Hi,
If you are unsure that you are a Christian, or unsure what the Good News (“Gospel”) really is, I invite you to watch the short 4-minute video below. It’s creative, accurate, and easy to understand.
What is the Gospel? from Southern Seminary on Vimeo.
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I did like the video. I have no criticism, but questions. I believe anything is possible. I think maybe a person could come to Christ after seeing the video. I believe the video is God’s good news, but how, when, or do we infuse the commandments of Christ to follow Him. When do we tell people to deny themselves and take up their cross? When do we explain that loving anything more than Jesus disqualifies us from following Him? Jesus in Mat 16:24-26 seems to be connecting obedience to salvation. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Paul asks in Romans 6:3, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” To my thinking, Paul is asking them a question that they should have known prior to baptism. Almost as if someone else preached to them and left an important part out.
My personal journey has taken me through much over the past 37 years, some ministry and foreign missions. I’ve landed in several churches in those years as my journey has evolved and for the 1st time in my Christian walk, God has me in a Baptist Church and I’ve never been this happy. For some years now I’ve grown fond of John MacArthur and the likes of young pastors like Paul Washer in addition to the early reformers. I never thought of myself as a Baptist. Election and Calvinism bothered me. It bothered me in my early years that God would elect me and not my dad, on purpose. Anyway…
My question is sincere and I pray respectful.
In Christ,
Mike
Hi Mike,
First, thanks so much for visiting and for feeling welcome enough to leave a comment!
You raise a valid question. We certainly have to make sure the new (or soon-to-be) convert understands what God requires, and that includes forsaking sin and striking out in an ever God-ward new life through the equipping power of the Holy Spirit.
I think it comes through conversation and through clear Gospel preaching. This video, for instance, does an excellent job with explaining the Gospel but, yes, I can see where it misses on the full call to deny one’s self. I wouldn’t discount it though. No Gospel tract, no sermon, and no witness encounter is perfect. Some may, for example, emphasize the substitutionary atonement in the cross and forget to mention Jesus’ resurrection entirely!
In the end, we seek to be as faithful as we can, and as clear as we can, and trust the Lord to fill in our accidental gaps. The Lord will build his kingdom and lose none of whom he has called.
Hey, again, thanks so much for visiting.
God bless you!
-Anth
Thanks Anthony! I thought the video was good. I was only commenting on it as a springboard for my question.
I’ve read some more of your blog. I admire you for your decision to leave your career for seminary. May God continue to lead and bless you as you endeavor to follow him. After I wrote my question, I considered deleting it after I realized you “link” Paul Washer to your site. I’m thinking you and I are not far apart in thinking, but I left it just to see your response.
In Christ,
Mike
By the way, before the Kentucky Derby (I think) they have one of the biggest fireworks displays I’ve ever seen on the bridge between Illinois and Kentucky in July.
Not a problem at all, Mike! Yes, actually if you look up at the title and the subtitle (and the About page) you will see that this blog gets its name from a PW quote. We must explain the full Gospel call to obedience before someone says they want to be Christian, to tell them after is to deceive them in some sense, I think.
Also, I’m glad you didn’t delete your comment–others who visit may be served by it.
Thanks again for visiting! By the way, your nearly four decades of service and worship are an inspiration to me!!
Take care,
-Anth