We all have heard of the gospel, and maybe even accepted it. But a month, a year, maybe a decade later it becomes stale? Maybe it doesn’t change us? Why?
People have mixed the gospel with their own opinions and agendas. We can even center the gospel on us, making salvation dependent on our works. This is not the gospel.
Gospel is about being born again
“Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’”
John 3:5-7 NLT
It’s not about bad people trying to be good, but dead people meeting a savior.
The belief about Christianity is it revolves around the things you do. You have to follow rule and regulations, doing good deeds, and that would determine your salvation. But the gospel isn’t about turning bad people good, but dead people alive.
Setting you free
“Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.””
John 3:6-8 NLT
The gospel is a life you get to live. A life long journey if sanctification.
Many Christians pray a prayer, and fill out a form, and then are the same a month later. You are God’s dwelling place, a home of the Holy Spirit, where it works continually in you. It’s not about human effort attempting to be perfect, but the ongoing transformation from perfection.
The gospel is centered on Jesus
“No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.” John 3:13-15 NLT
The Israelites were plagued with snakes in their journey to the promise land. God instructed Moses to build a replica snake and attach it to a pole. Then all who looked at it would be healed. Jesus tells them the Old Testament was around him the whole time. Just as the s are was made to save the people, so was Jesus brought to save us.