The Gospel Changes Everything (Pt. 6): Witness

March 17, 2017

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.

"The gospel is not just the ABCs but the A to Z of the Christian life. It's inaccurate to think the gospel is what saves non-Christians, and then Christians mature by trying hard to live according to biblical principles. It is more accurate to say that we are saved by believing the gospel, and then we are transformed in every part of our minds, hearts, and lives by believing the gospel more and more deeply as life goes on." -Tim Keller

In this series, we've been trying to do just that. We're trying to see how the gospel doesn't just get our sins forgiven and an eternal destination with Jesus, although it does do that. But it also is the means by which we are transformed in every area of our lives, hence the name of this blog: The Gospel Changes EVERYTHING.

Apart from the gospel, most people fall into two views when thinking about witness (and by this I mean sharing one's faith/proselytizing/evangelizing). The first way to view it is through a legalistic, moral, or ethic lens: "I must witness because I'm right and they're wrong." The second way to view it is through a relativistic lens: "I can't witness because that would be wrong." Let's unpack these two views and then see how the gospel changes our view of witness, gives us a third and better way.

With the moralistic view, I witness because I am enlightened and correct and you are not. Have you ever encountered this person (or maybe you've been this person)? Even if what they're saying has some merit or is intriguing, most people can rarely get beyond the offensive and arrogant presentation. And often the motivation of the evangelism is not love but rather superiority.

In the pragmatic or relativistic view, there is no true religion or faith out there thus there is no need to evangelize. Or they might say that religion is good for the individual but it should stay private as to not offend anyone. Or they might say that all religion is true and all paths ultimately lead to the same place. All three of these responses look down on witness. In this worldview, one should not witness at all.

But the gospel frees us from both having to witness out of guilt and also from not being allowed to witness. We are naturally compelled to share the gospel. Not because we have to as a chore. Not holding back because it is taboo. But out of the generosity we've experience in Christ, the Spirit prompts us to want to share that. In an ever greater way than someone who gushes about a new movie or restaurant they've experienced, Christians can't help but tell others about the freedom, forgiveness, and love they've experienced in Jesus.

"Our dealings with others reflect humility because we know we are saved only by grace alone, not because of our superior insight or character. We are hopeful about everyone, even the 'hard cases,' because we're saved only because of grace, not because we were people likely to become Christians" (Tim Keller).

Apart from the gospel, we can be terrified that the eternal destination of someone's soul rests in our sinless example or perfect argument. If we don't reflect Christ perfectly, they might reject the gospel. If I don't have an answer to every potential question or if I stumble on my words, they might reject Jesus. I distinctly remember being paralyzed thinking these exact thoughts. But the gospel frees us from the burden of thinking is is all about us. Jesus is the one who saves. It is the Spirit that melts hearts of stone. It is the Father who woos lost people to himself.

And I can't screw that up. Not with my, at times, hypocritical life. Not with my weak or unrehearsed presentation of the gospel. God is sovereign over salvation and even though he chooses to use us to be a part of that, we cannot thwart his grace. Isn't that great news?!? It is out of that great news that we can feel free to witness, evangelize, and share the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection with a humble confidence.

So be free in the gospel to witness, share your faith, and evangelize those who don't know Jesus yet. You don't have to. You're not going to lose your salvation if you don't. But you're invited to join the King of the Universe on his rescue mission. He's called you to share and herald the greatest news this world has ever heard! Salvation is possible. Forgiveness of sin is possible. Reconciliation with God is possible. True and full life (both now and for eternity) is possible. The renewal of all things is possible. And it all comes through Jesus Christ! Let the power and beauty of that gospel compel you to want to spread that news to as many people as He lets you!

SPENCER PETERSON / COMMUNITY LIFE PASTOR

The Gospel Changes Everything (Pt. 5): Forgiving Others

March 3, 2017

I know for many Christians, the gospel is seen as the door one enters to get into Christianity. But once one is through that door (has become a Christian), they move on to bigger and better things. Things like inductive Bible studies, mission trips, apologetics, spiritual disciples, theological training, or fighting for social justice just to name a few.

Now to be very clear, all of these things described are great and should be valued by Christians. But the mindset of the gospel only being the door into Christianity is incorrect. As Pastor J.D. Greer says, "The gospel...is not just the diving board off of which we jump into the pool of Christianity; it is the pool itself. It is not only the way we begin in Christ; it is the way we grow in Christ. All of the Christian life flows from the good news of what Jesus has done."

So our title of this blog series (The Gospel Changes Everything) means just that. The gospel is not only the way to salvation but it also changes everything in a Christians life. Everything. Not just an hour on Sunday. Everything. Not just where we go when we die. But everything.

We've seen how it changes our identities, our view of humor, the way we find true joy, and how we view others who are different than us. Today we'll begin to unpack at how the gospel changes our view of forgiveness, how it allows us to actually forgive others.

At the heart of the gospel is the news that humanity has rebelled and sinned against God. But he chose to forgive us through his son Jesus. This was embodied by Jesus himself as he hung bleeding out on the cross. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" he asked of those who were literally torturing and executing him.

Now through Jesus' death and resurrection, we can have redemption and the forgiveness of our sin. Just hours before his death, he told his disciples that when his blood would be poured out through his crucifixion, forgiveness of sin would be possible.

For the Christian, this has both eternal and immediate ramifications! Not only can we be forgiveness of our sins, reconciled to God, and promised eternal life, but this also allows us to truly forgive others who're sinned against us. The first recorded Christian to die (he too was murdered) couldn't help but respond in the same forgiving manner as his savior. He uttered these words as a mob crushed his body with rocks, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them."

We sure love it when we realize we can receive forgiveness for our deeply sinful hearts and dark past deeds. Yet when we've been sinned against, we often forget what we've been forgiven and want justice or even revenge. We want the oppressor to pay for what they did. We want the abuser to be hurt in return. But the gospel says that all sin (our own sin and the sin committed against us) is put on Jesus. HE received the punishment for the world's sin. God's justice was served on the cross. So we can know that the sin committed against us will not just be looked over.

Shane Claiborne reminds us, "the scandalous part of grace is that it is big enough to include both the oppressed and the oppressors. God is setting both groups free. That is good news indeed. That is the gospel."

So Christians don't forgive others because that is what good Christians do. Christians forgive others because we've first been forgiven a debt of sin that we could never have repaid. Christians forgive because the same Holy Spirit that empowered Jesus to forgive his executioners lives inside of us. IF we really do have "redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace" (Ephesians 1:7), then how can we not forgive others.

God promises us that "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." And it is out of that forgiveness, because of that forgiveness, we can and must forgive others. Christians forgive others because in Christ, God has forgiven us.

SPENCER PETERSON / COMMUNITY LIFE PASTOR

The Gospel Changes Everything (Pt. 4): How We View Others

February 23, 2017

It seems as though we can't turn on the TV, check Facebook, or even talk to a distant relative without being told that "they" are what's wrong with the wold. Who are they? I guess it depends on who you're listening to. It could be the liberals, the immigrants, the millennials, the union workers, the conservatives, the retired, the refugees, the Christians, the universities, the rural blue collar workers, the homeless, or any other group of people. I'm sure you could even add more to this list of groups of people you've been told are the problem.

But like we've been doing throughout this blog series, we're looking at how the gospel (the good news of Jesus' perfect life, his death in our place for our sins, and his resurrection conquering sin and death) changes us. It does more than only change our eternal destination, although it does do that. It changes who we are. It gives us a new identity. And out of that new identity, we see the world differently. Our worldview changes. And we view others differently.

Apart from a saving faith in Jesus, we really might believe that any of those groups listed above are our enemies. But when Jesus saves us, our minds are renewed and they begin to change. Through the gospel, we now have the same mind as Christ. "Though he was in the form of God, [he] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant." (Philippians 2:6-7).

So because Jesus first did this and because he's given us the same mindset, the gospel will create in us a similar way of viewing others. We'll begin to see them as Jesus sees them. We'll consider others as more significant than ourselves. The Holy Spirit will empower us to look to the interests of others more than our own.

No longer do we see others as fools, opponents, or even enemies but through the gospel we see them as image bearers of God, so loved by him that he died in their place. We see ourselves in their sin, knowing the not yet sanctified darkness of our own hearts. We see ourselves in their weakness, remembering how spiritually powerless we were apart from Christ.

We know we cannot love our enemies, right? It is hard enough to love those who're different than us. The reason that we even can love our enemies is not because that is what good Christians do, it is because Jesus first did it and now gives us his Spirit to empower us to do the same. Jesus forgave those who betrayed him. Jesus forgave those who falsely accused him publicly. Jesus forgave those who tortured and mocked him. Jesus even forgave those who executed him unjustly. And Jesus offers this same forgiveness to the world. When we've believed this, this enemy forgiveness become our reality. And out of it, through the power of the Spirit, we're able to do the same.

Not only do we view outsiders differently now through the gospel, but we're able to see fellow Christians through a new lens. Our salvation experience is called an adoption into God's family. Pastor and author Jeff Vanderstelt helps summarize this: “Who is God? He is our Father. What has he done? He has loved us by sending his Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Who are we? We are the dearly loved children of God—God’s family. If we believe this, what do we do? We love one another as brothers and sisters in the same way God has loved us.”

Now through the gospel, we have spiritual brothers and sisters and it is through that identity that the New Testament calls Christians to sacrificially love other Christians. We're to carry each other's burdens because Christ first did that to us on the cross. We are exhorted to "be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves" (Romans 12:10). We are to use our freedom in Christ not for selfish reasons but in order to humbly and lovingly serve each other. And when we're strong, we're called to "bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: 'The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me'" (Romans 15: 1-3).

So today when you're tempted to hate someone different than you, when you're told some other group of people are the real problem, or when you come face to face with an enemy, remember how Jesus interacted with you. He loved us when we were very different than him (he was holy, we were far from it). He loved us when we were the problem (he was sinless, we were sinful). He loved us when we were his enemies.

And we're not just called to view unbelievers differently, we're to see other Christians as our new family. We're saved into God's spiritual family and now view other Christians with great love and commitment. We don't just see people who bother us or who are different than us but we now see them as blood - as sisters and brothers and mother and fathers. And as with any family, there will be crazy uncles, overbearing mothers, annoying little sisters, and awkward fathers. But we have ownership with our family. We fight differently with our siblings than we do with our enemies. We have loyalty and compassion. Blood is thicker than water. And it is through Jesus' blood, that we now have an unbreakable identity in God's family that cannot be taken from us.

SPENCER PETERSON / COMMUNITY LIFE PASTOR