The Gospel – Power to Transform

Note: I recently dug up this paper which I wrote as a part of the Christian Ministries certificate I completed at Elnora Bible Institute. I’m posting it here in hopes it will help others understand how the gospel framework affects our entire Christian life.

Thesis: The gospel as revealed in God’s inerrant, infallible Word must be the foundation of every area of a Christian’s life.

Outline

1. The Bible is a Sure Foundation
   • Authoritative
   • Inerrant
   • Clear
   • Sufficient
2. The Gospel Revealed
   • Man’s Depravity
   • God’s Mercy
3. A Christian’s Response
4. Gospel and the Culture
   • Origin and Age of the Earth
   • Sexual Revolution
   • Sanctity of Life
5. The Power of the Gospel

Introduction

The world as a whole continues to drift farther away from righteous and moral living. Countless human lives are brutally terminated through abortions, careless stem-cell research, and genocides; sexual immorality and promiscuity are displayed openly; and violence is celebrated as just another pastime. Where have people strayed? What causes a nation such as America, which once promoted Christian principles, to disintegrate to such levels of depravity? The modern world is in desperate need of the gospel as revealed in the Bible. The gospel-centered worldview provides a foundation, giving direction in arenas where many are left wondering. The culture will only be revived when the gospel becomes a reality in every realm of human existence.

The Bible is a Sure Foundation

The gospel must have a sure foundation, and that foundation is found in the Bible. Though God’s Word is often attacked as legalistic, outdated, or unreliable, it has proven itself true time and again. It is not only true, but it is the only source of ultimate Truth. Without the Bible, man is left with only his fallible speculations and observations of human life. With the Bible, God’s own words given and revealed through men, humanity is given a standard of Truth which burns away the fog and brings light and clarity. God’s Word is authoritative, inerrant, clear, and sufficient. It is absolute Truth, breathed out by the immutable, perfect, eternal God, and qualified to perfectly speak into every area of life.

Authority

Scripture, because it is the very Word of the Lord God, is authoritative. “The authority of Scripture means that all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God” (Grudem 73). The Bible was breathed out – literally “expired” – through man by God’s Spirit (2 Tim. 3.16). It flows directly from God and bears exactly the same authority as the direct, audible words of God. Because it is the direct Word of God, it is qualified to be the final authority on every issue it touches.

Inerrancy

Along with its absolute authority, Scripture is inerrant. “The inerrancy of Scripture means that Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact” (Grudem, 91). Because God cannot lie, his Word must also be entirely true. John 17:17 says “[God’s] word is truth” (ESV). The original Greek word for truth in this passage is not either alethenos or alethes, two common words for something that is true, but aletheia – truth itself. God’s words are more than just correct; they are the very definition of absolute truth. The Bible is the very nature and essence of truthfulness, because God’s nature demands that his Word be entirely truthful.

Some argue that the Bible contains debilitating errors which render it incapable of inerrancy. However, the inerrancy has more to do with overall truthfulness than with the technical accuracy of every detail. Scripture often approximates numbers or speaks from a specific person’s perspective rather than giving a completely perfect account. Other contingencies stem from quotations of texts in other portions of Scripture. Passages rarely appear word-perfect when quoted, but in every instance what they affirm is still entirely true. Authors wrote with some variances because of cultural influences or specific intended emphasis. Many of Paul’s quotations of the Old Testament vary slightly because he pulled them from the Septuagint rather than the original Hebrew text. These approximations and variations, though not technically perfect, never affirm anything untrue.

The Bible was perfectly constructed by the joint effort of both human authorship and the Holy Spirit’s divine influence. Brian Edwards sums it up well:

The Holy Spirit moved men to write. He allowed them to use their own styles, cultures, gifts, and character. He allowed them to use the results of their own study and research, write of their own experiences, and express what was in their minds. At the same time, the Holy Spirit did not allow error to influence their writings. He overruled in the expression of thought and in the choice of words. Thus, they recorded accurately all God wanted them to say and exactly how He wanted them to say it in their own character, styles, and languages.

The Holy Spirit was present as each word was authored, divinely superseding over the entire process to ensure the inerrancy of all the original documents of Scripture.

Clarity

The Bible is also clear, written in such a way that all who read it can understand it if they approach it with humble submission to the Holy Spirit and willingness to obey (Grudem 108). It is true that Scripture is often misinterpreted, poorly understood, and misapplied, but this speaks more of people’s own inability than of the Bible’s clarity. Men often superimpose their own unbiblical presuppositions which renders a poor understanding of the text. God honors those who study his Word with a sincere desire for truth, and he will, through his Spirit, guide them into all truth (John 13.16).

Sufficiency

The fourth pillar of truth is that the Bible is sufficient: “it contained all the words of God he intended his people to have at each stage of redemptive history, and that it now contains all the words of God [Christians] need for salvation, for trusting him perfectly, and for obeying him perfectly” (Grudem 127). While not every issue Christians encounter is addressed explicitly in Scripture, it does give principles which apply to every situation they encounter. Scripture is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (ESV, 2 Tim. 3.16-17, emphasis added). It contains everything necessary for victorious Christian living, able to fully equip believers for holy living. Peter’s second epistle says that “[God’s] divine power has granted to [Christians] all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called [them] to his own glory and excellence” (ESV, emphasis added). All things that pertain to life and godliness. A believer, through diligent study of the Scriptures, can find instruction relating to every aspect of life. This includes more than simply spiritual matters, but also cultural, social, and relational issues.

The Gospel Revealed

These four characteristics of God’s Word — authority, inerrancy, clarity, and sufficiency — lay the groundwork for the gospel. The gospel is revealed throughout the narrative of Scripture, God’s designs to rescue humanity saturating every page. The gospel, rooted in the infallible Scriptures, is undeniably true and is necessarily relevant to the Christian life. This truth, evidenced in both his historical work and his effect in the modern world, reinforces the reality of Christ’s existence. The entire Bible is God’s divine story of redemption for sinful, fallen mankind. The gospel is revealed in each jot and tittle, each page depicting the glorious account of God’s sovereignty, justice, and undying love.

In order for the gospel to have its full effect, one must realize two essential truths: his own depravity and the marvelous grace and mercy God has shown. Charles Spurgeon said,

Too many think lightly of sin, and therefore think lightly of the Savior. He who has stood before his God, convicted and condemned, with the rope about his neck, is the man to weep for joy when he is pardoned, to hate the evil which has been forgiven, and to live to the honor of the Redeemer by whose blood he has been cleansed. (Dallimore 14)

An encounter with the genuine gospel transforms every area of life, giving Christians both the motivation to live out and the foundation to defend their faith.

Man’s Depravity

Realizing the gravity of man’s depravity is the first step to appreciating the wonderful mercies of the gospel. The Dordrecht Confession of Faith, written by early Anabaptists, stated that “Our first parents, Adam and Eve . . . transgressed the high commandment of God and became disobedient to their Creator; through which disobedience sin has come into the world, and death by sin, which has thus passed upon all men, for that all have sinned, and, hence, brought upon themselves the wrath of God, and condemnation.” Unless one recognizes his own dreadfully depraved state he cannot appreciate his need for God’s grace. Man’s own rebellion renders him guilty before the holiness and perfection of God; without God he is hopelessly damned to an eternity of torment in hell, confined there by a thoroughly righteous Judge. Menno Simons, a pivotal early Anabaptist, was conscience of his persistent sinfulness and his own great need of grace even after many years of ministry:

But as for my poor, weak, and imperfect life is concerned, I confess freely that I am a poor,   miserable sinner, conceived in sin and born sinful out of sinful seed, saying with David that ‘my sin is ever before me,’ Psalm 51:3. My thoughts, words, and deeds indict me. I note and    see with the Holy Paul that nothing good dwells in me. (Dyck 44)

God’s Mercy

The second element necessary to appreciate the gospel is a realization of the great grace God has bestowed on mankind. The singular reward man deserves is separation from God because of his own sin, but, “According to his great mercy, [God] has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (ESV, 1 Peter 1.3). Nothing man did or can do binds God to save man; it is only because of God’s grace and mercy that man is revived. God, through his worthy substitute Jesus Christ, invites man to come into a restored relationship with him. Christ’s death paid for man’s life. This free gift is accepted by faith alone; works are entirely excluded. Praise and worship through righteous living is the only rational response to this great mercy. Any man who encounters and accepts this truth must advertise his affection through a transformed life.

A Christian’s Response

How then, in light of this great mercy, is a Christian to respond? What effect does the gospel have on the ordinary Christian life? The gospel is necessary for salvation and is necessary for humanity to have a restored relationship with God, but does its power end there? No. It not only brings salvation, but it also impacts each area of Christianity. It clarifies uncertain issues, provides a reason for morality, and transforms a Christian’s priorities, motivating him into action. A Christian must now seek to honor God in every area of life. Things which contradict his character (i.e. abortion, sexual promiscuity, etc.) should also be repulsive to the Christian. His responsibility is to showcase God’s love, justice, and perfection in every aspect of his life. Because the Christian has been given much he must also give much, willingly sacrificing comfort, convenience, and complacent living to see that God is honored.

Immorality in the culture is objectionable to the Christian because it violates the very nature of God. Anything which contradicts his character, his divine word, or his design and intent for man should invoke a Christian’s response. His intent in bringing change should be motivated by love for God, love for his laws, and love for the individual person. The decisions a person makes as a result of his worldview will have drastic repercussions in his life both now and eternally, so a Christian must intentionally bring Scripture to bear in the culture. A Christian’s love for the individual must drive him to compassionately bring truth to bear in that person’s life. His worldview, grounded upon the unshakable Truth of Scripture, will clash with the unbeliever’s, but his response must be to lovingly correct the erring individual.

The Gospel and The Culture

The gospel forms a worldview which is counter-cultural. Where many stumble to find answers, a Christian has clarity. This worldview is not limited to merely spiritual matters; every area is affected. The Bible provides the foundation and the clarity to address ethical, vocational, and relational issues. Each area of life can and will be affected by the Christian worldview that stems from a Bible-centered, gospel-focused worldview. “We are Christians in every domain of our existence. You cut us into pieces, you examine every piece, and you see the same thing – to the glory of God – the Word of God made manifest in a human” (Ludy). A true Christian must not be impartial to important issues, nor should he be inconsistent, speaking boldly against certain cultural sins while remaining silent on others.

Several areas deserve specific notice in this discussion: the origin and age of the earth, the sexual revolution, and the sanctity of life. Each has morphed significantly in the last century as the larger culture replaces objective truth with subjective, relying mostly on feelings rather than an absolute, reliable source of truth. Where does man turn when he is confused about absolute truth? Will he dig within himself to find it, or will he rather appeal to a greater, objective Reality outside of himself? Whether or not a person admits it, every area of his life will be touched by his perception of morality and truth. How does holding a biblical worldview bring light to these issues where a secular view may not?

Age and Origin of the Earth

The first issue, the age and origin of the earth, is the source of much controversy. Modern scientists promote the idea of evolution: the belief that the earth seen now came to be over millions or billions of years. Their conclusions stem from the presupposed denial of absolute truth. An outright rejection of the truths of Scripture requires them to create an alternative explanation for the origin of the earth. They conform evidence to their perspective in order to formulate plausible theories. What should be expected, though, if the Bible is denied? Without this foundation they are left to their imaginations, wandering without a starting point. Man chafes at the thought of being held accountable to a Higher Power, so he turns to evolution as the most believable explanation of man’s existence. Though this conveniently eliminates God from the equation, it fails to adequately explain the why and how of creation.

The Bible gives a different perspective of Creation. Rather than explaining this phenomena through abstract concepts, it turns to God as the all-powerful Creator. He is the Source of all things living, and his Word shows his creative acts in detail. Not only does this tell how God created – by his words (Gen. 1.3), but it also gives the reason for man’s existence and the reason for sin in the world today. Man was created to tend the world God made and to glorify him through this work. He, however, rebelled, seeking his own end rather than God’s. Adam’s choice to reject God’s authority introduced sin and corruption; now creation groans as it waits for the revelation of the sons of God (Rom. 8.19, 22). Brokenness, pain, and death are all results of man’s rebellion against God’s authority. Without a biblical basis, man has no answer for these, but the Bible brings clarity where man finds none.

Sexual Revolution

Another area affected by man’s diversion from the truth is his perception of sexuality and genders. Many have come to believe that sexual intimacy should be permitted, whether or not they are married, as long as there is mutual consent. Happiness, they say, is the ultimate goal, and that happiness may be achieved through any “legitimate” avenue. A person’s gender is dependent on his or her own opinion of what he or she should be. For example, if a man may be male physically, he may dress like a woman, act like a woman, and physically change himself to resemble a woman if that is who he feels he is. Sexual attractions are considered legitimate whether directed at the opposite gender or at the same, and personal pleasure is vaunted above scruples.

The Bible stands in stiff contradiction of this perspective; God created mankind as two distinct genders: male and female (Gen. 1.27). His intent was for one man and one woman to commit to each other through marriage and enjoy the gift of sexuality only with each other. Anything outside of this expression is a sinful perversion of the gift God created. Throughout Scripture he condemns any form of sexual immorality, whether it be fornication, adultery, or homosexuality, not as a cold-hearted repression of human joy but as a passionate desire for genuine, pure intimacy and a jealousy for his own holiness. Marriage, as it was created, illustrates a Christian’s intimate relationship with Jesus. To destroy marriage is to destroy the picture of Christ and the Church: his sacrificial leadership and her joyful submission. The gospel – Christ’s selfless death to atone for sin – is tangibly depicted in a holy marriage. When man deviates from God’s intent for marriage he sins against God by ruining his divine imagery. Distinct guidelines for God-honoring, fulfilling sexuality are found clearly in Scripture; only by abiding by God’s commands will mankind’s sexuality find genuine, lasting fulfillment. Any other expression is a cheap substitute for the gift God gave.

Sanctity of Life

The third area which warrants attention is the sanctity of life. What makes human life valuable? The culture as a whole would object to the notion of the murder of an innocent victim, recognizing that he does have intrinsic value. Many of the same people, however, would allow or support the termination of human life considered invaluable or an inconvenience. Abortion, euthanasia, and assisted suicide are becoming cultural norms. Without any basis for morality the value of human life becomes subjective. Instead of valuing a life because it bears the image of God, men terminate lives wholesale. An unborn baby, deemed to be an inconvenience, is murdered to accommodate the mother’s convenience. An aging parent, viewed as a burden, is calmly put to sleep to minimize the strain on time and finances. An embryo, unique, intrinsically valuable life, is thrown away, used as a resource for the advancement of science. A person who no longer sees his own life as valuable can end it through a simple procedure. Though all of these can be proven to be fully human and fully alive, they are massacred to worship man’s idol of self.

Genesis, the first book of the Bible, clearly lays down principles for the value of every human being as a unique creation of God. God emphasized this uniqueness all through the creation account. The entirety of his creative work, up until the creation of man, came to be by the sole word of God. When God made mankind, however, he “formed, i.e., literally fashioned, molded (LXX eplasen, cf. plastic) man. The word also describes the work of a potter” (Alderfer 11). He created man as the imago dei, the very reflection of God. The original Hebrew word tselem in Genesis 1:27, directly translated, means “image” or “likeness.” Although man is not created on the same level as God, he does possess a measure of God’s nature which is manifested in man’s emotional and spiritual complexity. God breathed into Adam the breath of life, giving him a soul and a spirit (ESV, Gen 2.17).

Every life has value, whether or not man sees it. God fashions each life and breaths the breath of life into them. Without the basis of Scripture, however, man is left to play God, creating and shifting morality to fit convenience. God’s righteous decrees are forgotten, and the value of life becomes subjective. Murder is no longer atrocious because man’s desires have taken over.

The Power of the Gospel

While Scripture does clarify cultural perspectives, it is important to remember that promoting truth alone is not man’s ultimate need. Society’s outright rejection of Scripture flows out of its rejection of accountability to God. This desire for autocracy began when Adam and Eve attempted to elevate their own authority over God’s. Humanity’s desire ever since has been to follow its own lust rather than serve God. A simple conversation with a college student reveals just how far many have drifted from the truth. Objective morality is nearly nonexistent, concrete answers are difficult to find, and God has been reduced to a mere force, if he exists at all.

Humans have become their own gods, devoting their lives solely to pleasing themselves. Romans 1:18-32 shines the light of biblical perspective on the subject. Men do not reject God for a lack of evidence, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” (ESV, Rom. 1.20). God has revealed Himself plainly in creation, but “by their unrighteousness [they] suppress the truth” (ESV, Rom. 1.18). The need for more evidence is not the root of the issue; rather, the issue is man’s heart. “Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them” (ESV, Rom. 1.32). When men choose to pursue their own passions they will reject God’s truth, regardless how persuasive or compelling the argument is. The battle is for the affections of men. The gospel must be brought to bear on this issue, transforming people’s hearts and lives.

The gospel awakens man to his accountability to God, who is the ultimate standard of morality and truth. Christians who have been impacted by this gospel must engage the culture with the gospel truth. They must not compromise; God has chosen his people as the primary way of revealing his love, grace, and compassion to the world. They must respond to God’s merciful work in their own lives by spreading His love to all they encounter. Issues such as abortion, sexual immorality, and evolution are issues because they violate the holy character of God. Christians must draw people away from their sin by pointing them to the One who can truly satisfy their longings – Jesus Christ. Sin is only overcome by greater desire, and that desire comes from a vivid relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. His passionate love, tender compassion, and holy justice must be revealed through the physical hands and feet of obedient Christians.

Much of the world is left helpless, without any basis for morality. Where can man find a standard for absolute truth? In the gospel alone. True morality comes as the gospel works in individual lives. “Union with the Lord Jesus and being filled and controlled by his Holy Spirit produces a genuine spirituality which is the Biblical and the only real answer to secularism, worldliness, legalism, emotionalism, and intellectualism. Redemption means genuinely redeemed lives, not justification of unconverted subscribers to a creed” (Wenger vii). Many people have found a form of morality apart from Scripture, but it is only through the Spirit of God that any truth will have any eternal impact. The gospel gives clear answers where many are found helpless, and gives the power for transformed living. Christ, risen and glorified, is the only true answer. Renewed life and morality in the culture will only be a reality if the gospel does a powerful work in the culture.

Works Consulted

• Alderfer, Edwin and Helen Alderfer.  “The Source and Nature of Life.”  Life and Values. Scottdale: Mennonite Publishing House, 1974.  Pg. 10-41.
• “The Bible and the Sanctity of Life.”  rsrevision.  Web.  15 Dec. 2015. <http://www.rsrevision.com/GCSE/christian_perspectives/life/sanctity/bible.htm>
• Capps, Matt.  “The Importance of a Christian Worldview.”  The Gospel Project. 21 Oct. 2013.  Web.  23 April 2016.  <https://www.gospelproject.com/2013/10/21/the-importance-of-a-christian-worldview/>
• Chaffey, Tim.  “Thiestic Evolution.”  Answers in Genesis.  July 8, 2011.  Web.  12 Dec.    2015.  <https://answersingenesis.org/theistic-evolution/theistic-evolution/>
• “Dordrecht Confession of Faith.”  Global Anabaptist Encyclopedia Online.  Web. 19 April 2016.      <http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Dordrecht_Confession_of_Faith_(Mennonite,_1632)>
• Dallimore, Arnold.  Spurgeon, A New Biography.  Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1987.  Pg. 14.
• Dyck, Cornelius J.  Spiritual Life in Anabaptism.  Scottdale: Herald Press, 1995.  Pg. 44.
• Edwards, Brian H.  “Why Should We Believe in the Inerrancy of Scripture?” 
• Answers in Genesis.  5 July 2011.  Web.  23 April 2016.  <https://answersingenesis.org/is-the-bible-true/why-should-we-believe-in-the-inerrancy-of-scripture/>
• Grudem, Wayne.  “The Doctrine of the Word of God.”  Systematic Theology.  Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.  Pg. 47-138.
• Keathley, J Hampton.  “6. The Bible: The Inerrant Word of God.”  Bible.org.  3 June 2016.  Web.  23 April 2016.  <https://bible.org/seriespage/6-bible-inerrant-word-god>
• The Holy Bible, English Standard Version.  Wheaton: Crossway, 2001.
• Ludy, Eric.  “The Gospel Worldview.”  Ellerslie.  7 Oct. 2012.  Web.  23 April 2016.              <http://ellerslie.com/sermons/eric-ludy/10-7-12/the-gospel-wordview>
• Piper, John.  “How Are the Synoptics ‘Without Error?’”  Desiring God.  7 Oct. 1976.  Web.  23 April 2016.  <http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-are-the-synoptics-without-error>
• “What does it mean to believe in the sanctity of life?”  got Questions?  Web.  15 Dec. 2015.  <http://www.gotquestions.org/sanctity-of-life.html>
• Wenger, J.C.  “Preface.”  Introduction to Theology.  Scottdale: Herald Press, 1954.  Pg. v-ix.