The Transforming Power of the Gospel

Romans 1:1-16

A few years ago my grandmother, Marion Parrish, went home to be with the Lord. While not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, my grandmother was an amazing woman. Because of her age and health, the choice was made to have her live with my family in South Carolina. After complications arose from a knee surgery, her health rapidly began to deteriorate. I spoke with her one night not long after the surgery and within a few hours she was unable to verbally communicate or open her eyes. I drove all night from Chicago to my folk’s home in order to see her before she passed. She endured for a few more days and then quietly went into eternity. I was there when she drew her last breath; I will never forget it. All my life I had prayed for her to be reconciled to her God. What unspeakable joy came over me the moment I found out that, before she had lost her ability to communicate, she professed her faith in Christ alone for her salvation. I was later given the great honor of presenting the eulogy at her funeral.

The word eulogy comes from the Greek word eulogia (eu, good; logia, words). It is a time of remembrance and tribute; paying homage to one of who displays greats  character.

I remember that day like it was yesterday. Have you ever been placed outside of your element? My grandmother was a devout Catholic for most of her life. So here I was giving this eulogy in front of a mainly Catholic audience, with a priest sitting behind me, an idol of the Virgin Mary directly behind me, and one of Jesus to my left. It sincerely was one of the most difficult moments of my life. I usually have no reservations with public speaking. I have preached in front of hundreds; I even spoke to twelve hundred college students while attending Bob Jones University, but I had never been as apprehensive to speak as I was that day. This was my grandmother; someone who had devoted her life to her family and to her grandchildren. This was a woman who for her entire life found her salvation in her church and yet had placed her faith and trust in her Savior hours before she breathed her last breath.

It was an honor and privilege to speak those good words concerning my grandmother. But do you know what was even more glorious than the joy of eulogizing my grandmother? It was the honor and pleasure of proclaiming the good news of her Redeemer. I cannot imagine the difficulty with which it would have been to stand there realizing that she was now in a Christ-less eternity. It was then no longer an opportunity to speak good words of my grandmother, but an opportunity to speak of the good news of Jesus Christ. I did just that while standing under an idol to Mary. What victory.

 It is unbelievable that 2010 is already over. It is astonishing that I have been shepherding God’s people for almost 18 months. He certainly has been good to us this past year. As we look forward to the New Year, I want to share with you what I believe God would have our theme to be here for the coming year.  This past year the emphasis of our ministry was on Christ, our Foundation ( I Cor. 3:9-11). I have entitled the theme in 2011 for our church simply, The Gospel Changes Everything. This idea involves our intimate understanding of what the Gospel is, and what purpose it has in our lives.

What is the Gospel?

There are many views within Christendom today as to what the Gospel entails. What I want to do is to make known what the Gospel is precisely. The importance and significance of the Gospel is lost without the proper understanding of what it is. The word gospel is derived from the Greek word euangelion:  The prefix eu, meaning “good” and the word angelion, meaning “message or news.” The verb form of this word (euangelizo) is where we get our idea of evangelism.  The Gospel is simply the good news of the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is all-encompassing: It is the good news of His miraculous incarnation; it is the good news of His earthly ministry; it is the good news of His atoning death; it is the good news of His victorious resurrection; it is the good news of His interceding work on our behalf; it is the good news of His unchanging character.  

Not only is it important to understand what the Gospel is, but it is as vitally important for us to comprehend the value of the Gospel in our lives. As I was contemplating these things I came across two quotes that aptly capture the value of the Gospel:

The truth of the Gospel is the principle article of all Christian doctrine… Most necessary is it that we know this article well, teach it to others, and beat it into their heads continually. – Martin Luther

The default mode of the human heart is to work on our behavior and outer appearance, but the gospel changes us at the heart level. To grow, we must understand the difference between religion and the gospel, and apply the gospel to our hearts to confront the idols at the root of our sin. - Tim Keller, The Prodigal God

The Gospel is that which brings real change in our lives. It is the only message that brings true, genuine hope.

It’s popular at this time of year to make resolutions to change aspects of our lives that we think will bring us satisfaction. The simple fact is, is that those changes are NEVER permanent, nor do they ever bring REAL happiness. They are purely idols that we fashion to bring fulfillment in our lives. And let’s be completely honest: What priority does your relationship and fellowship with Jesus have in your 2011 list of goals and resolutions? I fear that for most of us, He has either not made our list, or He has been placed somewhere between losing weight and spending more time with your family. The good news of Jesus Christ MUST have priority in our lives. Do you want change in your life? Do you want permanent transformation in your life? Then is you must make the Gospel a priority in your life.

What exactly does the Gospel transform?

The Gospel transforms our perspective.

The Gospel transforms our perspective of our circumstances.  Consider Romans 8:24-28.  So much of our life depends on our perspective. We either see our circumstances as an excuse for depression and anxiety or we see them as a means by which God displays His grace and mercy. When we view our lives through the lens of the good news of what Christ has done, we realize that God’s plan for us doesn’t end with our salvation. Our redemption is for a purpose: We are redeemed to live a life that glorifies our Savior. We begin a process of growth at salvation that reveals a genuine change in our perspective. We desire to be like Christ; not just on Sundays, but every single day we have breath.    

                                                                                                                                                                               The Gospel of Jesus Christ transforms our perspective on the seriousness of sin. It has personal implications for each one of us. Are you familiar with the song, How Deep the Father’s Love for Us? Notice the message of the second stanza:

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

When the Gospel takes root in our hearts we begin to appreciate how serious our sin is and the price that Jesus paid on our behalf. That He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our sins (Isa. 53). We are shaken at our very core by the ultimate, unconditional love of God demonstrated toward us, who deserved nothing but His condemnation (Rom 5).                                                        

 The Gospel transforms our perspective of ministry. The good news of Jesus not only provides us with hope of God’s intervention on our behalf but also on the behalf of others. This is what I mean: when we are at work, at home, at church, or at play, we see everyone as a living soul-destined to live for eternity. When you and I grasp the soul-transforming power of the Gospel, we understand that Jesus died not only for us, but He died for them as well. We begin to have a soul-consciousness with those we come in contact. We proclaim the transforming Gospel to others because it has first transformed us from within.

The Gospel transforms our priorities

Consider Philippians 3:7-14. You see, as we grow in our understanding of the Gospel our priorities begin to change. Everything that we counted as valuable before salvation is less of a concern now that our priority is our walk with Him. We desire a more intimate relationship with Christ, to know the power of that relationship, to have fellowship with His sufferings.

I’m not saying that it’s wrong to want to spend more time with your family or to lose weight; what I am saying is   that if those are your priorities above your relationship with Jesus your priorities are misguided.

The Gospel transforms our purpose

Notice II Cor. 5:9, 14-17. The Gospel transforms our motives for life and ministry. The love that Christ displayed for us controls us; it compels us to live a certain way; it drives us to glorify Him in all that we say and do. It is that which changes our hearts and deepest intentions. The depth of our understanding of the Gospel will determine whether or not our purpose is to be religious or Christ like. When you and I understand the ramifications of what Christ has done, we aren’t interested in being religious. Please don’t make the mistake of equating the two; for they are diametrically opposed. Our purpose is to love the Lord our God with ALL of our heart, with ALL of our soul, with ALL of our mind, with ALL of our strength. Why? Not because you have it within yourself to initiate that love, but because He loved you first.

The Gospel transforms our position

Again, see Paul’s admonition in II Cor. 5:17-21. Paul says we have been reconciled to God. We were alienated from our Father by our own sinfulness, choosing the mire of the pigs over the lavishness of His love. And the moment we come running to initiate the restoration of our relationship, we find our Father already waiting for us. We are not restored to indentured servitude; we are adopted back as beneficiaries to all the rights and privileges of the Father.  The Gospel changes our position from condemnation to justification; and from justification to sanctification; and from sanctification to glorification.  

 The good news of Jesus is not just something that we know; it is something that we live; it’s something we proclaim with our words and with our actions. We are, as Paul says, ambassadors of the Gospel of Christ. We are active dispensers of the grace of God that was once shown to us. We display the good news of Christ because the good news resides within us. My grandmother is in heaven today because of my family’s faithfulness to the Gospel of Christ.

 When you and I grasp the weight and magnitude of the Gospel, it affects every aspect of our lives. It changes everything about us. My question to you is what impact has the Gospel made in your life? What priority does Jesus Christ have in your outlook for this coming year?