The following text is from Gloria Furman’s book Vislumbres da Graca by Fiel Editor.
At one point, as I walked with Jesus, I began to think, “I am so ready to grow in my faith!What I need is more information about the Bible, and will it make a difference?I dedicated myself to rigorous study, to become smarter, thinking that reading books written by holy people would somehow transfer me to their holiness.
- It is very easy to allow the gospel to be tarnished by our own efforts to grow spiritually.
- Spiritual disciplines serve as a gateway to gospel worship.
- Not as substitutes.
- DA Carson warns us against trying to live a Christian life.
- But relegating the cross to a mere sure against the fires of hell:?First.
- If the gospel becomes the means by which we slide into the kingdom.
- But all the treaties of transformation revolve around post-evangelical disciplines and strategies.
- Then we will constantly direct people’s attention away from the gospel.
- Away from the cross and the resurrection.
- Therefore.
- The gospel will be something we assume is necessary for salvation.
- But not what drives us.
- Not what we preach.
- Not the power of God.
- Show off the gospel.
- Leaning on what Carson calls post-evangelical disciplines?changing your life is like returning your teeth to the evil snake.
- If he resists sin and temptation depends solely on his own power and discipline.
- Then his potential to overcome sin is as powerful as his own righteousness.
But which of us would prefer to trust in one’s own justice?Would anyone in Christ prefer to preach more than the gospel?If God’s incomparable power is at our disposal, why would we rather rely on our lower strength for our personal growth in holiness?This is what we do when we silently assume the gospel and lift it up with the help of post-evangelical disciplines.
So how do we know if we are assuming the gospel? Mack Stiles rightly says that the way to know if we presume the gospel is: you no longer hear it, everyone is talking to each other. They even talk to each other when they think they’re not listening. Think about it: what do you say in your mind when you crush your big toe, or do you hear the phone bell?Or press the brake on your car to avoid colliding with the car in front of you?They’re talking to each other.
Now consider the biggest problems, what do we say when we realize our distraction from following God?How do we console ourselves when we feel distant from God?What do we say as a solution to our anxiety and worried hearts?What is the first place we turn to when we want to see our lives change Let us get right to the point: are we trying to connect with God without consciously relying on the surrogate death and resurrection of Jesus for us?
Taking a few minutes to organize your thoughts or try to record audios (using “verbal reminders for yourself” with a voice recorder) are good ways to discover your flow of consciousness, if you’re not convinced you’re talking to yourself.
We all spend a lot of time talking to each other, and what we say is important. Are you thinking you should become religious and do a better job of pleasing God?Or do you remember that you don’t respond to anyone but yourself?
My favorite dish is nacho with sauce, I think I could eat it every day and never get sick, it’s quite possible that I get sick (literally) from eating so many nachos in sauce, but this is my favorite dish!
Listen to him repeatedly must be our favorite activity!And it won’t hurt your stomach.
A quick look at Paul’s epistles shows us that the Apostle’s preferred method of ministry was to preach the gospel over and over again, not only for non-believers, but also for believers.
Preaching the gospel repeatedly and then showing how it applies to life was Paul’s method of serving believers, thus providing a model of divine inspiration that I will follow as I address myself and other believers.
Martin Luther, in one of his sermons, built a great argument to often remind us of the gospel and its effects on our lives: “You are one of those who say, “I have heard all this [the gospel]; Why should I listen to you again, if so, your heart has become numb, full and shameless, and this food has no flavor for you, is the same thing that happened to the Jews in the desert, when they got tired of eating However, if you are a Christian, you will never get tired, but will you want to hear this message several times and talk about it forever?
Are you tired of delighting your soul with gospel truths?
All this gospel discourse leads us to the question: what is the point, why should we care about the gospel and its relationship to our daily life at home?I hope that this book will serve your soul, for you will voluntarily submit to God’s purposes by doing more and more like your Son.
However, you may be the one struggling with doubts. My friend, if you just have a mustard seed of faith that the gospel may hold help for you at home, please read on.
I understand you might think this all sounds a little smurf. He may be skeptical of the gospel of Jesus. I want to respond to these warnings, so I ask you to keep reading.
I am delighted to explore these ideas with you, no matter where you come from, I can think of nothing better than talking about how we can revel in the extraordinary God who comes into the lives of sinners who need His grace when they live their lives in their homes.