[featured_image]An important aspect of Missional Christianity is Embracing the Gospel!

What does it mean to Embrace the Gospel?

  • It’s more than just believing that Jesus lived, died and rose again
  • It’s more than intellectual assent to the truth of the Gospel
  • It’s more than praying a prayer or “accepting Jesus in your heart”
  • It’s more than making a decision to follow Jesus
  • It’s more than going to church on Sunday
  • It’s more than becoming a church member
  • It’s more than practicing spiritual disciplines
  • It’s more than memorizing the “Romans Road” or a Gospel presentation
  • It’s more than inviting someone to church
  • It’s more than feeding the hungry and clothing the poor
  • It’s more than starting new churches
  • It’s more than having a culturally relevant ministry
  • It’s more than proclaiming the truth that all have sinned
  • It’s more than knowing the extent of the atonement
  • It’s more than the assurance that you’ll go to heaven when you die

Rob Bell observes, “One of the most tragic things ever to happen to the gospel was the emergence of the message that Jesus takes us somewhere else if we believe in him.” (1)

Embracing the gospel is about surrender and it’s about life transformation!

Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

The gospel brings salvation – and so much more! It transforms lives! When we embrace the gospel, we are relying on the truth of the gospel message – trusting that there is salvation in no one else. Yet, we are also living the truth of the gospel – loving and serving people in the workplace and in your neighborhood. But we are also proclaiming the truth of the gospel – calling sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:13) through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

More than knowing the gospel or believing the gospel, Christians must live the gospel! We must incarnate the gospel! Incarnating the Gospel requires a life that is surrendered to Jesus.

When Christians truly embrace the Gospel – they begin to be Jesus to everyone everywhere!

(1) Bell, Rob, The Velvet Elvis, p. 171