The Gospel is For Christians!

Is the Gospel for Christians or just for lost people? For many years I was under the impression that the message of God’s forgiveness and restoration thru faith in Jesus’ death and subsequent resurrection was for Christians to share with unbelievers. It IS true that the Gospel is ‘good news’ for unbelievers, but it is MORE true that the Gospel message of Jesus’ death and resurrection is even gooder news for Christians!

The Good News of God is not only a message in a tract that we hand out to strangers during the week. The Gospel of God is the foundation for every single thing that Christians think, feel, believe, hope, trust, speak, and do.

What does this mean? Take a moment to turn to the first chapter of Romans and read verses 1-6. The Gospel means that we can trust God to do what He has promised in all areas of our lives because He did what He had promised long ago through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures. Those Scriptures are to be our source of hope as we rest in His revelation about how He saved us and continues to work in us to keep us saved because of the eternal significance of the death of Christ on the cross. His death is so important because it concerns the Son (of God) who came from the royal line of David and took the place of His children before the ever-raging wrath of the Holy God against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of man. Even today I am overwhelmed with my own sinful proclivities. Still I walk in ways that are wickedly contrary to His perfection. I need the work of Jesus upon the cross as my only access to righteousness at this moment! THAT is why the Gospel is good news for this Christian. 

I need the hope of the Gospel in the lives of Christians as I deal with other believers who are also living in various sinful attitudes, actions, and opinions. I need the power of the resurrection to maintain my hope as I walk weakly through my days. I need the glory of the Gospel in my life as I continually get over myself and receive that grace of the message of Jesus to share in the obedience of faith for the sake of His name in my family and our community.