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Have You Received The Whole Gospel?
It is widely accepted in America that Jesus died on the cross for
our sins and that He will save us and that we'll live forever.
Words like grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love are commonly
attached to the message of Jesus Christ in present day life as a
comfort to the lost and encouragement to them who have no
hope and rightly so. Undoubtedly, this is the "good news". The
markup on our investment is infinite and if I didn't know any
better, I'd say it was a "steal". But as with any other news or
information, knowing only part of the truth has proven to be
dangerous. Just think if all you knew about electricity is that it
can light, heat, and cool your home; you could be shocked or
electrocuted; or if all you knew about gasoline is that it makes
your car go; a cigarette butt or match thrown the wrong way and
boom! You're dead! What if all you knew about fire was that it
can light a dark room and that you can use it to cook?
The gospel of Jesus Christ is much the same in that the only part
that is usually embraced is the part that feels good and helps us.
Many people have fallen away not recognizing that it's not that
they didn't want Christ anymore or to not be saved. That's
absurd! For example, when Jesus found me running from trouble
in the life that I had just received, this was the question posed to
me; have you received the whole gospel? It became clear to me
rather quickly that I had not only rejected part of the truth of His
words, but I actually despised them. "I just want to be saved,
Lord; Bless me, exalt me, prosper me, and make me famous to
make up for all the years I wasted; you can keep all of the other
stuff." It was that simple for me. I hadn't got in it for all the
suffering. Besides, that's why I came to Christ; to avoid suffering!
Then I felt like I might be doing something wrong and I was
being punished. I couldn't figure it out to save my soul. Then I
did something that was strange for me at that time in my life; I
read my bible! I wanted to see if the answer to my problem was
in there. Well, of course, it was but it brought me to a fork in the
road. To my right was this way that was strange, very painful,
and full of uncertainty; to my left was doing what ever I wanted
to as long I made it to church on Sunday, gave an offering, and
stayed out of jail. For the first time in my life I was face to face
with the temptation to just fake it. Why? Jesus said that "when
tribulation and persecution ariseth by and by he is offended."
Now the definition of persecution is obvious, though when or
why we're persecuted may not be, but let us draw our attention
to the tribulation. Did you know Jesus said that we would be
called devils and lunatics; that we would be falsely accused and
stolen from? Have you received that gospel? Did you know He
said that we would be called evil and that people would speak all
manner of evil against us? He said men would try to persuade us
to do things and others would want to beat us because of His
name. Have you received that gospel? You may say, "Well, that's
not good news!" Jesus said when we're hated, rejected, and
degraded to rejoice and leap for joy. (Luke 6:22-23) Why?
Because it feels good? No! He says because "your reward is great
in heaven...". So, I'll ask you, how do you respond when
someone tries to play you for a fool or steal from you? What
about when someone just flat out lies on you? Befriends you then
betrays you? I hear many say, "Well, I'm not Jesus." Jesus said
God sent Him and He's sending us; and that He's not better than
God and we're not better than Him. (John 13:6, 17:18) I've
learned that living on only part of the gospel is like having one
prong on the end of a plug. It's completely powerless. "The
gospel is the power of God unto salvation..." but it can't be just
part of it. Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts
and ask yourself, "Have you received the whole gospel?" Peace...
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our sins and that He will save us and that we'll live forever.
Words like grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love are commonly
attached to the message of Jesus Christ in present day life as a
comfort to the lost and encouragement to them who have no
hope and rightly so. Undoubtedly, this is the "good news". The
markup on our investment is infinite and if I didn't know any
better, I'd say it was a "steal". But as with any other news or
information, knowing only part of the truth has proven to be
dangerous. Just think if all you knew about electricity is that it
can light, heat, and cool your home; you could be shocked or
electrocuted; or if all you knew about gasoline is that it makes
your car go; a cigarette butt or match thrown the wrong way and
boom! You're dead! What if all you knew about fire was that it
can light a dark room and that you can use it to cook?
The gospel of Jesus Christ is much the same in that the only part
that is usually embraced is the part that feels good and helps us.
Many people have fallen away not recognizing that it's not that
they didn't want Christ anymore or to not be saved. That's
absurd! For example, when Jesus found me running from trouble
in the life that I had just received, this was the question posed to
me; have you received the whole gospel? It became clear to me
rather quickly that I had not only rejected part of the truth of His
words, but I actually despised them. "I just want to be saved,
Lord; Bless me, exalt me, prosper me, and make me famous to
make up for all the years I wasted; you can keep all of the other
stuff." It was that simple for me. I hadn't got in it for all the
suffering. Besides, that's why I came to Christ; to avoid suffering!
Then I felt like I might be doing something wrong and I was
being punished. I couldn't figure it out to save my soul. Then I
did something that was strange for me at that time in my life; I
read my bible! I wanted to see if the answer to my problem was
in there. Well, of course, it was but it brought me to a fork in the
road. To my right was this way that was strange, very painful,
and full of uncertainty; to my left was doing what ever I wanted
to as long I made it to church on Sunday, gave an offering, and
stayed out of jail. For the first time in my life I was face to face
with the temptation to just fake it. Why? Jesus said that "when
tribulation and persecution ariseth by and by he is offended."
Now the definition of persecution is obvious, though when or
why we're persecuted may not be, but let us draw our attention
to the tribulation. Did you know Jesus said that we would be
called devils and lunatics; that we would be falsely accused and
stolen from? Have you received that gospel? Did you know He
said that we would be called evil and that people would speak all
manner of evil against us? He said men would try to persuade us
to do things and others would want to beat us because of His
name. Have you received that gospel? You may say, "Well, that's
not good news!" Jesus said when we're hated, rejected, and
degraded to rejoice and leap for joy. (Luke 6:22-23) Why?
Because it feels good? No! He says because "your reward is great
in heaven...". So, I'll ask you, how do you respond when
someone tries to play you for a fool or steal from you? What
about when someone just flat out lies on you? Befriends you then
betrays you? I hear many say, "Well, I'm not Jesus." Jesus said
God sent Him and He's sending us; and that He's not better than
God and we're not better than Him. (John 13:6, 17:18) I've
learned that living on only part of the gospel is like having one
prong on the end of a plug. It's completely powerless. "The
gospel is the power of God unto salvation..." but it can't be just
part of it. Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts
and ask yourself, "Have you received the whole gospel?" Peace...
Home The Gospel Ask A Question
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By: Pastor Aaron Clark
DEVOTION TODAY Have you had yours?