CHRISTIAN, Seek to KNOW the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Yesterday I had the privilege of listening to Paul Washer speak on something so simple, so basic, so common...or is it?! For Christians in evangelical America the cross seems to have become trite, the Gospel mundane, and the reality of it all, old-fashioned. We look back at preachers and saints of old and see an outrageous "fire" in their lives, in their messages, in their literature, in their ministries, that seems to be void in our churches, in our preachers, in our lives. I will be the first to admit that I don't think about the Gospel as often as I should, that I don't study the Gospel as often as I should, that I don't know the Gospel as I should. Washer explained that, "the key to Godliness is the Gospel of Jesus Christ". Could it be that simple and yet so complex? Could my pursuit of godliness really be wrapped up in the pursuit of the knowledge of the greatest act in all of history past, present and future? Is the cross more than just the power to save, but rather the power to sanctify and to glorify?! "Of course" you say, as would I, but the question is, do we live like it is?

Do you even understand the cross, the Gospel, what happened when Jesus took on the wrath of God for the penalty of YOUR sins and when in turn HIS righteousness was placed on you? Do you know the agony Jesus felt when he shed bullets of blood on his brow in the garden as he anticipated what was to transpire, the forsaking of HIS Father? Do you know the weight of the wrath of God that He endured on that cross? Do you see YOUR depravity for what it is; that you are wretched, filthy, utterly wicked? And do you see His perfection, His holiness, His absolute impeccable character? Do you understand the justice of God? Can you fathom HIS love for YOU? And now when you read a verse like this: "He made Him who knew NO sin to BE sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God IN Him" (2 Cor 5:21) do you marvel??

If you are anything like me your initial reaction to those questions is "yes", followed by a short pang of conviction as you realize how little you know, how often you forget, and how little you love. How often your pursuit of godliness is wrapped up in pride and selfishness.

If you KNOW Him, fully and completely, Him and Him alone, in the simplicity of the Gospel, you will be bound to Him in a way that will propel Godly living, that will spur a fire like preachers and saints of old. And it starts with the simplicity of the Gospel, which you soon realize is an eternal complexity. We will NEVER understand the Gospel, no matter how many hours, days, years, or eternities we put in it and yet we will grow in an understanding that will magnify His love, His person, HIM to us.

I want to encourage you, as I was encouraged to do yesterday, to study the cross, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pour your heart into KNOWING Him and the redemption of your soul. Seek to understand the power of the Gospel. Look to see yourself as who you were without Him and who you are because of Him, in Him. Look to see what He did, why He did it, how He did it and the implications therein. Desire to marvel continually, to be moved to an abounding flame of passion for Him...one that is unquenchable. If you are His, seek to know the GOSPEL my friends, and know it well, for it is by it that you have been SAVED!