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There are 2 halves to the real Gospel.
John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily I say unto you, I am the door for the sheep.
This is half the gospel. Jesus is the door. When you see a door, do you go to it, open it, and stand in the doorway? Is that the purpose for the door?
John 10:9 I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved (made whole), and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
There’s the second half of the gospel. By means of the doorway, you’ll be able to enter safely into enjoying all that the world has to offer. But many Christians get to that doorway, and they stop. And they look back, and continue to only stand in the doorway. They say, “I never depart from the cross.” Never forget, the doorway is only the means to an end.
Romans 8:32a He that spared not His own son, but delivered him up for us all,
This is the first half of the gospel. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ. His payment for the sins of the world.
Romans 8:32b ….how shall He not with him also freely give us all things?
There’s the second half. Walking into the pasture of all that God has designed for us to do and have and enjoy. We don’t want to simply be forgiven for our sins. We want to sojourn forth into an exploration of the inheritance God has provided for His children.
Romans 5:10a For it, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His son, (1st half)
Romans 5:10b …much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved (made whole) by his life. (2nd half)
The death of Jesus Christ is our doorway into a relationship with God. By Jesus’ death, we were reconciled (brought back into harmony) with God. Once in harmony, let’s focus on making music!
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son; that whosoever believes unto him should not perish (1st half), but have everlasting life (2nd half).
Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, (1st half) we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection (2nd half):
What good is metamorphosis if the butterfly doesn’t fly?
What good is building the house if it’s never lived in?
What good is buying the book if its never read?
What good is working if you don’t enjoy the fruit of your labor?
What good is the death of Jesus Christ, if there is no resurrection?
Romans 6:9a Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more…..
Okay, I’ll stop with the “1st half” and “2nd half” parentheses. I’ll let you see the 2 parts of the gospel yourselves. After reading this study, I’ll expect that you won’t be able to read of the death of Jesus Christ anymore, without anticipating reading in the same context of the ongoing benefits of his resurrection.
Ephesians 1:7-11a In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; Wherein He has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence (common sense thinking); Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself; That in the administration of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him; In whom also we have obtained an inheritance,
Both parts of the gospel are not always mentioned in the same verse, or even in the same immediate context. But both parts are always, always mentioned together.
Colossians:1:21, 22 And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in His sight;
Colossians 1:27; 2:2, 3 The mystery, which has been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints; That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God…. Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
You see, what good is forgiveness by God or reconciliation with God, if their is no ongoing benefit of that reconciliatory forgiveness?
I was estranged from my earthly father when I was a young man and out on my own. I had animosity toward him, not having forgiven him for divorcing my mother. But while living far from home, in Florida, I came to forgive my father and wrote to him announcing my forgiveness. Now yes, I felt good after writing that letter. But what benefit would there have been to that forgiveness if I had not sought after and obtained a healthy father/son relationship afterward? If, when I returned to live in Wisconsin, where my father lived, I did not develop and enjoy a good relationship with him?
Well, I did develop a lovingly healthy relationship with my father after our reconciliation. Because of that reconciliation, I was able to enjoy many warm-hearted and joyfully rewarding experiences with him before he died. I did not stop at forgiveness. I moved into a rich and rewarding relationship.
What kind of gospel do you claim, if you keep kneeling at the cross of Jesus Christ, but do not go on and explore his resurrected life within you? Standing in the doorway of the cross is not the intention of our loving heavenly Father. Rather, God intended His children to come into His warm embrace, where sin will never again be a problem between us; but rather where His glorious fullness can now be richly enjoyed and expressed by His beloved children … despite sin! Where the inheritance He has intended for us can be experienced and felt every day from now and into eternity!
This is why I so enjoy the Pauline epistles. Paul was tasked by God to make known the riches of God’s inheritance provided by the 2nd half of the Gospel; to reveal to the saints the ongoing work of the glorified Christ, whose life enlivens and glorifies us today.
The first half of the Gospel happened once, and the power of that completed act continues to change people in a moment of time. But the second half of the Gospel is an ongoing work, being performed by our living Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, now and forever!
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Do you see it? The death of Christ paid for our sin, once and for all. It’s a one time deal. But the living we can now do in relationship with our heavenly Father; why, that’s a deal that goes on and on for an eternity!
I Timothy 2:3, 4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge (epignosko – intimate and thorough experiential knowing) of the truth.
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