Around 2000 years ago, a Jewish Rabbi was subjected to the humiliating and dehumanising death of crucifixion outside the walls of Jerusalem. Having been buried in a rich man’s tomb, his death was seemingly short lived though as his closest disciples along with over 500 others (1 Corinthians 15:1-11) reported his bodily return. A proclamation – that this man named Jesus, died for the forgiveness of sins and then rose again, confirming that he is both God and King – was a proclamation that these people lived and died for. Quite literally, many giving their lives as they were unwilling to recant of their testimony and deny Jesus as Lord.
These events are at the center of a story, the true story, that is still being talked about today, and not just in a small part of the world, but across the globe. A story we refer to as the ‘gospel’ , the good news, that has and continues to transform lives.
This is what leads me to write this letter. If you are in Christ, the gospel has changed you in the most significant way. It has brought you from death to life; set you free from slavery and sin; made you who were guilty, righteous. You were judged as unholy, but in Christ God sees you as holy. You were a sinner, now you are a saint; an orphan, now a child of God.
Although the gospel isn’t just the way we enter Christianity—it’s the way we live it. It is the truth we walk by.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:1–2
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
We are saved by the gospel, and we are being saved by the gospel. God has transformed us, and he is transforming us into the likeness of Jesus.
As we apply the gospel to the real challenges of life, it counters the false stories we so often live by, and undercuts our false worship (idolatory). Replacing lies with truth, corruptions with the incorruptible Christ. Jeff Vanderstelt, in his book ‘Gospel Fluency’ helpfully reminds us that “we don’t change by behavior modification but by belief transformation.” By believing and living according to the truth.
We Fear → because we believe the story that “I’m not safe”
We feel Shame → because we believe “I’m not enough”
We strive for Control and are filled with anxiety → because we are trusting that “It all depends on me”
The gospel saves us from such stories by addressing the root of the issue, with the truth of God’s word.
What is the Gospel?
The gospel is the good news that God has redeemed rebellious humanity by sending his Son, Jesus, who paid the penalty of our sin through his death and restored us to eternal life with Him through faith. The gospel is grace to you, a sinner like you, and it is glory to God!
Maybe that’s a tad brief, here is a slightly longer version:
Creation
God is holy, loving, and good. He created the world and everything in it to reflect His glory. He made humanity—male and female—in His image to live in relationship with Him, to rule under His authority, and to enjoy His good creation.
Fall
Humanity rebelled against God by trusting our own way instead of His. Because of this sin, our relationship with God was broken, and sin and death entered the world. We are now separated from God and unable to save ourselves.
Redemption
Out of love, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to rescue us. Jesus lived the perfect life we could not live, died on the cross in our place, and rose from the dead. On the cross, He took the punishment our sins deserved, satisfying God’s justice. Anyone who repents of their sin and trusts in Jesus alone is forgiven, restored to God, and given new life—by grace, not by works.
New Creation / Glorification
Jesus will return to make all things new. He will judge sin fully and bring His people into eternal life with Him. Because Jesus, the second Adam, has won the victory, those who trust in Him have lasting hope, peace, and an unbreakable relationship with God forever.
Not enough, Here is a slightly longer-longer version if that helps!
Still not enough, here is the full version.
Becoming Gospel Fluent!
I write all of this to preempt you to the fact that over the next couple of months, we are going to be using our first few Men’s and Women’s studies to discuss how we can learn the healing balm of the gospel to ourselves and others. We need the ongoing grace of God, and we need it in community as we ‘speak the truth in love’ that we may all grow up into Christ.
Can I also endorse to you ‘Gospel Fluency’ as a means of learning how to speak the truths of Jesus into the everyday stuff of life.
Grace to you, Glory to God.