Living the Gospel: Beyond Forgiveness to Transformation

 

Summary

In our journey of spiritual formation in Christ, it is crucial to begin with the right message. Today, I want to address three prevalent interpretations of the Gospel that are often heard in our context. The first, which is common among evangelicals, focuses on the forgiveness of sins and the promise of heaven in the afterlife if one believes that Jesus suffered for their sins. This message, while significant, often lacks a connection to the spiritual life and moral character development that should accompany a true understanding of the Gospel.

Many respected Christian leaders, like Charles Stanley, emphasize this first interpretation, especially when calling people to make decisions for Christ. However, this approach can sometimes leave individuals without guidance on how to live a life of discipleship and transformation in the here and now. The challenge is to move beyond a message that only prepares people for the afterlife and instead, equip them to live a life that reflects the kingdom of God on earth.

Witnessing should not only ask, "If you died tonight, where would you go?" but also, "If you don't die tonight, how will you live?" This shift in focus is essential because the Gospel is not just about securing a place in heaven but about transforming our lives today. It is about living in a way that aligns with the teachings of Jesus and embodies the kingdom of heaven in our daily actions and decisions.

The Gospel should be a message that connects deeply with our spiritual life and moral character, providing us with the tools to navigate the complexities of life with faith and integrity. It is about being ready to live as much as it is about being ready to die. This holistic understanding of the Gospel empowers us to live out our faith authentically and impactfully in the world around us.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Gospel is often presented as a message of forgiveness and afterlife assurance, but it should also guide our daily living and spiritual growth. It is not just about where we go after death but how we live now. [01:25]

2. Many evangelicals focus on a version of the Gospel that lacks a connection to spiritual life and moral character, leaving individuals without guidance for living a transformed life. [04:22]

3. Witnessing should include both the question of eternal destiny and the challenge of living a life that reflects the kingdom of God today. This dual focus helps believers live out their faith authentically. [03:47]

4. The Gospel should empower us to live with integrity and faith, providing tools to navigate life's complexities while embodying the teachings of Jesus. [04:06]

5. A holistic understanding of the Gospel prepares us to live as disciples of Christ, impacting the world around us with our faith and actions. [03:08]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:27] - Introduction to the Gospel Interpretations
[00:49] - The Evangelical Gospel
[01:07] - Forgiveness and Afterlife
[01:25] - Common Evangelical Message
[01:40] - Influence of Christian Leaders
[02:04] - Charles Stanley's Approach
[02:25] - Decision-Making in Faith
[02:42] - Evangelizing for Discipleship
[03:08] - Ready to Live, Not Just Die
[03:25] - The Incomplete Gospel
[03:47] - Living the Gospel Today
[04:06] - Spiritual Life and Moral Character
[04:22] - Connecting Gospel to Life
[04:46] - Conclusion and Reflection

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 4:17 - "From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"
2. James 2:14-17 - "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

#### Observation Questions
1. What are the three interpretations of the Gospel mentioned in the sermon, and how do they differ from each other? [00:27]
2. How does the sermon describe the common evangelical message about the Gospel? [01:25]
3. What does the sermon suggest is often missing from the evangelical presentation of the Gospel? [04:22]
4. According to the sermon, what question should witnessing include besides "If you died tonight, where would you go?" [03:47]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon suggest that the Gospel should impact our daily lives and spiritual growth? [04:06]
2. In what ways does the sermon propose that the Gospel should connect with our moral character and spiritual life? [04:22]
3. How does the sermon challenge the traditional evangelical focus on the afterlife, and what alternative does it offer? [03:47]
4. What does the sermon imply about the role of discipleship in understanding and living out the Gospel? [02:42]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own understanding of the Gospel. How does it align with the sermon’s emphasis on living a transformed life today? [04:06]
2. Consider your daily actions and decisions. How can they better reflect the teachings of Jesus and the kingdom of God? [03:47]
3. How can you incorporate the question "If you don't die tonight, how will you live?" into your personal faith journey and witnessing efforts? [03:47]
4. Identify one area of your life where you feel disconnected from the spiritual growth and moral character the Gospel calls for. What steps can you take to address this? [04:22]
5. Think about a recent decision you made. How did your understanding of the Gospel influence that decision, and how might a more holistic understanding change your approach in the future? [02:25]
6. How can you actively seek to live out your faith in a way that impacts the world around you, as suggested by the sermon? [03:08]
7. What practical tools or resources can you use to navigate life's complexities with faith and integrity, as encouraged by the sermon? [04:06]

Devotional

Day 1: Living the Gospel Today
The Gospel is not merely a message of forgiveness and assurance of the afterlife; it is a guide for our daily living and spiritual growth. Many people focus on the promise of heaven, but the Gospel also calls us to live a life that reflects the teachings of Jesus here and now. This involves a transformation of our character and actions, aligning them with the values of the kingdom of God. By embracing this holistic understanding, we can navigate life's complexities with faith and integrity, embodying the teachings of Jesus in our everyday decisions. [01:25]

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific way you can embody the teachings of Jesus in your daily routine today?


Day 2: Beyond Forgiveness
Many evangelicals present a version of the Gospel that emphasizes forgiveness and the afterlife but lacks a connection to spiritual life and moral character. This approach can leave individuals without guidance on how to live a transformed life. The Gospel should empower us to grow spiritually and develop a moral character that reflects Christ. It is not just about being forgiven but about being transformed into the likeness of Jesus, living a life that is pleasing to God and impactful to those around us. [04:22]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel God is calling you to grow spiritually and morally? How can you take a step towards that growth today?


Day 3: Dual Focus of Witnessing
Witnessing should not only address the question of eternal destiny but also challenge individuals to live a life that reflects the kingdom of God today. This dual focus helps believers live out their faith authentically, not just preparing for the afterlife but also making a difference in the present world. By asking, "If you don't die tonight, how will you live?" we encourage a deeper engagement with the Gospel that transforms our daily actions and decisions. [03:47]

"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel." (Philippians 1:27, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate the values of the kingdom of God into your interactions with others today?


Day 4: Empowered to Live with Integrity
The Gospel should empower us to live with integrity and faith, providing tools to navigate life's complexities while embodying the teachings of Jesus. It is about being ready to live as much as it is about being ready to die. This understanding of the Gospel equips us to face challenges with a Christ-like attitude, making decisions that honor God and reflect His love to the world. [04:06]

"Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." (1 John 2:6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one decision you can make today that reflects the integrity and faith of Jesus in your life?


Day 5: Holistic Discipleship
A holistic understanding of the Gospel prepares us to live as disciples of Christ, impacting the world around us with our faith and actions. It is not just about personal salvation but about being agents of change in our communities, living out the values of the kingdom of God in every aspect of our lives. This involves a commitment to discipleship, continually growing in our relationship with Christ and influencing others through our example. [03:08]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you encourage someone in your community to grow in their faith and live out the Gospel today?

Quotes


you cannot go anywhere with spiritual formation in Christ with transformation with the wrong message so now let's just think about these I've given you three Gospels that are commonly heard at present and now you know you don't worry about disagreeing with me you can disagree with me about everything [00:00:11]

the first is simply this is the gospel your sins will be forgiven and you will be in heaven in the afterlife if you believe that Jesus suffered for your sins now if you listen to the wonderful men who are and I'm not speaking with double-entendre who represent Christianity on the television sets and so on nearly all of them treats the first gospel here [00:01:20]

and they are good men and God bless them and they don't mean it and I will mention one not to take him down but because he's so good and that's Charles Stanley this is what Charles will tell you is the gospel especially as he comes down towards the end of the session where he wants to lead people to make decisions [00:01:56]

now he doesn't believe this is the gospel and if you listen to what he says in general you see he's got much more that he wants to pack into it but this is what comes out and most of our folks don't know how to call people to decision on any other basis than this gospel they don't know how to evangelize for disciples [00:02:20]

they don't know how to make trust Jesus fit with repent for the kingdom of the heavens is at hand and they also are very concerned to get people where they're ready to go that's not a bad idea we ought to be ready to go and all the stories about the person who left a meeting and didn't make the decision [00:02:47]

and they were left here until they died with no gospel because they had already had the gospel so what about getting rid of people people ready to live so one way witnessing is not just if you died tonight where would you go but also if you don't dine tonight what are you going to do what then [00:03:32]

it's very important to take care of what's going to happen after you die unfortunately that has been set up in a way that doesn't have anything essentially to do with what you do until you die and in the in the form that I think every thinking person who is an evangelical Christian would reject it [00:03:57]

comes down to something a version of the gospel that has no connection with the spiritual life no connection with moral character and people are left to cope with their life with nothing that helps them [00:04:20]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Jun 16, 2020. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?