What Gospel have you Responded to?

Our response to the gospel, or the way we live our lives after hearing the gospel, is an indication on what we understood and heard the gospel to be. In other words, how we live and behave after having made a decision or commitment to the gospel is indicative of the gospel we heard. For example, if we hear the gospel according to 'easy believism', which speaks of Jesus being Savior, but not Lord; the results of that gospel may be a contrite prayer over their initial conviction of sin, but a life which continues to be lived for and to their self. 

If one hears the gospel according to 'good works', which teaches one must do good deeds in order to earn heaven and be saved; the results from this gospel is a good moral and decent life lived unto God for entrance into heaven. In many cases and circles this gospel is in addition to the gospel according to Christ's sacrificial death and supernatural resurrection. Therefore, the gospel according to 'good works' diminishes what Christ did and propels 'works' as being salvific. The other result of this gospel is insecurity. There is no security for a person to know whether or not he or she has done enough good works to inherit heaven. Peace and Joy and the hope of heaven are nowhere to be found within this gospel. 

Another gospel that is being propagated is the gospel according to 'prosperity and wealth'. This gospel teaches that God is a genie in the bottle and if you worship and serve him the right way you will have economic prosperity and physical vitality. The results of this gospel is people giving away what they have now in order to receive more of a bountiful blessing God will reciprocate and give them back. Therefore, people give in order to get, rather than giving cheerfully, sacrificially, and completely. If economic hardships do arise of physical ailments occur, this gospel teaches much like Job's friends taught; that person who is experiencing such things must have sinned. 

Last, a gospel becoming more prominent today is the gospel according to 'social liberation'. This gospel teaches a corporate salvation when everyone works together to transform a city and community through healing and aiding social ills. Social ills include poverty, homeless, jobless, abused and neglected women and children, diseases, and eliminating the greedy rich. This gospel looks much like the 'good works' gospel, but this is more corporate in nature rather than individualistic. The proponents for this gospel are usually your secular progressives who seeks to have a utopia society. Other proponents are liberal theologies and Christian sects who have the same desires these secular progressives have, therefore they want to partner with these in order to rid society's ills. The problem with these liberal Christians, is they see riding society of its ills and working to transform communities and societies is salvation. They disregard what Jesus actually came to do (die for the sins of the world), rather they focus on how Jesus served and cared for the poor, outcast, sick, and prisoner. 

But, in the opening of Peter's first letter to the exiles of the dispersion, he writes about the salvation Jesus brought in his life, death, and resurrection. Peter makes many remarks about this gospel. First, he writes about God's great mercy he had on people by causing them to be born again through Jesus Christ. Second, this mercy and grace was accompanied by an inheritance that is 'imperishable, undefiled, and unfading' and waiting to be revealed at a later time. Third, trials which test their faith, are reasons, Peter writes, for them to praise and glory in Christ and the gospel. It is because of these trials their faith is tested and proved to be genuine. Fourth, Peter ends his introduction by explaining how the prophets of old who prophesied about this gospel and salvation searched diligently and inquired meticulously, in order for them to serve future believers who would hear and respond to this gospel. 

The results of this gospel, the gospel according to 'Jesus Christ', is what Peter outlines throughout the remaining letter. A few results would suffice for now. One is those who respond to this gospel will prepare their minds for action. They will place their thoughts fully on the gospel of Jesus which brought grace into their lives. Concentrating and thinking upon this gospel constantly will produce a life of gratitude. Second, this gospel results in holy living, rather than in vile and immoral living as before this gospel. Last, I will quote from verse 22 of chapter 1, "Having purified your should by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart..." In other words, one who responds to the gospel according to 'Jesus' will continue to purify their hearts through obeying the truth, the word of God. This obedience to the truth will produce love for people, a love for truth, and a love for obeying the truth. 

It is within this gospel, grace and mercy are overflowing. Transformation of an individual becomes a reality, which projects from ones life impacting those around them. Those who respond to this gospel participate in good works and in mercy ministries. Why? To be saved? No. But, because this what one does who has been transformed by the gospel of grace and redemption according to 'Jesus Christ'. Therefore, these people do these things because they are saved, not to be saved or reach some type of utopia that leads to salvation. These people seek the welfare and wellbeing of the city in the name of Jesus, not in the name of injustice. 

Hopefully, you can see that people's actions and response to a gospel is indicative of what the gospel is they are responding to. Which gospel have you responded to?