Clarity Is Found in Christ Alone

The Gospel is misunderstood when we think we have done something to deserve it. There’s no way we can work to achieve our worthiness of it – ever. The closer we become to Christ, the more progressively aware we are of our need for Him.

Maybe folks who add steps to faith are afraid the basic necessities of faith are so difficult to rely on God to achieve. Every day we confess our sins. “I do what I hate and I hate what I do,” the apostle Paul said. We become acutely aware of our lack, rebellion, and sinful nature when we turn our lives over to Christ Jesus. But the shame and guilt often tacked onto these sentiments do not come from Him. Easy and light, remember? Freedom. It’s the miracle we get to live in every day.

Erik Raymond writes, “When we start editing the gospel for fear of offense we lose everything. Without the gospel we have no message, no mission, and no church.” There’s no reason to add steps, levels, or cliques as we humans are so tempted to compare, and succumb to pride and jealousy. Jesus loves all of us – and get this – He loves all of us the same. Paul wrote:

“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church” (Ephesians 4:15).

“I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die” (Galatians 2:21).

We can speak the truth in love and still be very clear about what the Gospel is and is not. Those who follow Christ Jesus are different. They are recognizable by the good they do, not to earn, but because of what we have received. There is no other way to God but through Christ Jesus. But though the gate is narrow, it is open for all to walk through.

Jesus is the most important part of the Gospel. When we follow Him, though the world is weighs heavy, our burden is light. Let’s pass that on.

More from this author
What We Can Do – Today – to Reach People in Need
Have the Strength to Wait on the Lord
Jesus Understands the Sting of Rejection

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/scyther5

Meg is a graduate of Ashland University. She is a writer, author, editor, and digital content creator. She stepped away from her job in Internet Marketing in 2008 to raise her daughters, which gave her passion for writing a chance to shine through her blog, Sunny&80… Life within the Love of Christ. Meg has served as a Children’s Worship Team Leader and Middle School Leader for her local church. She founded and led the Breakfast Club Bible Study for Tweens, has served as a Young Life Leader and Committee Member, and led Women’s Bible Study. She has also volunteered as a content creator for her local church, studied Bible/Ministerial Training through Global University, completed COMPEL PRO Writers Training, and is Ethically AI Certified. A contributing writer for Salem Web Network since 2016, Meg is now thrilled to be a part of the team at Salem Web Network. You can find her entire library of books on her Amazon Author Page.