A-Z, Not ABC

Ephesians 4:30 (NLT) — 30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

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Okay, so I'm in. I believe in the Jesus guy.....but now what? 

Great question. There's a great quote from St. Augustine that goes, "Love God and do as you please."

The point isn't that now that you've accept Jesus you can continue sinning. The apostle John warns against this...

1 John 3:8 (ESV) — 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Rather the point is that by loving God, your desires start to change. You start to want to do the things that will please God. So doing as you please end ups becoming doing as God pleases.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) — 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

In the above verse, what is it that's changing them? They are beholding the glory of the Lord....gazing upon Christ and the gospel is what changes us and it is the Holy Spirit who does this work in our hearts.

The gospel isn't just the ABC's of Christianity. It's not what you have to learn in order to get in the door. The gospel is the A-Z of Christianity. You never outgrow your need for the gospel!

What do I mean?

The gospel is that I don't need to impress my friends, because I've already been given the affections of Jesus who's opinion is far greater to me than that of other humans. The gospel is that I don't need a new car to be happy because I have salvation and can be content with my life's circumstances. The gospel is that I don't need the perfect guy or girl to fulfill me, Jesus fulfills me. The gospel frees you up from the worries of this world in order to truly be free to live for God.

Romans 6:11 (NLT) — 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:14 (NLT) — 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Think about Paul who wrote most of the New Testament. This guy lived in the constant knowledge of the gospel and it set him free.

You wanna put him in jail? He'll convert the prison guards...

Acts 16:25–34 (ESV) — 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

You beat him up and he doesn't consider the troubles of this world worth comparing to the eternal weight of glory to come...

Romans 8:18 (ESV) — 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

You threaten to kill him and he gets excited to see Jesus...

Philippians 1:21–24 (NLT) — 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

This guy was set free by the gospel of Jesus Christ. And you can be to. Stop worrying about your "spiritual progress." Stop focusing on "how am I doing." It's not about you anyways. Focus on Christ and what he's done for you already.

John 8:36 (NLT) — 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

Think about making a plant grow. Does it grow well if you keep pulling it up out of the ground to see if it's roots are spreading? Neither will you grow spiritually if you're continually focused on your own progress. Look to Jesus who is the founder and perfecter of your faith.

Hebrews 12:1–2 (NLT) — 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Ephesians 3:16–19 (NLT) — 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.