The gospel changes everything (Pt. 3): Humor and Joy

We're in a series where we will see how the gospel of Jesus affects every area of our lives. Each post will look at how the truth of the gospel changes how we view a certain aspect of life and its implication in our lives.

My wife and I are both big fans of comedy. Some of our favorite shows are pure comedic genius and throughout our marriage we've been able to share the joy of laughing together at Michael Scott, Leslie Knope, Joey Tribiani, or whatever character Melissa McCarthy is playing. 

Some people think that humor, laughing, and even joy don't (or shouldn't) have a place in the Christian life. But the gospel actually allows us to experience and enjoy humor unlike any other belief system or worldview. 

Rather than taking ourselves too seriously (like legalism and moralism often demand), the gospel allows us to constantly see how greatly we are loved, how much we've been forgiven, and frees us to bask in that great news. “When we should cry because of our sin, we laugh.” Martin Luther famously said. Rather than having a hopeless view of the future, through the gospel we know how it ends. Regardless of what horrible suffering or pain we go through, we know it isn't eternal, nor are we alone. 

Because of the gospel, we have confidence that our lives have meaning. We know that even the boring day to day activities of life are important and have real, actual, and eternal consequences. We're being used by the creator of the universe to bring about his Kingdom. Our words can truly bring life to others, both in this life and for eternity. 

Because we are saved by God's mercy alone, we have the greatest news in the universe as our reality. "It is a miracle that we are Christians, and the gospel, which created bold humility, should give us a far deeper sense of humor and joy. We don't have to take ourselves seriously, and we are full of hope for the world" -Tim Keller. 

Christians can actually laugh and experience joy without needing to naively turn a blind eye to the condition of our world. Through the gospel we know there is hope, we know God is in control, and we know his character. Instead of worrying, Jesus calls us to trust him and seek his kingdom.

No longer do we have to be anxious about our wealth, looks, success, health, reputation, or acceptance as if that is our sole identity. Through the gospel we are wanted, chosen, loved, kept, adopted, and accepted. When we remember that and begin to believe it, how can we not laugh more and experience great joy? When we remember that Jesus' kingdom and church are advancing and not even the gates of hell will prevail, how can we not rejoice and smile in thankfulness?

"Our doctrine of sin keeps us from being over-awed by anyone (especially ourselves) or shocked by any behavior. We find a lot to laugh at, starting with our own weaknesses. They don’t threaten us anymore, because our ultimate worth is not based on our record or performance. Our doctrine of grace and redemption also keeps us from seeing any situation as hopeless. This “ground note” of joy and peace makes humor spontaneous and natural." -Tim Keller

In the gospel, we know what God's will for us is. And it isn't a worry filled, stoic, joyless life. But rather: "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

SPENCER PETERSON / COMMUNITY LIFE PASTOR

The Gospel Changes Everything (Pt. 2): Our Identity

We're in a series where we will see how the gospel of Jesus affects every area of our lives. Each post will look at how the truth of the gospel changes how we view a certain aspect of life and its implication in our lives.

Recently my wife and I have been planning our son’s fourth birthday party. (Wow, how did he grow up so fast?!?) As we’ve been thinking about celebrating another year of his life, I’ve been remembering the first time I met him and how I’ve never been the same since.

I love my son more than I could have ever thought I could love someone, let alone someone I had never met before. As soon as I heard that first cry, my heart exploded with a new joy I had never known before. Immediately when I held him in my arms for the first time, I knew I would stop at nothing to protect him, provide for him and that he could do nothing that would stop me from loving him.

This week I’ve been meditating on the truth that if we’re in Christ, we have a heavenly father who loves us like this. And not an imperfect fatherly love but rather he loves us perfectly and fully. Now as Christians our identity is a daughter or son of the ultimate father. We’ll come back to this idea in just a minute.

As we continue to unpack our identity in Christ, we must begin with the foundation of the gospel. We spent some time in the last post defining the multifaceted diamond that is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

One facet of the gospel is that our identity goes from enemy of God to his adopted child and heir. Though we were his enemy, he forgave us and adopted us into his family. “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” -Romans 8:15-17

As a Christian our new identity is God's child, loved so much by him that he sent his son to die in our place so that we could be adopted into the family and become his heir alongside Christ.

As we view our identity in Christ as the adopted (read: chosen and graciously welcomed) sons and daughters of God, we can get a glimpse of his love for us and our relationship with him. (Now this analogy breaks down because we live in a fallen world and I am by no means a perfect father but it begins to beautifully and profoundly describe the Father’s love for us.) Just as my newborn son did nothing to be loved by me, we too are unconditionally loved by our heavenly father just because we are his children. The only thing my son had to do in order to receive my love was just be my son. He is loved not because he is perfect, behaves the way I want him to, or accepts me or my love. He is loved because he is my son.

God pursued us when we were spiritual orphans and chose us as his adopted children. He didn’t have to but he wanted to and it gave him great joy. And again when we are in Christ, our father calls us his heirs! We are adopted into the royal family and alongside Jesus we are given all the spiritual inheritance of our Father.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,” – Ephesians 1:3-5, 11

Because of God’s love, he chose (predestined) us from eternity past and graciously gave every spiritual blessing. I’m not sure everything that all entails but it sure does sound great! Just as my son doesn't have to worry about losing my love regardless of what he does or doesn't do, we as Christians can view God's love, grace, forgiveness, mercy, kindness and inheritance in the same way.

So if you’ve ever seen a great father loving his children or hopefully you even had a father who resembled this kind of love to some extent, remember that God the father loves you in not just a similar way, but in a perfect way. God has graciously given us the picture of families to help us understand the good news of the gospel.

Charlie will always be my son and he can be secure in that. And just like my son, you can rest in your heavenly father's unconditional love for you.

SPENCER PETERSON / COMMUNITY LIFE PASTOR

The Gospel Changes Everything (pt. 1): Our Identity

We're about to begin a series on our blog where we will see how the gospel of Jesus affects every area of our lives. Each post will look at how the truth of the gospel changes how we view a certain aspect of life and its implication in our lives.

Before we begin, it’s important to first define the gospel (a word that means "good news"). What is this good news that changes everything once we believe it? The gospel is often described as a diamond, having many beautiful and amazing facets. Very simply “the gospel is the word about Jesus Christ and what he did for us in order to restore us to a right relationship with God." Graeme Goldsworthy, According to Plan. 

Or a more descriptive and detailed definition: “the heart of the gospel is the good news that Christ died for our sins and was raised from the dead. What makes this good news is that Christ’s death accomplished a perfect righteousness before God and suffered a perfect condemnation from God, both of which are counted as ours through faith alone, so that we have eternal life with God in the new heavens and the new earth.” - John Piper

Now that we have a definition of the gospel, let's begin to see how this truth changes our identity.

Ephesians 2 tells us that before you and I were in Christ we "were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind" (Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV). What bleak and hopeless news, right?

But it doesn't end there. One of the greatest "buts" (note there is just one t in that "but") of the Bible comes in the next verse. Despite our natural condition as spiritually dead slaves to sin who were by nature children of wrath, God graciously chose to change that.  "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:4-10 ESV).

If you are in Christ you are no longer a slave to your sin. You are no longer dead in your sin. You do not have to follow the prince of the power of the air. You do not have to be controlled by the passions of your former sinful flesh. You are no longer a child of wrath. 

Instead you have been given a new identity. All those things I just listed are no longer who you are. Because of Christ's substitutionary sacrifice you are now alive with Christ. You have been saved by God's grace and mercy - not your hard work, your self-control, or your good deeds. By His grace you have been saved from eternal spiritual death and are now raised up with him and seated with Him. 

Just as an artist is proud of his or her great work when s/he finishes a masterpiece, we are called God's workmanship. Wouldn't it be ridiculous to give praise to a great song for being great rather than the songwriter who created it? It is the same with God, who made us new creations in Christ. 

Finally we are reminded that we've been recreated and renewed for the task of good works. These good works reflect this gospel rather than earn it. They were given to us, prepared for us, and created in Christ Jesus for us. Even our good works as new creatures in Christ is a gracious gift. 

Hiawatha Church: if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, bask in your new identity in him! Meditate on the gospel of Jesus Christ and remember who you are in him. Don't live contrary to the truth of your new identity in him. 

If you're new to all of this, just checking out faith, Jesus, and Christianity, you too can have this. By faith, you can move from spiritual death to spiritual life. You can be given freedom from slavery to sin. You can move from judgment to acceptance. Trust in Christ as the Son of God who came to bring you new life, repent of your sins, and walk in your new identity!

SPENCER PETERSON / COMMUNITY LIFE PASTOR