In just a few short weeks, college football season will be upon us. As an East Carolina alum, I am excited about cheering on my beloved Pirates. Check out this video interview from the recent Conference USA Media Day. Head coach Ruffin McNeill and junior linebacker Damon Magazu provide their perspective on this year’s squad and a preview of the season. Watch the video here.
Here’s something awesome I found. Have you ever heard of Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers? I hadn’t heard of them until very recently, but it turns out that they are a pretty good band based out of San Francisco. Besides recording some decent tracks of their own, this band has an interesting hobby: van sessions. While on tour, the band spends hours in their van driving to gigs in various cities. To pass the time, they play their own renditions of classic pop hits, and they post videos of it online for everyone’s enjoyment. Here’s a nice rendition they did of Hall and Oates’ “I Can’t Go For That”:
What are the benefits of trusting in Jesus Christ?
If you are a Christian, it is likely that you have considered this question quite a bit. Perhaps you have even been asked this question by a curious or skeptical non-Christian. It seems that this is the key question with which we are faced on a daily basis, especially in a world where there are so many options.
Indeed, we are surrounded by a dizzying array of options in virtually every aspect of life. Perhaps you are looking for something to make you feel better about yourself–a sense of purpose, value, and accomplishment. If so, you might decide to devote yourself to advancing in your career or taking up a hobby. Perhaps you are looking for companionship and a sense of belonging. If so, you can join always join some sort of club. Whatever you are into, there’s sure to be some organization consisting of people who share your interests. Or if that doesn’t do the trick, you can focus your efforts on finding and marrying that perfect man or woman you’ve always dreamed of.
Or maybe you want to make a real difference in the world. If that’s the case, then you can get involved with supporting politicians who agree with you. Or you can donate money to various non-profit charities around the world. Or perhaps you have a deeper, darker problem for which you need help. Anger. Depression. Addiction. If so, there is a host of solutions available for you, including therapists, counselors, retreats, medications, books, videos, seminars, and 12-step programs.
The point is, there are so many options out there for virtually every aspect of life, that it is vital that we who follow Christ are crystal-clear as to why the gospel–the message of God’s salvation plan through Jesus Christ–is infinitely more valuable and effective than anything else human beings have ever seen, experienced, or imagined. Otherwise, Christianity might appear to us as nothing more than just one more option on the enormous buffet of life’s solutions.
This brings us back to our original question: What are the benefits of trusting in Jesus Christ?
To be certain, the benefits of following Christ are infinite in number. Were we to attempt to make an exhaustive list, we could fill libraries and yet never come close to grasping the full scope of everything God has freely given us in Christ. However, we can look to the Bible and find three basic categories of benefits for followers of Christ: past grace (redemption), present grace (sanctification), and future grace (restoration).
As far as I can tell, most evangelicals today seem to have a pretty firm grasp on the past and future aspects of the gospel. Just consider your own perspective on the benefits of trusting Christ. If you are like most other evangelicals, you probably tend to focus almost entirely on what faith in Jesus Christ means for your past and your future. Specifically, you celebrate two great realities:
The church has done a great job in emphasizing the past forgiveness and future restoration that have been secured for us in Christ. The Bible is rife with promises of redemption and restoration for everyone who trusts in Jesus. Moreover, we should celebrate these wonderful truths and cling to them daily as reminders of the powerful hope we have in Christ.
Still, there is one aspect of gospel hope that is all too easy for us to overlook: the present grace of sanctification. What is sanctification all about? Simply put, God has promised us that if we trust in Jesus, then we have real hope and real power right now! We can fight our sin and experience true victory, because Christ has freed us from being controlled by our temptations and failures. We can have deep, genuine joy even while we are surrounded by suffering and difficult circumstances. Why? Because Christ has freed us from being defined by our circumstances. For followers of Christ, God uses everything–including failure and suffering–for our good.
This is the gospel here and now.
Not surprisingly, the Bible is filled with wonderful promises of present hope for Christians. Here is a passage that really gets to the heart of God’s practical provision for us in Christ here and now:
His divine nature has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
– 2 Peter 1:3-4
Peter’s point here is clear. God has equipped us with everything we need to live joyfully and courageously in this world as reflections of his own holy character. And how has God equipped us? By his divine nature–the Holy Spirit–living in us and giving us wisdom and power to change and grow more in the likeness of Jesus.
This is the gospel here and now. Whether you are dealing with lingering failures, a difficult relationship, a lost loved one, or anything else, you can experience real hope, real joy, and real change. The bad news is that you cannot do it alone. The good news is that it is all available to you right now if you will trust in Jesus Christ.
Last week, the United States Supreme Court announced its decision to uphold the controversial Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as “Obamacare.”
What is Obamacare? In a nutshell, Obamacare is a healthcare initiative proposed by Obama administration with the broad purpose of providing healthcare to all Americans, regardless of income or medical history. The bill was passed by the U.S. Congress in 2010 and thus became law. Though this certainly appears to be a noble endeavor, Obamacare is a piece of legislation rife with controversy.
To begin with, Obamacare includes an individual mandate for health insurance. In other words, every individual American will be legally required to purchase health insurance by 2014. Anyone who fails to do so will face a monetary penalty, payable to the Internal Revenue Service on their next tax return.
Though President Barack Obama and supportive members of Congress appealed to the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause as a justification for the individual mandate, the Supreme Court struck down that justification, stating that the Obamacare mandate oversteps the authority granted to Congress by the U.S. Constitution. However, the Court did still uphold the individual health insurance mandate, saying that is falls within Congress’ constitutional authority to impose taxes.
A second controversial aspect of the Obamacare legislation consists of a mandate by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that requires all employers—including religious organizations—to provide insurance plans that cover abortion and certain contraceptive drugs that cause chemical abortions after fertilization. Whereas abortion has not previously been covered in most health insurance plans, the U.S. government is now mandating that such coverage be offered by all employers. That includes, with only a few narrow exceptions, all religious organizations—even those who find abortion morally reprehensible.
This so-called “contraceptive mandate” was left untouched by the Supreme Court, meaning that faith-based organizations will be legally required to offer abortion as a healthcare option to employees.
So needless to say, Obamacare matters for followers of Christ. Imagine this: Christian schools, publishers, hospitals, and ministries telling their pregnant employees that they have the right to obtain an abortion—with the company health plan! Sadly, this is the new reality.
The question is, what are Christians to do? Indeed, it seems we are now facing quite a dilemma. On the one hand, we are commanded in God’s Word to honor the secular government by obeying its laws, pursuing its good, and living peaceable lives. On the other hand, however, we are commanded in God’s Word to be stewards and agents of an even greater good—the Gospel—and thus we must call out evil for what it is and do everything in our power to resist it and oppose it at every turn.
So what must we Christians think and do about Obamacare? Now that it has been upheld by the Supreme Court, what does that mean for us who hate abortion and are deeply concerned about protecting the lives of millions of unborn babies? Should we just refuse to comply to the government in this matter? Should we just throw our hands up and hope that God will work all of this out? How can we be most faithful?
Love God. Love Others. Hate Abortion.
The main thing that we Christians must always do is love God and cherish his laws above all else. Jesus himself affirmed that the greatest and most important of all God’s commands is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matt. 22:37) Jesus also adds that we are to have a genuine, specific love and care for others. Both of these commands, says Jesus, serve as a summary of the whole Christian life. That is, every other command we have in the Word of God amounts to a more specific command to love God and love others.
In loving God and others, we must hate whatever stands against God and the well-being of others. Abortion does both. It violates God’s holy commands to understand that human life belongs to God and must be respected and guarded at every turn. And abortion stands against the well-being of human beings because it suggests that human life is dispensable. Thus, abortion sets a tone for a selfish and violent disregard for others while we pursue our own agenda.
An important part of our Christian growth and witness is our capacity to openly identify the moral failures of our society and reject them on the basis of biblical truth. Of course must not do so in a self-righteous or judgmental spirit. After all, we of all people know that we are helpless sinners who have been forgiven only by God’s mercy in Christ. Though we were rebels against God and his laws, he sent Jesus to bear the righteous wrath of God by dying on the cross. And it is only through Jesus’ death and resurrection that we are made right before God.
So we must reject abortion, because it presents a false and destructive message about the character of God and the value of human life.
Responsibly Challenge Government Overreach
As Christians, it is our moral duty to be good citizens. That is, we must live within the legal bounds set by our secular government, knowing that we are living ultimately under the authority of our God. As we are instructed in the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, every secular authority is under God’s authority (Rom. 13:1). So as we seek to respect and cooperate with our federal and local authorities, we are indeed honoring God.
However, this does not mean that secular governments possess boundless authority that cannot, or should not, be challenged. There are times when, in loving truth and standing against evil, we will inevitably find ourselves in opposition with the secular government. In such times, we must not waver from the truth of Scripture, but rather insist on it. But we must pursue responsible, Christ-commending ways of resisting wrong—not simply saying and doing things that we know will draw antagonism and bring backlash but have no immediate or eternal impact.
In the case of the Obamacare abortion coverage mandate, there are legal avenues of challenging the legislation, and many courageous groups and individuals are currently engaged in that battle in the courts and elsewhere. As long as we live in a democratic society that will allow us to do so, we must find ways to challenge the destructive policies of the state, while affirming its God-given authority by working within its legal parameters.
By doing so, we can go a long way in “put[ting] to silence the ignorance of foolish people” (1 Peter 2:15) who expect Christians to either act out and cause trouble or compromise on our morals in order to comply.
Are you a member of a church? Well, you should be.
Mark Dever says, “If you call yourself a Christian but you are not a member of the church you regularly attend, I worry that you may be going to hell.”[1] That’s a pretty extreme statement, but I totally agree with it.
You see, what Dever is suggesting here is not that membership in a church contributes to a person’s salvation, but rather church membership is a vital means of confirming that a person’s salvation is genuine. After all, the Bible is clear that nobody is a true Christian simply because they think they are.[2] There are objective criteria that must be met. And the local church helps clarify those criteria while affirming (or denying) an individual’s claim to meet those standards.
In other words, the church says, “Okay, so Joe claims to believe the Gospel. Well, we the church are an authorized distributor and guardian of the gospel. So we can look at Joe’s life and let you know whether it appears, from our standpoint, that Joe’s claim is legitimate.”
With that in mind, allow me to briefly offer three reasons for that every Christian should join a local church.
If you claim to be a Christian, you should join a church for your own sake. In other words, you should join a church so that you can better understand the state of your own soul and thus be more equipped to repent from sin, hope in Christ, and live in obedience.
All too often, we believe the lie that we are the world’s experts on ourselves. I know I am a Christian, I might say, because I know my own heart. I know what I truly believe, regardless of what others may think. Other people cannot see into my heart, but I can.
It is true that we do have unique insight into our own internal thoughts, beliefs, and emotions. To assert otherwise would be ridiculous. But we must not give ourselves too much credit. We are all sinners, and one of the most tragic and difficult aspects of sin is how deceptive it can be—even for repentant followers of Jesus.
Scripture is rife with warnings about the deceptiveness of sin. For example, the apostle Paul warned the church in Corinth “not to associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler.” (1 Cor. 5:9)
So apparently, it’s possible to believe you are a Christian even when your life gives clear evidence to the contrary. I don’t know about you, but I find that terrifying!
But notice what Paul tells this church to do about such a person—do not associate with him. Cut him loose. In other words, the church should make it clear to this individual that his conduct is inconsistent with his claim. He is not living like a Christian, but rather an idolater, a slanderer, a drunkard, etc. Despite his own claims to love Christ—a claim that could very well be honest and well intentioned—he appears to be deceived.
In the same way, it is vital for us to submit to the authority of a local church in order to more clearly see the reality of our own hearts. What a joy it is when my profession of faith is affirmed by a church who observes my life and agrees that Christ indeed lives in me. But if it appears that Christ does not live in me, the most loving thing anyone can do for me is warn me of that fact so that I can turn from my sin and seek salvation through self-denying faith in Jesus.
Similarly, you should join a church for the sake of other Christians. In the same way that the church serves to affirm the veracity of your gospel profession, you can be a part of doing the same for others. Do you want to really love and help those who claim Christ? The church provides you with an effective outlet for holding up the gospel and helping others understand their own hearts’ response to that gospel.
However, your role as a church member is about more than just affirming or denying the professions of others. Church membership is about Christians making a covenant with one another to pray for one another, serve with one another, guard one another from sin, encourage one another in faith, affirm one another’s gifts, and meet one another’s needs.
The writer of the book of Hebrews instructs Christians to “spur one another on” and “not neglect meeting together as some are in the habit of doing.” (Heb. 10:24-25) This is just a small sample of what how the church functions for believers. When we read through the rest of the New Testament, we find that this is the normal way of life in the local church.[3]
Finally, it is vital that you join a church for the sake of non-Christians. Just as church membership clarifies the Gospel to those inside the church, it also clarifies the gospel to those outside. When we accept some people as members of a church—while excluding others—we are, in a sense, distinguishing ourselves from the rest of the world. We are in effect saying, “Hey world, check out our church members. This is what a Christian looks like! This is what the gospel looks like!”
When we refuse or neglect to take part in church membership, we are forfeiting a tremendous witnessing opportunity, one which God himself has graciously ordained for the spread of the gospel in our neighborhoods and in the nations.
So why pass that up? Sure, no church is perfect, and living in covenant with other sinners will always bring challenges. But I can say from experience that for the three reasons I discussed above—and many other reasons—it is definitely worthwhile.
Are you a Christian? Prove it. Join a church.
[1] Mark Dever, What Is a Healthy Church? (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2005), 21.
[2] See Matt. 7:21-23
[3] For a few examples, see Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-37, Eph. 4:11-16, Phil. 1:27-30
Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.
If you are an evangelical Christian living in the Western Hemisphere, there is a good chance you have heard this exhortation before. Attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi (though it wasn’t until two centuries after his death that this saying was linked to him), this oft-quoted platitude serves as the basis for a common approach to Christian evangelism that suggests it is possible—and perhaps preferable—to effectively communicate the gospel solely through actions.
In other words, evangelism does not always require a verbal explanation of the gospel. If we want to communicate the gospel to people, all that is really necessary most of the time is a pattern of behavior that bears witness to the gospel.
Be kind to others. Help those who are in need. Provide for your family. Be a man of your word. Be faithful to your spouse. Don’t get drunk. Don’t cheat on your taxes. Pay all your bills on time. Love. Forgive. Embrace.
These are all wonderful things that commend the gospel. When our lives are full of these qualities, we give compelling evidence for the power and truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
But this raises a question: Is this all we need to do in order to faithfully and effectively bear witness to our God?
An examination of Scripture says no. Consider, for example, the overwhelming pattern in the New Testament of Christians verbally explaining the gospel. The book of Acts alone is replete with verbal evangelism. Here are a few examples:
Notice how many of these passages include the phrase “he opened his mouth.” I do not think it is by accident that this phrase occurs so frequently. It seems that the writer of Acts intends to draw our attention to the fact that verbal preaching was the primary means of the gospel being spread in the first century of Christianity. Christians spoke; non-Christians heard and believed.
So the question we must answer is: Why should we expect that it would be any different today?
Well, it isn’t any different at all. Words are still primary in evangelism. The modern emphasis on actions as a primary means of evangelism is rooted in a reluctance to offend people with the very message that is intended to reconcile people to God. After all, if we’re going to people that Jesus is real, we must spend more time doing things that will attract them to the truth rather than turning them away with our harsh-sounding words.
While I appreciate the heart behind this, I think it completely misses the basic fact that the gospel message is inherently offensive to unbelieving ears. What person do you know enjoys being told that he is a guilty rebel who is hopelessly in need of a Savior? But consider for a moment—does an individual’s feelings or response to the gospel make it any less true?
We Christians need to come to terms with the fact that the world simply will not love us and embrace us for preaching the gospel. But this does not discourage us from boldly speaking the truth. To the contrary, we are motivated by the fact that preaching the gospel—regardless of how it is received—gives glory to our God.
Moreover, we know that even if some of our hearers reject the message, others who hear that same message will believe it and put their hope in Christ. Don’t believe me? Look again at Peter, Paul, and Stephen. All three of these men were openly mocked while they preached. Stephen was stoned to death! But in each of these cases, there were some people among the crowd who repented and believed.
Does that mean that we are guaranteed the same result every time we open our mouths to preach the gospel? No. But it does show us that God works miracles to cause people to repent and believe, even when we least expect it. So in faith, we open our mouths—like Peter, Paul, and Stephen—and we plead with sinners to trust in Christ for forgiveness and salvation.
Our actions are important. In fact, the book of James assures us that our actions are vital to our witness as followers of Christ. Do you claim to have faith in Jesus? Well, your life had better back that up. But in the end, that’s all actions are—evidence of the spiritual reality to which we lay claim.
As such, we must deliberately explain the gospel. We must talk about God’s holiness, our sin, and Christ’s atoning death. We must talk about repentance, faith, and sanctification. We must talk about the joys of following Christ in this life and the awesome hope we have for eternal life. We must open our mouths and talk about these things. And we must do it early and often.
Should we be wise in knowing exactly when and how to speak up? Of course. But at the end of the day, we’ve got to speak up or else we cannot really call it evangelism.
The gospel is not self-evident, though we certainly wish it were. Rather, people need to hear the gospel in order to believe it. God has ordained it this way.
I came across this video the other night, and I had to share it. I know this is a bit old, but it is still too good not to post. In this short video clip, 4-year-old Josh Sacco gives his own rendition of Kurt Russell’s pregame emotional pregame speech from the 2004 movie Miracle. Whether you have seen the movie or not, I think you will find this entertaining. Enjoy!
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