The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. When the Gospel is proclaimed as God gave it, it has the power to either save the soul or further harden it. It has been proclaimed once for all. There will be no additions to it – no more new revelation, no more new Scripture. Once Jesus rose from the dead, all that was left was to proclaim it and teach how to live in light of regeneration and then how things would end. There is nothing more to be said. And as Christians, we are commanded to preach the Gospel as God gave it, with no changes, exactly as it was given, and there is a hefty price for failing to do so.
We are to preach the Gospel regardless of how it is accepted or not. If no one receives it, that’s not our problem as long as we were faithful to the message given. We still give God glory. If everyone receives it, then we have two scenarios: we were faithful and God gave a special blessing, or we were not faithful and we got man’s praise.
We will never be able to preach the full Gospel in one sitting, let alone in our lifetime, so preach the parts we can that specifically address the situations we are facing. But the end goal is still Christ and the solution to all problems is still the cross because all problems are from one thing: sin. That said, any extras, any ‘secondary’ doctrines we deal with, need to be correct too because nothing tells an audience your story is baloney if you need to lead them to a lie in order to expose them to the truth. It does no one any good to load up your talk on totally extraneous stuff and then say, “By the way, Jesus loves you.” It needs to be connected.
Preaching the Gospel is not a competition. That is one thing I despise seeing in the Christian community. And I’ll get on my fellow “young earth creationists” for it as well as “campus ministries” where I have seen it too. They seem to carry that attitude more than some others, where other ministries are competition instead of partners in the same war. Jesus told His disciples to not stop a man preaching in Jesus’ name because he was not against Jesus. There is no need to be part of your “clique” to be able to preach the Gospel. If the Gospel is being preached, praise the Lord.
But what about those who have false doctrines and yet somehow preach the Gospel correctly from time to time and people get saved? We praise the Lord that the Gospel was preached, but that does not mean we endorse the false teacher. We still mark such a person, and we still avoid them, but we do not deny God’s sovereign power to work even through a heretic. We are not to endorse or support said teacher even if some people happened to have gotten saved because they did get the Gospel right on occasion if most of the time, they aren’t preaching the Gospel. They are preaching their own message, so be careful. Endorse those who preach the message correctly, expose those who do not, and praise the Lord anytime the Gospel is proclaimed regardless of who it is from.
Preach a correct response to the Gospel as well. Do not leave someone ready to meet the Lord hanging, but do not seek any manipulative means to get more people to the altar. Provide an opportunity to respond after the message, but if someone is going to respond right then and there, let them do it. Always include the correct response of repentance and faith and be sure the people understand that Christianity is a life of denial of self and a lifting up of God and living with His heart for this world.
The Gospel is not a “Get out of hell free” card, though getting out of hell is a benefit. The Gospel is about the life-changing transformation from a sinner in rebellion against God into a submissive, obedient child of God. The benefits that come with it are just bonuses. We will get to rule, we will get to paradise, and we will get to judge angels, but those are all side effects of being a child of God whose first and foremost purpose is to worship, glorify, and enjoy God forever.
The Gospel is not about heaven. We can talk about heaven, but it’s not about heaven. The Gospel is about the relationship between Jesus and His bride, the Church. It is about the true marriage between Jesus and the believer. That is one thing I have noticed in many of the “heavenly tourism” proclamations: a lack of focus on Jesus and the Father. Many do mention Him, but very casually and rather nonchalantly. When Isaiah and John saw their glimpses of heaven, the majesty and glory of God were all they could think about, as well as their own unworthiness to be there. When these “tourists” go to “visit heaven,” there is no solemnity and the focus is all on the joyous, fun things we get to do. It’s not about God. And worse is when they barely give a mention of how to get there, because they presume their audience is already going. That’s not the Gospel. The Gospel is about God, for God, and towards God, and we simply get to enjoy the side benefits of being there.
As I conclude this series, the Gospel needs to be the focus of every believer – preaching it to others and living it out. If our lives did not change, we did not hear the Gospel, even if it was preached correctly. We did not receive it. Do not worry about what others say about the Gospel. Let God deal with them, whether they receive it or not. And when it is all said and done, let our attitude be, “I am but a humble servant; I have only done that which I ought.”
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he·don·ism
/ˈhēdnˌizəm,ˈhēdəˌnizəm/
noun
1. the pursuit of pleasure; sensual self-indulgence.
Philosophy: the ethical theory that pleasure (in the sense of the satisfaction of desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life.
When I was a child, I was blessed to go to Church every single week. As I got older, I also attended a vibrant youth ministry every single Wednesday evening.
Admittedly, it has taken me many years to realize that while church attendance was and is very important, and I encourage it, that’s not really what influenced my life. Back then, what really influenced my life more than anything were friends and the government-run school I attended. I believe it is time for many of us who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s to admit what way of life and lifestyle many of us really were disciples of. It’s time to admit many of us were trained up and put on the road to hedonism.
I am not saying in every circumstance, but in many, many ways, we were directed toward hedonism being the way of life we should pursue. I encourage you to pray about this. Think about and remember the music, movies. Think about the fact that in the government-run schools we were educated in frowned immensely on not talking about the God of the Bible and not teaching His good and right ways. What was promoted and taught? The philosophy of hedonism. I encourage you to pray and truly seek out God’s counsel on this.
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning;
for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.
- 1 Corinthians 15:33-34
As I look back on my life, I realize how much I listened to and allowed the ideas of humans to influence my life instead of hearing and obeying God’s ways to live in this world that He has given to us. Just one example in my life is in regard to the meaning of the word love. The Bible is clear that love is long suffering and love is kind, and it does not envy, nor is it self-seeking (1 Corinthians 13). A friend of mine “counseled” me in the meaning of the word and “helped” me to see that love could mean something else. This person encouraged me to see that loving someone could be having sex with another person I desired to be with that wasn’t my wife to “show” her how much I “loved” her, even though we knew that the Bible taught something completely different. Sadly, I began to see the “wisdom” in this new thought. In essence, this person was trying to convince me to live out the philosophy of hedonism, that “pleasure is the highest and proper aim of human life.”
Think about much of the music children and teenagers were exposed to in the 1970s and 1980s:
“Pour some sugar on me”
“Girls, girls, girls”
“Shook me all night long”
“Talk dirty to me”
“When doves cry”
Those of us who grew up listening to songs like these know what they are about. You’re not an idiot and neither am I. These songs and many songs like them are all about hedonism. It is my belief that it is time for those of us who grew up in that time and indulged in hedonism, and possibly still are, need to confess our sin, ask for forgiveness, and repent – turn away from this way of life.
I think if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll see things in our society and even in the Church now have only gotten worse.
I greatly encourage you to begin to strive to live out for Jesus Christ in all that you do. Begin to raise your children in Godliness and not in the ways of the world anymore. As Christ followers, we need to take Romans 12:2 seriously.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
- Romans 12:2
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Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
In this part of 2 Corinthians, Paul is in the middle of a teaching on generosity. This has been his topic since the start of chapter 8, and in the previous section, Paul began to talk about an attitude of generosity. That is the theme he continues here in greater depth.
To start, Paul shares a fundamental principle in verse 6 that governs both the physical and spiritual realms: the law of sowing and reaping. This metaphor, rooted in agricultural imagery, was easily understood by his audience. The analogy is simple yet profound: just as a farmer’s harvest depends on the amount of seed sown, so too do the blessings and results in our lives correspond to the generosity of our giving. Paul had previously discussed this idea in Galatians 6:7, and it is also referred to in Proverbs – 11:24-25, 19:17, and 22:8-9 just to name a few.
In the context of Christian giving, Paul emphasizes that the measure of our generosity directly affects the measure of blessings we receive. However, it’s important to note that Paul is not advocating a prosperity gospel, where giving is motivated by the desire for material wealth. Rather, he is teaching that God blesses those who give out of genuine love and generosity. The “harvest” may not always be material but could manifest in spiritual growth, deepened relationships, or greater joy.
In verse 7, Paul shifts from the principle of sowing and reaping to the attitude of the giver. Giving is not just about the amount but the heart behind it. Paul emphasizes that giving should be a personal decision, made willingly and joyfully. The phrase “not reluctantly or under compulsion” highlights that God values the spirit in which the gift is given more than the gift itself. The statement “God loves a cheerful giver” is key. It reflects God’s own nature, as He gives to us out of love, not obligation. When we give cheerfully, we align ourselves with God’s heart, participating in His joy.
Paul reassures the Corinthians that their generosity will not lead to lack but rather to abundance (verse 8). This verse highlights God’s ability to provide for His people. The repetition of the word “all” underscores the completeness of God’s provision: “in all things at all times, having all that you need.” This abundance, however, is not for selfish indulgence but to enable believers to “abound in every good work.” Paul is emphasizing that God’s blessings equip us to serve others more effectively. The resources God provides are intended to be used in fulfilling His purposes, and as we give, God continues to supply what we need to do good.
In verse 9, Paul quotes Psalm 112:9, a psalm that describes the righteous person who fears the Lord. The imagery of scattering gifts to the poor suggests not just occasional giving but a lifestyle of generosity. This kind of giving reflects a heart transformed by God’s righteousness. The second part of the verse, “their righteousness endures forever,” speaks to the lasting impact of such generosity. Acts of kindness and generosity are not forgotten; they have eternal significance. This verse challenges us to consider the legacy of our giving. Are we sowing seeds that will bear eternal fruit?
Paul continues to build on the agricultural metaphor in verse 10, reminding the Corinthians that God is the ultimate source of all we have. The same God who provides “seed to the sower and bread for food” is the one who will “increase your store of seed and enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” This reassures us that when we give, we are not depleting our resources but participating in a cycle of divine provision. God not only replenishes what we give but also multiplies it, leading to an even greater “harvest of righteousness.” This harvest is not just about material wealth but includes spiritual growth, deepened faith, and increased impact for God’s kingdom.
Paul concludes this passage in verse 11 by summarizing the purpose of God’s blessings. The phrase “enriched in every way” encompasses both material and spiritual blessings. God’s enrichment is holistic, touching every aspect of our lives. However, the purpose of this enrichment is clear: “so that you can be generous on every occasion.” God blesses us so that we can be a blessing to others. Our generosity, in turn, leads to thanksgiving to God. This cycle of blessing, giving, and gratitude brings glory to God, which is the ultimate goal.
This passage first of all reminds us of the idea of sowing and reaping, which is foundational for our generosity. But the attitude of the giver is the most important; we give cheerfully and willingly because God gave to us in that way. We give to honor Him and further His Kingdom on this earth. We can trust that when God calls us to give to Him, He will provide for our needs and bless us abundantly when we give to bring Him glory. In a world that often values accumulation, this passage reminds us of the joy and purpose found in giving, reflecting the generous heart of our Creator.
This forum is meant to foster discussion and allow for differing viewpoints to be explored with equal and respectful consideration. All comments are moderated and any foul language or threatening/abusive comments will not be approved. Users who engage in threatening or abusive comments which are physically harmful in nature will be reported to the authorities.
