GOspel
When considering true discipleship, the very first concept to take in is that it begins with the Gospel. Without the Gospel, there is no discipleship, and if the Gospel is not properly understood, it becomes difficult to understand many other things about the faith and to develop a consistent model of theology within the individual and within the community of believers as a whole.
What exactly is the Gospel? Is it simply the story of the sacrifice that Jesus Christ bore on the Roman cross two thousand years ago? Is it simply the power of God shown through the resurrection of our Lord?
I remember talking with my mother, during the course of writing this book. She began to describe a situation in which I did something to earn her punishment. We could not remember what it was that I did, but we did remember that I needed to apologize to the person I wronged. Even though I was only five or six, I was apparently full of pride and refused to apologize. My mother began to count, as many parents do, and for each new number I earned another spanking. One, two, three, and so on. My mother reached either the number twelve or the number thirteen before I would apologize. Yes, that means I earned myself thirteen spankings on this occasion.
What my mother did, would make no sense if described out of context. It might sound something like this: When I was six years old, on one occasion, my mother spanked me thirteen times!” Such is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ when stated out of context. We say, “Christ died for you,” and leave our audience to wonder why Jesus died and why it is so important that we place our faith in such an individual. Thus, the Gospel encompasses much more than Jesus’ death and resurrection. Within its scope lies the entire redemptive history from creation to Christ, and what Christians can expect in their relationship with God in the present and in the future.
Creation to Christ
The beginning of the Gospel, then, is not found in the person of Jesus Christ. Christ is the climax, both on Earth and in Heaven. For on Earth was His death, resurrection and His soon-to-be return; and in Heaven was His glorification and where He now reigns again at the right hand of the Father.1 The Gospel begins with God’s creative work on this earth in the beginning. In fact, I would even argue that all scripture must be interpreted through the eyes of the creation account and through the eyes of Christ’s recorded life. Before even considering the creation account, however, we must realize that its purpose is not to tell us how creation came to be. Its purpose is not to disprove evolution or to determine the age of the earth. Its purpose is to reveal, at least in part, the nature and the workings of our God. Its purpose is to reveal the importance of God to man. It sets up the necessary aspects of nature in order that mankind survive and have purpose, then it reveals just how important it is for man to live in relationship with God.
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:26-27 ESV
Mankind was created by God and in God’s image. We were literally created to be the picture of God and to be like God. We were created to be God’s authority over the earth, and we were created to live as a community representing God. This is the purpose for humanity: to be the image of God. Before we can begin to accurately understand and convey the Gospel of Jesus Christ, this is a fact that we must understand.
This is the starting point of the Gospel because it is the starting point of God’s redemptive history with mankind. Yes, God’s redemptive history began before mankind seemingly needed redemption. Then, we work from this moment in creation through the life of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The goal is not to fill in every detail, but to explain the creation, fall and redemption of mankind. Here is an example of how one might describe both the creation and the fall:
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. After creating everything else, God created mankind in His image. He gave mankind one rule to follow: that is that they could not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Over the course of time, mankind chose to eat from the forbidden tree, thus choosing to rebel against the God that created him. This rebellion hindered mankind from truly being the image of God that he was created to be: the image of perfection. Because mankind rebelled against God, he had to pay the price for treason against God, which is death. So mankind, by his own actions earned death. As of mankind’s initial rebellion, we are all now born into a world that has been completely corrupted by that rebellion.
This would be a good point within the story for the storyteller to share something personal in his or her own life, before declaring Jesus Christ as his or her Lord, that affected him or her as a result of the fall.
It was because of the initial fall of humanity that my biological parents could not work out their problems. It was because of humanities fall in the Garden that I did not feel guilt or shame even though I was living apart from God. It was humanities initial fall that caused me to live in darkness, and the scariest part of that darkness is that I did not realize it until after God delivered me from it. The fall of man is why suffering and death exist in the world and why people with good intentions do evil things. It is the reason for mankind’s malicious nature and for the unrighteous pride that burns within the hearts of men. Still, there is good news for humanity. God created a way for all men to be restored to the image of God that they were created to be and has a plan to destroy all corruption and evil that currently rampages within God’s creation.
Two thousand years ago, God sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to live a perfect life and to pay the debt that we owed to God for mankind’s rebellion. Jesus Christ died in our place, and then was raised from the dead to rule over it. Now, because Jesus Christ satisfied the debt we owed to God, we have the opportunity to once again be the image of God that we were created to be. We have an opportunity to fulfill the purpose that we were born with and to live an eternally satisfying life on the earth now, and in the presence of Christ forever!
These are the “nuts-and-bolts” of the Gospel: creation, fall and redemption. Just because everyone has a chance to once again be the image of God does not mean that everyone will. We must not stop at sharing the story of the creation, fall and redemption of mankind. We have an obligation to tell others what is required of them within the covenantal relationship that God desires.
Paying for a free gift
According to Paul, the eternal life that we receive (on the earth and after this physical life ends) is a free gift from God. My dilemma is this. Why must we give our lives to Christ in order to receive this eternal satisfaction and this eternal life with the God who created us? It seems almost as if we must pay to once again be the image of God, but according to God, this is a free gift.
This, I believe, is where many believers buy into the idea of universal salvation. That is, every human being that has ever existed will be saved. If the free gift of God is eternal life, then there is really no requirement from mankind because mankind cannot earn God’s salvation through Jesus Christ. This also seems to be where those who view God’s predestination as God’s act of choosing some for salvation, and those whom God chooses will not resist God’s calling, buy into what they believe.
I remember talking with my students about this issue on one occasion. Actually, a student who is not yet a member of our forever family asked, “If Jesus paid for all sin, wouldn’t everyone go to Heaven?” My answer was simple, but I do believe it conveys much of the truth behind this particular struggle within the Christian life:
“Suppose you were at the grocery store, in line at the cash register with your favorite type of candy. You intend to purchase it and enjoy it on your way home. Now, I am standing in line ahead of you, and without you knowing, I pay for the item you are carrying. When you step up to pay for your candy, the clerk gives you the good news. Your candy has already been paid for! You then have the choice to either accept the gift, or to go ahead and pay for your own candy anyway.”
If the candy represents eternal life, then we are all standing in line trying to pay for our own. The only problem is, none of us have enough. It requires perfection and we are sinful people. According to Romans, chapter six and verse twenty-three, the wages of sin is death, not life. As a part of God’s perfect plan, Jesus Christ paid the price for us to have this eternal life and all we must do is accept that gift.
What about the part where we must give up our lives?
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) or “’ Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Romans 10:5-10 ESV
In order to receive salvation, or eternal life with Jesus Christ, we must confess with our mouth that He is Lord. This does not simply mean that we expect Him to save us from the fires of a place called Hell. It means that we actually submit to the authority of Jesus Christ as King, giving our lives to Him. This may seem like a great thing to ask for in order that we receive a free gift. Added to this is the fact that we must believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. Is God’s free gift to us truly a free gift?
Imagine, referring to the recent grocery store illustration, that you decided to accept my gift to you. You politely tell the clerk, “Thank you,” and proceed home. By accepting the gift, you are acknowledging your belief that I had the means to pay for your candy.
In the same way, by accepting Jesus’ gift of eternal life, we automatically acknowledge our belief that He actually had the means to pay off our debt to God. We cannot accept a gift that we do not believe is available. By the way, in order to pay for eternal life, one must first overcome death. It is a requirement. So, by accepting Jesus’ gift to us, we state, through that acceptance, that we believe that God raised Jesus from the dead! “…for with the heart one believes and is justified…”2
In accepting my gift to you, you also submit to my provisional authority. You are allowing me to provide the payment for the candy that you had picked out. So, not only do you believe that I have the means to pay for your merchandise, but you also submit to my provision for you.
When we accept Jesus Christ’s gift to us, we automatically submit to His provisional authority. We acknowledge that He not only has the means to pay for the eternal life that we hope for, but that He also has authority and power now. So God’s free gift is exactly that, a free gift. We no longer have to try and pay for our rebellion against God, but we do have the choice to try and pay for that if we wish.
This means two things for us as believers, and both have great significance when considering true discipleship. The first is this. Since Christ paid our debt to God, we are left still holding onto the life that was required of us for that debt. No longer do we have to use that to try and pay for our own rebellion against God. It would be like leaving the grocery store and realizing that you still have the dollar you were going to spend on the candy bar, only much greater and much more significant. The purpose for our lives is now complete, and we must now find another use for the life that we hold. Paul refers to the same idea in 2 Corinthians, chapter five and verse seventeen. If we are in Christ, or if we have accepted His gift, we are a new creation. The old has passed away and the new has come. It would not make sense to take the life that we have and not use it for a purpose, for that is why we have life. It is important, then, that we use the life we have to give thanks to Christ, or to praise Him on this earth and in eternity. It is also important that we hold the life we have up so that those who are still trying to pay their debt to God might turn and accept His free gift of life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
When we begin discipling others, it is important for us to convey this idea and to train them in the newness of life; teaching them what it means to worship God and what it means to live as a light in a dark world. This is part of what makes the Christian life an every day thing.
The second is this. Jesus Christ provided eternal life for us by paying our debt to God. Why would we need to rely on ourselves for anything else ever again? After submitting to Christ’s authority for salvation, we then have a pretense for submitting to Christ’s authority in every arena of life. We rely on Him for our satisfaction. We rely on Him for our strength. We rely on Him for our sustenance, joy and even motivation or inspiration. God can provide all of those things. After experiencing God’s provisional authority for something like salvation, we grow discontent with our own ability to provide anything else we might need in life. Thus, we are left wanting more, and more of Jesus Christ. This creates a lifelong pursuit within us and a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ. Failing to live according to that relationship causes us to quickly grow discontent with this life and with our Christianity. After starting the race, it is important for every person who has been bought with the blood of Jesus Christ to continue running and to continue making progress. Otherwise, we will never be satisfied.
So, God’s free gift requires that we accept it. By accepting it, our lives will be changed forever, on this earth and in eternity.
Our redemptive present
I am perturbed by the tendency, within Christianity, to greatly emphasize our future arrival in a place called Heaven. We want so badly to look toward the future and to dream of what our future dwelling place will be like. Rarely, if ever, do we focus on the “here and now” of our faith. When taking part in a church-wide evangelism project, I am convinced that the number one question people ask is, “Would you like to go to Heaven?” or, “Would you like to live forever?” These are questions to which most people respond, “What does that have to do with my life now?” and rightly so! One of our main goals, within evangelism and discipleship alike, should be to reveal how the Gospel, which is the foundation of discipleship and the backbone of evangelism, is relevant to the lives of men and women here and now.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 ESV
Notice the present tense of Paul’s ongoing argument. We are currently a new creation! We currently live in relationship with Christ! We are currently entrusted with God’s ministry: the ministry of reconciliation! We are currently entrusted with the message of reconciliation: that is the Gospel! Considering all of this, we are currently ambassadors for Jesus Christ! We have a present life in Christ. We have a present purpose in Christ. We have a present position in Christ. The Gospel is just as much for the “here and now” as it is for our future existence.
I am convinced, however, that when it comes to where our focus should be, it is on the present tense. Though we may allude to the past or celebrate our future existence, it is important that we live and serve today, for today is where we find ourselves living. Today is where we will find and be able to convey the relevance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, both to those in a lost world and to those who are earnestly seeking after God.
Our redemptive future
I state this not to denounce the importance of our future existence in Jesus Christ, for God will restore creation to its original splendor, and will live with mankind as He did in the beginning. Actually, in an even greater way than He did in the beginning, because of His redemptive work. Our God is the only individual who can take something that was perfect, and make it even greater!
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice form the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, not crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
It amazes me that all of the work God is doing through us in the present tense is the means to God being with His people, on the earth, in eternity; just as it was in the Garden of Eden.
So, from the creation of the world to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, along with our redemptive present and future, we can begin the process of truly making disciples. These, after all, are the philosophies that unite Christians across denominational lines, and should be at the foundation of all education within God’s Church.
Missions complex
In March of 1873, while preaching, Charles Spurgeon made this comment, “Every Christian here is either a missionary or an impostor. Recollect that. You either try to spread abroad the kingdom of Christ, or else you do not love Him at all.”3
Normally, when we think about going and sharing the Gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ, we think of it in a strictly foreign missions context. We wait until we go with the intention to share the Gospel before we even think about sharing it. That is precisely the problem, is it not? Are we not to always be missions minded, even when carrying out our daily routines? If we are truly ambassadors for Christ, then we are ambassadors at every moment, not just when we choose to be. This being the case, we should always have the intention to share the Gospel of Christ. Missions do not just exist as we go to other nations, missions exist as we live our lives in this world to which we are aliens. Just what does this thought have to do with discipleship?
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20 ESV
As we see in this Great Commission, evangelism, as we view it today, was not the command that Christ gave His disciples. It was discipleship. Our life is the mission duration. Everywhere we are, are also the people we are to reach. We are not to make converts, but disciples. We were commanded to “GO… and make disciples”. This is in the present tense. If we are not going, then we are not doing what we are called to do as the body of Christ. If we are not constantly making disciples, instead of simply making converts, we are not doing what we were commanded to do as the people of God.4
So, then, according to Jesus Christ, both by example and by speech, we do have an absolute duty toward missions and missions are discipleship, and discipleship is a mission. Missions are not temporary, and we are to make disciples as we go.
This means that, no matter where we are, we are there with the intention to represent our God. We go to the grocery store to first represent our God and then to buy groceries. We visit a friend’s house to first represent God and then to spend time with that friend. We attend school to first represent God and then to gain a greater education. In representing God, we disciple everyone we meet and allow ourselves to be discipled by those we meet.
Discipleship begins with the Gospel.