The Gospel

The Gospel is (or at least should be) central to everything we say and do. This past year I read a book called Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick with the girls on the core team for Index. If nothing else, this book reiterated to me my failure to realise the amazingness of the gospel. I mean... what a message! What a hope! What forgiveness! What love! What truth... if it really is what it is, which it is, it should affect my everything. One of the men who preaches at Carrubbers often says "We were rebel sinners, but we were wonderfully saved!" Some of my friends and I often repeat this to one another very regularly because it is a soundbite that captures Eric Scott so well. But the truth in that statement is phenomenal. Even more phenomenal than Irn-Bru, and that is phenomenal. Sinners. Doomed. Going to hell. Lost. Without hope. No purpose. But saved. No reason for this other that God, the creator of the universe having such compassion on lost souls. What grace. What love. What hope. And he didn't just click His fingers to make it happen. He could have. He is God after all. But He chose to show his love for us in a way that cost Him. He gave His one and only Son. He sent the one He was in closest relationship with to the Earth, this horrid place amongst sinners, and gave Him a life full of humiliation, rejection and hurt to give us life. And Jesus did it, willingly, joyfully, obediently. He died the most dishonorable death, that of a slave or tractor. It was slow, excruciating and public. He wanted out, and was honest with His Father about this. Yet in this desire, He held fast to God knowing His will was best, and said "Not my will but yours." Jesus died this death, and was buried. But, behold, He rose again. Death could not conquer. This sinless sacrifice that paid the price of our sin defeated death, and in so doing gave us life also. Do we live each day believing this? I know I often just get on with life. I believe it, but don't let it affect every detail of my life, all my choices. I forget. I do not tell myself the Gospel daily. I should. The book I mentioned earlier challenged me to. I am trying. (Titus 2:11-14) Such a truth and a hope cannot go untold. Why then do we sit through so many sermons, even sometimes whole services without this Gospel being told? Every sermon should contain this message, regardless of the topic. If the Gospel cannot be fitted in to the talk, may I suggest that the topic is off-topic? Romans 5:19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.