Jesus.  I once asked a very wise friend if he feared hell.  He responded, “I don’t think about hell; I think about Jesus.”

Preaching the Gospel is revealing a relationship with God.  Convincingly.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) preached his Gospel message using Bible verses … more on that next week.  Btw … Bob’s “very wise friend” was George Bebawi.

Christians approach God constantly; non-believers do too.  And by the way, Happy Valentine’s Day!  But this isn’t about that. Have a blessed week … Bob

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Spirituality Column #848

February 14, 2023

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Approaching God

By Bob Walters

“Let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16

It’s easy for believers.  We seek God and find God.  We seek Jesus and trust Jesus. The Holy Spirit indwells our whole being.  The Bible makes sense.  Our prayers are heard.  Our hearts are calmed by the mercy and grace of the Lord.  We know there is a better place and a better life to come.

We feel it, we know it, we live it.  As much as we can, with love, we share it.

We love God and we love others.  We understand and stand on the solid ground of God’s love and righteousness.  The eyes of our hearts needn’t blink at God’s glory, and our arms embrace the love of Jesus as He embraces us and forever seeks us.

We know we are sinners: wicked, rebellious, and prideful by nature.  But in faith comes management of and thankfulness for God’s ultimate gift: forgiveness of sin and the resulting life of joy in service and sacrifice to the God of all Creation.  We can see His Kingdom from this shore, and feel the warm breezes of God’s love wafting even into this fallen world.  We trust His word as we trust the wind to bring waves.

The Bible is our deep well of inspiration, advice, peace, and reflection.  Since coming to faith some years ago I have yet to encounter a situation, gift, threat, danger, opportunity, or idea for which I could find no scripture verse for enlightenment or comfort.  God’s word, with God’s love and righteousness expressed in Christ, is perpetual truth.

That is what believers have; by God’s grace we own it.  And in God’s name we tell it, in obedience we share it, with courage we defend it, with love we grow it, and in humility, often with thankful tears, we appreciate it.  In prayer, we ask for more of it.

That’s what we have when we get bad news.  It’s what we have when we get good news.  Sometimes there’s no news and we can simply delight in knowing relationship with God, living our life as a continual prayer that others may come to Him, too.

Like an airplane pilot or ship captain navigating in fog by instruments and way points, believers in Christ have a trustworthy and true approach pattern for the Kingdom of God.  Through all the bumps, blindness, and fears, we needn’t doubt our landing place.

Yet … and this is what actually led me down this path thinking about “what believers have” … is the distressing fact of how many non-believers I know who have no “approach pattern” to God.  These are folks who cannot approach God because in their worlds God does not exist.  Or, they will not approach God because they are mad at Him, doubt Him, or in pride think humanity is somehow justified in dismissing Him.  Or worship something else.

It's rare to find a person who thinks they are already perfect, though I’ve met a few.  Almost everyone admits to sin, wickedness, evil, and that to some degree “they fall short” in some human, moral way.  What gets me isn’t just the not-so-nice believers I’ve occasionally encountered, but the truly generous, smart, kind, loving, and accomplished non-believers I’ve met: family, friends, neighbors, co-workers … whomever.  We all know someone we pray we could approach effectively to help them know it’s a winning move to approach God.

Starting with … God is really there.  Hebrews 4:6, above, prays that “we draw near to the throne of grace in time of need.”  I have an old friend, a life-long atheist, who is generous, smart, kind, loving, accomplished … and dying a difficult death.  I can’t quote scripture to him because he doesn’t believe scripture, but I pray for the words, love, and kindness to help him approach God in his short time remaining.  May our faith be infectious.  In our time remaining, we are all approaching God whether we like it, know it, believe it ... or not.

Of all the blessings believers can count, the ultimate blessing is to confidently approach God and know it is the ultimate winning move.  Help someone share that victory.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) lived his life for many years with no approach pattern.

 I am thankful to be forgiven in Christ, but I’m not sure what forgiveness feels like.  Plus, I know there is something more.  See the column below.  Bob

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Spirituality Column #847

February 7, 2023

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Forgive the Feeling

By Bob Walters

“…forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you …” – Jesus, Mark 11:25

We have a lively, mature Sunday school class full of prudent, Bible-savvy, loving, life-long believers and church leaders.  And then there is me.

I’m a late-to-the-faith guy who talks too much, but 21-years in (baptized at age 47 in 2001) I have pretty much merged into the life-affirming surety and joy in Christ these folks – and many others I’ve met – have known most of their lives.  Theirs is a weekly fellowship and witness I have been taught, and encouraged by, for more than 20 years.

A few weeks back I said something I believe fully but that obviously shocked the class; at least, it shocked Sandy.  I don’t remember what we were discussing but I made the sincere point that I can’t really “feel” forgiveness, even though I know I am forgiven.

Sandy – that’s her real name – is a caring, Bible-bearing servant of God who almost immediately, lovingly, responded (approximately), “You can’t feel forgiveness?  I think that makes me very sad.”  And I knew exactly what she meant – it was care, not criticism – but I could also sense the room’s general agreement with her and didn’t want to pull the discussion off in another direction … which I have been known to do. 

But it is true.  I think of my life given over to Jesus – I’m still a fallen sinner – and I can’t for the life of me figure out what forgiveness is supposed to feel like.  Further, I’ve come to believe that forgiveness, great as it is, is not the main point of our life in Christ.

God’s glory and our place in it, I am convinced, is the point of our life in Christ.

Jesus came to fight a very unusual war: to show us God is worth it, and we are worth it.  That was His mission.  Jesus’s emphasis more critically was our knowing that He is the Son of God, part of which is our knowing that only God can forgive, and our knowing we need forgiveness.  But salvation is a faith test, not a forgiveness test.

What I can feel, and what makes me rejoice, is the truth I know through the Holy Spirit: that the life, teaching, sacrifice, and resurrection of Jesus Christ tells humans we are created to be part of God’s glory. That’s what Jesus came to tell us, and to rectify.

It’s our faith in Jesus, not our having been forgiven, that truly opens the gate into the Kingdom of God.  No, we can’t enter the Kingdom as sinners because of God’s righteousness, and the sacrifice of perfect Jesus covers our sins; it’s His righteousness through which we enter the Kingdom.  I think our goal is entering the Kingdom, not “me being forgiven” so I can feel better about my life.  Life’s not about me; that’s not love.

What I am is thankful, grateful, humble, and utterly awed by the rescue mission Jesus undertook to bring believers back into relationship with God; I feel that love.

I don’t feel the forgiveness; I feel the relationship.  Because of Christ I don’t have to strain and fuzzily look through a glass darkly at a distant, mysterious hope.  In the living truth of Jesus, I live within the reality of God’s purpose: glory.  That truth is clear.

God created us in His own image – “God is love” (1 John 4:8) – to be part of His eternal glory, not so He could come forgive us at some later date by killing His son. 

Our greatest joy in this life, then, should model the life of Jesus by sharing with others God’s love and mercy for us … by forgiving them in obedience to God.

I may not know what God’s forgiveness feels like, but I surely feel the peace of knowing Heaven awaits, God is real, Jesus can be trusted, and the Holy Spirit abides.

Forgiveness, like love, is a divine joy when it is about others.  

Thank you, Jesus, and that’s all I have to say about that.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) loves Sandy and the entire E91 Logos ABF class.