How Much Christ is in your Christianity? Part 3

Attributes of the Gospel

• The gospel preaches about the cross and the power of the blood.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace (Ephesians 1:7-8 NIV).

The power of the cross is in the shed blood of Jesus. In Jesus is our complete sufficiency for salvation. His blood purchased us from hell, death, and the grave. Without the cross, there is no payment for sin. Without the blood, there is no washing and redemption.

False gospels are no gospel at all and are received in many churches today. The blood is not being preached and is banned from being taught. This is no gospel as the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through repentance we are transformed because of the blood of Jesus.

The cross and especially the blood should be heard in teachings that are biblically sound as they are the foundation of our salvation. Know the Bible and “study to show thyself approved” (2 Timothy 2:15) so that you will not be deceived. The blood is precious and should be understood and taught. Thank you, Jesus, for loving us enough to shed your blood.

• The gospel of Jesus can be very offensive at times as it challenges the flesh.

Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life (John 6:61-64 NIV).

Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (James 1:15NIV).

Jesus didn’t come to minimize, rationalize, or have tolerance toward sin. Jesus had perfect communication and life skills that ranged from in your face confrontational to very gentle. He wasn’t concerned with offending He was concerned with saving your life.

He was God in a human body and He knows that the consequences of sin are death. Hence, He loved you enough to pay the price for you on the cross. To suffer horribly and die so that you might live if you but repent.

If I watched you take a handful of candy coated arsenic would I be silent? Would I say, “Well if you think you really want that candy.” Or should I boldly warn you. Sin destroys and if you live a compromised life you do not bear the image of Christ.

Jesus was never soft on sin because sin destroys.  A church that legitimizes sinful lifestyles, twisted sexuality, and behaviors of compromise is leading people to destruction. The gospel confronts sin and charges us to submit the flesh to God.

• The gospel of Jesus Christ balances holiness and love.

Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash (Matthew 7:21-27 NIV).

Jesus lived in accordance with righteousness and never compromised the Word. The offensive bluntness of His message against sin comes from holiness that is born from His love for you.

Truth sounds like hate to those who hate Truth.

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name, drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

When Jesus returns, He is coming for the formation of Christ within you. He is not looking for self but Himself in you and that is all that He will recognize. This thought brings you a deeper perspective of His words when He says, “I never knew you,” and “I don’t know you.”

 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV).

We are to love what God loves and hate what God hates. He loves righteousness and hates wickedness and sin. He hates that which brings harm and destruction that is contrary to His character. Balancing your love with holiness means don’t throw out holiness and call it love. Jesus loved enough to confront wickedness and sin with Truth because sin destroys. How much do you truly love if you ignore that which will destroys? Do you balance your love and holiness?