Have you every read a familiar verse of Scripture but this time it sort of "jumped out at you"? If you know what I mean, it is as if you had never read it before because it has suddenly come alive in your spirit. Some of you recognize this as a "quickening" or a "check" in the spirit. That happened to me recently as I was reading in Romans 1:15, where the Apostle Paul says, "So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome". "You", in this context means---to the Christians. Was Paul wanting them to "get saved" again? No. So what's up with that?
Paul knew that if Christians do not have a revelation of the (complete) Gospel, we cannot grow spiritually to our maximum capacity. Paul knew that understanding the (complete) Gospel can heal the deepest wounds of our hearts and ruptured relationships. Paul knew for us to be the fullest expressions of Christ in this world, (the best human being possible) we need to understand the (complete) Gospel.
That is why He spent 11 chapters in Romans explaining the (complete) Gospel. What is very surprising is that in those 11 chapters, he does not tell Christians to "do" anything. He does give the greatest explanation of what God has not only done for us, but in us and to us, through our union with Christ. Then in chapters 12-16, he tells us how to live from our union with Christ. Would you like to know the essence of the (complete) Gospel? Here it is:
A. The (complete) Gospel is that we can be intimate with God because Jesus Christ is in us and we are in Him, to love us and to live His life through us. Galatians 2:20 says "'I' (the old sinner in Adam) have been crucified with Christ...nevertheless 'I' (the new creation) live, but Christ lives in me". Our new union and Source for living life.
B. The (complete) Gospel is that we can experience peace with God because He has forgiven our past, present and future sins. Colossians 2:13 says God has "forgiven us all our transgressions." Hebrews 10:17 says And their sins and iniquities I will remember no more."
C. The (complete) Gospel means we are defined by our identity in Christ (by what's been done for us, in us and to us (through our union with Christ), not by our past, the opinions of others, our professions or performance. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation."
D. The (complete) Gospel gives us the ability to conquer sin by living under grace instead of Law. Romans 6:14 says "For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace."
E. The (complete) Gospel frees us to love God beautifully, ourselves Biblically and others freely and boldly, (because we don't need anything from them because are choosing to allow Christ to meet all our needs).
I don't know about you, but I need to "preach" the (complete) Gospel to myself daily so that my focus remains on Jesus and what He has done for me, to me, and in me, through my union with Him, so He can live through me (meaning His character is revealed). But even more, all of us at GLI are passionate about sharing the "complete" Gospel with all of the Christians God is sending our way.
Have you been taught the "complete" Gospel? If not, contact us because we have several ways you can gain understanding through the Scriptures at our discipleship conference, personal discipleship, personal counseling, a grace group or our Advanced Discipleship Training, in a community environment. Life's too short. Contact us today.
Live Free In Christ,
Mark Maulding, President and Founder
www.GraceLifeInternational.com
All Content Copyright © 2012 Mark Maulding
Paul knew that if Christians do not have a revelation of the (complete) Gospel, we cannot grow spiritually to our maximum capacity. Paul knew that understanding the (complete) Gospel can heal the deepest wounds of our hearts and ruptured relationships. Paul knew for us to be the fullest expressions of Christ in this world, (the best human being possible) we need to understand the (complete) Gospel.
That is why He spent 11 chapters in Romans explaining the (complete) Gospel. What is very surprising is that in those 11 chapters, he does not tell Christians to "do" anything. He does give the greatest explanation of what God has not only done for us, but in us and to us, through our union with Christ. Then in chapters 12-16, he tells us how to live from our union with Christ. Would you like to know the essence of the (complete) Gospel? Here it is:
A. The (complete) Gospel is that we can be intimate with God because Jesus Christ is in us and we are in Him, to love us and to live His life through us. Galatians 2:20 says "'I' (the old sinner in Adam) have been crucified with Christ...nevertheless 'I' (the new creation) live, but Christ lives in me". Our new union and Source for living life.
B. The (complete) Gospel is that we can experience peace with God because He has forgiven our past, present and future sins. Colossians 2:13 says God has "forgiven us all our transgressions." Hebrews 10:17 says And their sins and iniquities I will remember no more."
C. The (complete) Gospel means we are defined by our identity in Christ (by what's been done for us, in us and to us (through our union with Christ), not by our past, the opinions of others, our professions or performance. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation."
D. The (complete) Gospel gives us the ability to conquer sin by living under grace instead of Law. Romans 6:14 says "For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace."
E. The (complete) Gospel frees us to love God beautifully, ourselves Biblically and others freely and boldly, (because we don't need anything from them because are choosing to allow Christ to meet all our needs).
I don't know about you, but I need to "preach" the (complete) Gospel to myself daily so that my focus remains on Jesus and what He has done for me, to me, and in me, through my union with Him, so He can live through me (meaning His character is revealed). But even more, all of us at GLI are passionate about sharing the "complete" Gospel with all of the Christians God is sending our way.
Have you been taught the "complete" Gospel? If not, contact us because we have several ways you can gain understanding through the Scriptures at our discipleship conference, personal discipleship, personal counseling, a grace group or our Advanced Discipleship Training, in a community environment. Life's too short. Contact us today.
Live Free In Christ,
Mark Maulding, President and Founder
www.GraceLifeInternational.com
All Content Copyright © 2012 Mark Maulding
