“Along comes Jesus, who enters into my mess. He comes to me and calls me by name. He lifts my head and breaks my shackles, setting me free….”
Are you communicating a part gospel message or full?
In many churches we hear about the love of God and the forgiveness of sins available to us in Jesus Christ. We often hear that we are just miserable sinners in need of grace and that every week again, God is faithful and will forgive us and will carry us through despite our failures. Sometimes we even hear that we just need to try harder. This comes across as a heads-down gospel. And it can leave us exhausted and stuck.
While it is true that we have forgiveness in Christ and that God’s love is abundant — reaching to the skies, sufficient to cover any sin — and His grace is unfathomable, this messaging is only part of the gospel message. The life-infusing part is missing.
The full gospel is a heads-up, all-encompassing gospel. It is for all of life. Freeing, filling, and life-giving. It moves us from stagnate sinner to liberated saint. The full gospel is this: that Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross for your and my sins, and rose again on the third day representing new life available to us. {As we remember at Easter.} And then He ascended on high and poured out His Spirit to fill and equip His people with power from on high to do His work. To grow and change in the process.
We must be born again by water and the Spirit (John 3:5). To be born of water and the Spirit is to receive the sin-cleansing washing of God and a new heart within us.
Jesus even instructed His disciples to NOT GO anywhere until they would “receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” (Acts 1:4-5) They could not do His work without Christ’s Spirit in them.
Interesting too, is that the ministry of Jesus even began with the dramatic descending of the Holy Spirit on Him (Luke 3:21-22), and the Father’s echoing love for His beloved Son.
The full gospel includes forgiveness of sins AND new life in us through Jesus Christ by the power of His Holy Spirit IN US. We are forgiven AND made new. The Father now echoes His love toward us in and through Christ. We too, are now the beloved sons and daughters of God (1 John 3:1-3), working in His field in this world on the way to the next.
So many times we are reminded in the NT that we are IN Christ and that Christ is IN us. Paul testifies that we have moved from death to life, from dead to alive, from darkness to light, from Satan to God. We are a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come. Our position, our geography, our ownership has changed. We were lost in kingdom of darkness, but now we have been moved into the Kingdom of Light, into the family of God as His own possession.
We were chosen IN Christ (Eph. 1 says even before the creation of the world) — picked out, selected, while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). But with gospel movement, we were set free (Gal. 5:1), washed (1 Cor. 6:11) and placed in the family of God (Eph. 2:19), giving us new identity (Gal.2:20). Now as His holy and righteous people (for no unholy thing can be in God’s service, 1 Pet. 1:15-16) — clothed with the holiness and righteousness of Jesus (Rom. 13:14, Eph. 4:24), we are being built into a spiritual house (a picture of holy witness in an unholy world, 1 Peter 2:4-5) and are fully equipped through His Spirit (2 Cor. 1:21-22, 2 Cor. 5:5) to represent Him wherever we go (2 Cor. 5:20-21).
Heads up, on mission in all of life (Col. 3:17), with Christ in us…. the hope of glory. Him we proclaim (Col. 1:27-28). Our power, our purpose, and our boldness come through Him alone.
We can total commit to doing good works, prepared in advance for us. Fleeing sin and pursuing God. We must to step into them. God prepared them, so they’re good. And logically, we must keep in step with the Spirit walking in the holy, righteous, and good things we are called upon and equipped to now do with Christ in us.
We can face life in confidence. It doesn’t mean this life will be easy. Jesus reminds us, “in this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) It does mean that we are sustained with divine power to overcome all things that pertain to this life. We are partakers in the divine nature so that we can escape the corruption of this world and receive an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:3-11). But our life here is marked by obedience to Jesus. “If you love me, you will obey my commands.” Which is impossible, unless (you are getting the pattern by now) … unless we are filled with His Spirit (John 14:15-17).
So, we could sum up life with this simple energizing truth. “I can’t. But with Christ in me, I can.”
And then insert whatever challenges, hardships, setbacks, sorrows, decisions, and even joys you are facing.
And if that’s enough reading, you can stop here. You now understand the Gospel Movement that Many Miss.
But you can also keep reading to insert yourself into a little Easter story through the lens of Titus 2.
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Titus 2 Captures It
Let’s explore the gospel movement through the lens of Titus 2:11-15 NLT.
11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
In verses 11-13 it is noted that salvation is available to all. Not that all will be saved, but it is a message for all. And we who embrace this message are ones who have already turned (repented) from godless living and sinful pleasures. We have repented from these former ways and now live IN Christ who is our wisdom, righteousness and devotion (our reconciliation) to God (1 Cor. 1:26-31). Our heads are up because of the transformational empowering work going on inside of us (renewed by the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5, 6), keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the risen, ascended, ruling, sovereign King. We keep our eyes fixed there, heads up, while we do His work here, expectantly waiting and working.
Notice the recap in verse 14, which simplifies the gospel movement that many miss:
“He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.”
Jesus gave His life for us. For the very specific purpose to free us, cleanse us, make us His own (saints, or holy servants), set apart for specific purpose of doing His good work.
Insert Myself into an Easter Story
Imagine I was in the prison of sin. Shackled to the wall. Stuck in it, head down, dead to any life. Shackled amidst the mire and filth. Unable to change my condition. Along comes Jesus, who enters into my mess. He comes to me and calls me by name. He lifts my head and breaks my shackles… freeing me.
He helped to my feet and there I stood. Released from my shackles, free, but still filthy. But no sooner did He set me free, and Jesus began to cleanse me. “Your sins, your filth, are already taken care of, paid for.” He said. “I completed this work a long time ago.” And amazingly He cleansed me with what looked like blood! You’d think that would make me dirtier, yet this precious blood cleansed me… from all my filth and sin.
And there I stood again. Free, now cleansed, but… naked. And still in prison.
“Come follow Me,” Jesus said. “We need to get you out of this place.”
And so Jesus led me out of the prison and into the world.
“Oh, and you’ll need this.” Jesus said. “It’s your garment. From Me. It’s the clothing you’ll need now that you’re free. It’s a garment of righteousness. It works like armour. God’s armour. It will protect you, covering you from head to toe, because the world I’m placing you in for a time, is the realm where I am destroying evil and putting God’s redeeming love and grace on display — all for my Father’s glory. So the battle ground of this world will be intense. This will refine you. It can be a hostile place… but take heart, I have overcome the world.”
When we surfaced from the prison, it was lovely. So sunny and bright and attractive.
“Keep watch and keep alert.” Jesus warned. “Don’t be deceived by the things of this world. Much of this world is out to trap you and entice you and strip you of your garment. Then you’ll risk falling right back into the prison. You will need my covering. You will need to be totally committed. Not partially, but totally.
“Because in the midst of a hostile world, I am placing you. To be my ambassador, servant and witness.”
“Totally committed to what?” I asked.
“Totally committed to doing good deeds. This may sound impossible. And it is. Of yourself. But I have prepared good deeds in advance for you to step into… perfect deeds, holy deeds, amazing deeds, that you can accomplish now that you are free in me. You are now part of my holy family, and my holy family all receives part of Me… that is, my Father’s love, and my Holy Spirit filling. A consecration in Me. In Spirit power you can fend off sin, and walk in holy obedience.
“That’s what I told my disciples years ago — don’t go anywhere until you receive power from on high, the promised Holy Spirit. It is only in this power that you can do the things of God… witnessing to a lost world, and stepping into the good deeds I’ve prepared for you. Your life is now a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come. Walk earnestly in this newness of life.”
I further inquired, “So these good deeds… what do they look? How will I know what they are?”
“My Word is full of the things of God that one can do. But it always rests first in who you are in Me. Then observing the entirety of Scripture will give much direction to the new-life saint who rests in Me. Here are a few to get started:
- Go and make disciples of all nations, declaring the full gospel to them, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you, and baptizing them in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- Keep in step with the Spirit.
- Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it.
- Seek out the lost, and preach the gospel in its fullness to them.
- Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbour as yourself.
- Provide for the hungry and thirsty, welcome the stranger in, clothe the naked, visit the sick, visit those in prison.
- Take care of the widows and orphans.
- Whatever you do, work at it heartily as for the Lord and not for men.
- Keep your eyes fixed on Me.
- Be faithful stewards with all what I give you.
- Be content with what you have.
- Contend for the faith.
Do these things not in an attempt to gain eternal life – that’s already been granted to you. Do these things in faithful obedience and gratitude because you have been set free unto eternal life and now would want that your neighbour is set free as well.”
“Oh Lord, this sounds like too much for me,” I responded, “too much for anyone.”
Jesus replied, “Yes it does. If you attempt to tackle it on your own. That’s why I will dwell within you to enable you and to empower you to even greater things than these.”
And there I stood. Jesus left me, saying He had to go, but that He would not leave me alone.
And no sooner He left me and a great sound of rushing wind came about me, and I was overcome with power from on high. And so now I will go, totally equipped and committed to doing good deeds.
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Titus 2 finishes off: “You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them. You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so don’t let anyone disregard what you say.”
And so we go, encouraging and correcting in the power of Christ in us.
Correcting the Danger of a Part Gospel Message
The danger of communicating a part gospel is it gives way for people to accept their sinful inadequacy. Since they cannot do the things of God because they attempt them in their own strength, and fail, the part gospel message becomes, “Well, we’re all just sinners anyway — good thing for forgiveness in Jesus and that God’s grace is always more.” It is a shallow view of not being able to be obedient to Jesus Christ and His call of total devotion to Him with all of our life. And we end up in a default comfort position of hanging out in our sins thinking, “I’ll just ask for forgiveness. Good thing for God’s grace.”
Paul of course speaks to the contrary…. “Shall I go on sinning that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”
The full gospel message moves us from being stagnant sinners stuck in sin, to liberated saints (a communion of saints) walking in holy obedience devoted to God’s service.
Encouragement in the Full Gospel
We need the full gospel message proclaimed in today’s world more than ever! If you are hearing or communicating a part gospel, then bring it around to preaching and proclaiming the full gospel. Encourage others into full gospel messaging as well.
If you are hearing or communicating the full gospel, carry on fellow saint and praise others around you who do too! Step lively and keep in step with the Spirit. Stand up for Jesus together and heed God’s call to walk in obedience in Him.
When God our Saviour revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.
Paul to Titus. Ch 3:4-7
Top Photo by Mahdi Bafande on Unsplash
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