Why we need to be Discipled in the Gospel
Fruitless Christianity which can be attributed to the Gospel Gap (a cultural, not biblical form of Christianity). The Gospel Gap is there when these essentials are missing in the Christian life:
- The present benefit of the work of Christ (“Every spiritual blessing in Him”-Eph 1:1-23)
- The present value of the power of the cross (Rom 6:1-26; Gal 2:20; 2 Cor 5:14-15)
- The transforming reality of future hope (1 Jn 3:1-3; 1 Pet 1:3-9; Col 1:27)
All of the N.T. indicatives (our identity in Christ) passages lead to imperatives (walk worthy of our calling). As those whose entire sphere is ‘in Christ’ we must always be closing the Gospel Gap. Discipleship is the means of closing the Gospel Gap! Here are the evidences that we are closing the Gospel Gap:
- We will be ‘poured into’ the Gospel mold so that our lives are shaped by the gospel and ‘radically identified with Christ’ (Col 1:6-8; 3:1-23; Eph 4:12-32; 5:1-21ff.)
- We will live Christ-confident, Christ-dependent lives (Gal 2:20; Phil 4:13; Rom 8:32; Jn 15:4-5)
- We will be committed to change—the transformation mandate (Rom 8:29; 12:1-2; Col 3:10)
- We will be ‘on mission’—our resources will be plowed into fulfilling the Great Commission—we will live to know Christ and make Him known (Col 1:28-29; Phil 3:7-11; 2 Cor 5:20-21)
Christ is displayed and exhibited in the Gospel. ‘Gospel saturation’ through Scripture meditation is how we live upon Christ. Then we are controlled by the great Guilt Transfer that took place at Calvary. When our lives are controlled by the Guilt Transfer, we are Grace-driven and growing spiritually:
- We will experience satisfaction and delight in the Lord (Eph 1:18-23; 3:14-21)
- We will be ‘on schedule’ in God’s plan to perfect us in love (1 Jn 4:17)
- We will experience peace, joy, comfort, and hope in believing (Rom 15:13)
- We will have the joy and power of a clear conscience (Acts 24:15-16; Heb 9:14)
- We will be living the life of sonship in Christ (1 Jn 3:1; 2 Cor 6:14-7:1; Rom 8:14-25)
The above is the gospel-driven, grace-driven, Christ-dependent life. By contrast, the law and the flesh are attracted to a ‘look at me’, pride of life approach in our motivations—these are characterized by:
- Imagined powers of self-differentiation, “those compare themselves by themselves are without understanding” (2 Cor 10:12)
- The habit of self-justification rather than biblical self-confrontation (Lu 16:15)
- Living for the attention, recognition, glory, honor and approval of others rather than living for God’s glory and approval (2 Cor 5:9; Jn 5:44)
- Controlled by the pride of life which says ‘by means of my achievements, I carry my own worth, importance, and meaning’ (1 Jn 2:15-17; 1 Cor 3:21; James 2:1-8; 3:14-18)
God has constructed us to find our happiness in Him. The faculties of man’s soul are built for this purpose: the mind explains to the affections the worthiness of certain goals and objects of pursuit. The affections energize the will to go after those desires. The will makes choices based upon one’s desires and affections. The conscience approves or condemns those choices. This is why Scripture meditation is the indispensable means of training the affections concerning our true treasure (Mt 6:19-21). Jesus said it: our desires and affection determine our real priorities which determine our actions.
www.gospelforlife.org Jay Wegter, Executive Director Rights Reserved