Apologetics – Page 8 – The Gospel First

IMPLICATIONS OF BEING GOSPEL-CENTERED

Keeping the gospel central was Paul’s concern, as he wrote the book of Galatians. The gospel foundation of the Galatian churches was being undermined as others intermingled human effort with grace. Paul’s message to the church and false teachers is that a non-grace gospel is a non-gospel. The good news of the gospel is that Christ faithfully lived the life that I have failed to live and died the death that I deserve to die and that sinners stand in God’s favor always and solely on the merits of the righteous life and substitutionary death of Christ. Human effort neither brings a sinner into a relationship with the Holy Triune God nor does it enhance or maintain one’s relationship with God.

As we continue to read through the book of Galatians, we see clearly some of the implications of getting the gospel wrong. Let me briefly suggest some of those implications.

GETTING THE GOSPEL WRONG AFFECTS HOW YOU SEE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

When something other than the gospel is elevated among Christians, unity in Christ is threatened. In Galatians 2:14-16 we see how Peter failed to live out the implications of the gospel of grace. Even though he knew that the gospel of Christ removed the barrier between Jew and Gentile and that the ceremonial practices of the Old Covenant were abolished in Christ, he broke fellowship with Gentile believers because of the influence of those who set forth law-keeping as a measure of one’s standing with God.

In the gospel we dance in celebration together over the victory accomplished in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, not over our preference for theological systems or denominational labels or ethnocentricities or idiosyncratic church expectations. Continue reading “Implications of Being Gospel-Centered”

Four Cries of the Soul

Years ago I read Kennon Callahan’s Twelve Marks of an Effective Leader (1997) and was struck by what he called the ‘four foundational searches’ of all humanity. He argued that effective leadership understands these searches and seeks to minister to them. The four searches he defined are the search for identity, the search for community, the search for meaning, and the search for hope. In their search for identity, people need to know why they have value, and that they are valued as in individuals with their unique personality, gifts, and calling. In their search for community, people need to know they are loved and that they have a necessary contribution to make for the betterment of others. In their search for meaning, people need to know that there is a plausible explanation for the incongruities of life, such as the problem of evil and suffering. And, in their search for hope, people need to know that justice triumphs, righteousness ultimately prevails, and there is a reason to keep on living. Continue reading “Four Cries of the Soul”