The two biggest leaders within the early church were Peter and Paul. They came head to head on the issue of the gospel. This is the once and for all Super Bowl of Theology. Paul speaks of it plainly as if it were the simplest thing to do. In a sense it was. Paul was clear on the gospel in his own mind, and the thought of the gospel being perverted disturbed him more than a conflict with Peter would; so it really was natural and plain for him to confront Peter directly on the gospel.
This reveals two important truths that empower us when we are in conflict.
1. The real issue in this situation was whether Peter was “walking in line with the truth of the gospel” (v. 14). Our growing clarity in what “walking in line with the truth of the gospel” means will give us a growing sense of morale direction. Also, our growing commitment to “walk in line with the truth of the gospel” will give us the moral footing to make a stand when it counts.
2. Paul had nothing to lose in his conflict with Peter. He had already lost his life (20). To make a stand with the possibility of defeat wasn’t such a big deal. He had already lost and had been taken up into Christ’s win. So he can plainly and with great abandon risk all for the gospel.
Posted by Marc
Showing posts with label gospel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gospel. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Galatians 1: The Gospel in the letters of Paul
We are beginning a series called The Gospel in the Letters of Paul. This chapter couldn’t kick this one off more drama. Paul wishes the eternal experience of hell upon the person who would pervert the gospel—including himself. Paul couldn’t use language that was any stronger. Paul basically said, even if someone like Peter came and preached another gospel, bring on hell.
The truth of the gospel was that important. Paul gives us a small, though complete enough explanation of what his gospel is in verse three and four, “…the Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of God, the Father.”
This is the gospel in its kernel form. The truth of Jesus’ voluntary atonement for our sins has implications beyond the imaginations of all theologians. It is this kernel that Paul defends because if it is lost, the church is lost. The truth of the gospel is more important than any person. It is the lifeblood of the church.
Over the next six weeks, we will have the opportunity to learn more about this gospel. Our series will run six weeks as we read Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians before returning to finish this series with Romans. Let me encourage you to ask questions of your reading such as: What is the gospel in Paul’s words? What difference does it make in a life? How do good works fit in? What should a believer’s experience of grace be? How does the Holy Spirit work in the life of a believer?
As you find your answers to these questions, I encourage you to chime in through our comments on the blog and allow others to benefit from your learning.
Posted by Marc
The truth of the gospel was that important. Paul gives us a small, though complete enough explanation of what his gospel is in verse three and four, “…the Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of God, the Father.”
This is the gospel in its kernel form. The truth of Jesus’ voluntary atonement for our sins has implications beyond the imaginations of all theologians. It is this kernel that Paul defends because if it is lost, the church is lost. The truth of the gospel is more important than any person. It is the lifeblood of the church.
Over the next six weeks, we will have the opportunity to learn more about this gospel. Our series will run six weeks as we read Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians before returning to finish this series with Romans. Let me encourage you to ask questions of your reading such as: What is the gospel in Paul’s words? What difference does it make in a life? How do good works fit in? What should a believer’s experience of grace be? How does the Holy Spirit work in the life of a believer?
As you find your answers to these questions, I encourage you to chime in through our comments on the blog and allow others to benefit from your learning.
Posted by Marc
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Acts 16, New Frontiers
Pardon the tardiness of this posting. The author got a little caught up in the MNF Eagles game the night before as well as the greatest burger he has ever eaten in his life.
The gospel meets people from all places and meets them where they are. In Philippi, the gospel touched people from each strata of society in a way that was meaningful to them. Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, was akin to a fashion designer today. She was a wealthy, educated, independent business woman. The slave girl was not just enslaved physically, but enslaved spiritually to a spirit that was both evil and profitable. So, she was used physically and spiritually by the businessmen of the city. The jailer was a clear middle class government worker.
God met each person through a unique demonstration of the power of the Spirit through the gospel. For Lydia, she needed a compelling rational argument. For the slave girl, she needed the good news as demonstrated through Jesus Lordship over all spiritual powers—particularly the ones controlling her. For the jailer, he needed the compelling evidence of joy as demonstrated by Paul and Silas.
The fact that Paul and Barnabas could sing in the midst of not just their jailing, but their torture (stocks at that time would be done spread eagle and was a form of torture), was evidence that God had transformed their lives. Not only that, but they could have tried to escape after the earthquake and led all the prisoners out. The jailer assumed that they had escaped and therefore tried to take his life (knowing that the loss of prisoners would have cost his life eventually before his Roman employer). It would have seemed from the earthquake that this was God breaking Paul and Silas out of jail just as he had broken Peter out of jail. But Paul saw a bigger picture. They weren’t imprisoned alone, but were with genuine criminals who would have left and damaged society more. Also, Paul didn’t need to be released to proclaim the gospel. He had a wonderfully captive audience already. This gave him the perspective to not only stay in the face of the earthquake but make sure no other prisoners left either. Paul and Silas’s transformed lives were evidence that transformed the small culture of that prison cell. This is just as miraculous as the previous exorcism.
The gospel is the power of salvation for all who believe. Your changed life and your genuine Spiritual growth is the greatest gift to those around you. For many, who aren’t interested in rational arguments like Lydia or are directly oppressed spiritually, your changed life will be one of the greatest compelling arguments for the gospel that they will see.
Some of the thoughts of this posting are borrowed from Dr Tim Keller’s message on this passage. If you would like to listen to a free download of this sermon, you may click: http://www.redeemer.com/about_us/vision_and_values/core_values.html and look for the message entitled messengers under value #5.
The gospel meets people from all places and meets them where they are. In Philippi, the gospel touched people from each strata of society in a way that was meaningful to them. Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, was akin to a fashion designer today. She was a wealthy, educated, independent business woman. The slave girl was not just enslaved physically, but enslaved spiritually to a spirit that was both evil and profitable. So, she was used physically and spiritually by the businessmen of the city. The jailer was a clear middle class government worker.
God met each person through a unique demonstration of the power of the Spirit through the gospel. For Lydia, she needed a compelling rational argument. For the slave girl, she needed the good news as demonstrated through Jesus Lordship over all spiritual powers—particularly the ones controlling her. For the jailer, he needed the compelling evidence of joy as demonstrated by Paul and Silas.
The fact that Paul and Barnabas could sing in the midst of not just their jailing, but their torture (stocks at that time would be done spread eagle and was a form of torture), was evidence that God had transformed their lives. Not only that, but they could have tried to escape after the earthquake and led all the prisoners out. The jailer assumed that they had escaped and therefore tried to take his life (knowing that the loss of prisoners would have cost his life eventually before his Roman employer). It would have seemed from the earthquake that this was God breaking Paul and Silas out of jail just as he had broken Peter out of jail. But Paul saw a bigger picture. They weren’t imprisoned alone, but were with genuine criminals who would have left and damaged society more. Also, Paul didn’t need to be released to proclaim the gospel. He had a wonderfully captive audience already. This gave him the perspective to not only stay in the face of the earthquake but make sure no other prisoners left either. Paul and Silas’s transformed lives were evidence that transformed the small culture of that prison cell. This is just as miraculous as the previous exorcism.
The gospel is the power of salvation for all who believe. Your changed life and your genuine Spiritual growth is the greatest gift to those around you. For many, who aren’t interested in rational arguments like Lydia or are directly oppressed spiritually, your changed life will be one of the greatest compelling arguments for the gospel that they will see.
Some of the thoughts of this posting are borrowed from Dr Tim Keller’s message on this passage. If you would like to listen to a free download of this sermon, you may click: http://www.redeemer.com/about_us/vision_and_values/core_values.html and look for the message entitled messengers under value #5.
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