“For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
(Romans 8:36)
Jesus' Gospel got Him killed.
Same with most of His disciples, many even to this very day.
However, most of today's so-called 'modern gospel' is anemic, sugar-coated, watered-down and seeks to be politically correct and non-offensive at all points.
But this won't save anyone's soul.
But this won't save anyone's soul.
So the $64,000 question is:
Why?
Why did Jesus' Gospel get Him killed?
Jesus was the most loving, kind, grace-filled, good, merciful Person to ever walk this earth. He was after all, God in Human form. The Divine in the dirt.
He certainly wasn't arrogant, offensive, or a jerk about Himself. So why kill Him?
"Oh, He challenged and threatened the Jewish religious power structure of His day and they refused to let Him overthrow them" you may say. True, in part.
But you're missing the much Bigger Picture.
But you're missing the much Bigger Picture.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19)
“There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10)
“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” (Romans 3:19)
“And you shall call his name Jesus: for He shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
All have sinned. Men love darkness, our deeds are evil. Not one person is righteous. All the world is guilty before God. The entire human race needs a Savior to save us from our sins.
That Savior is Jesus Christ, and Him alone.
And that's why we humans killed Him.
Because we all are dead in our sins but we won't admit it and He told us so. We don't want this Man ruling over us. We're the captains of our own salvation. We think we're good people. We're arrogant, prideful, self-righteous hypocrites, but we'll be damned if we'll humble ourselves and confess that.
Because we all are dead in our sins but we won't admit it and He told us so. We don't want this Man ruling over us. We're the captains of our own salvation. We think we're good people. We're arrogant, prideful, self-righteous hypocrites, but we'll be damned if we'll humble ourselves and confess that.
Exactly.
Jesus Christ the Lord of Glory didn't leave the splendor of Heaven and come down to save a world that doesn't need saving.
All will stand before a righteous and holy God on Judgment Day. We all need a Savior. Jesus Christ came in love to save us, to be judged in our place, paying the penalty for our sins against God. He took our sin debt upon Himself. He paid a debt He did not owe because we have a debt we can never pay. He died in our place on that Cross, was buried, and rose again on the third day. He ascended back to His place of Glory in Heaven. He will come again and judge a Christ-rejecting, sinful world. So, repent now, confess your sins, and believe on Jesus Christ as your Savior and your Lord, and you shall be saved.
All will stand before a righteous and holy God on Judgment Day. We all need a Savior. Jesus Christ came in love to save us, to be judged in our place, paying the penalty for our sins against God. He took our sin debt upon Himself. He paid a debt He did not owe because we have a debt we can never pay. He died in our place on that Cross, was buried, and rose again on the third day. He ascended back to His place of Glory in Heaven. He will come again and judge a Christ-rejecting, sinful world. So, repent now, confess your sins, and believe on Jesus Christ as your Savior and your Lord, and you shall be saved.
That is the Gospel Jesus Christ was killed for.
Much of the so-called "christian" message you hear today is: "We're just supposed to love people."
And in so doing, they will just love someone to Hell.
"Gospel" means Good News. And good news is truly good news if you hear the really bad news first.
If a brain surgeon tells you, "Well Billy, I have some really bad news for you; you have terminal brain cancer and you have two months to live." You cry out to the physician, "But isn't there anything you can do to save me!" Your physician says, "Yes Billy, there is hope for you today, because there is a miracle cure for this cancer, but you will need to follow my instructions exactly, if you want to be saved." You exclaim, "Oh, yes, Doctor! Please tell me what it is—I'll do anything to be saved!"
Terminal brain cancer is really bad news. But the good news of a miracle cure wouldn't mean much if the doctor didn't first give you the bad news that you actually have the terminal disease.
Sin is terminal soul cancer and we all have it.
Jesus Christ is the Great Physician who is the cure. But you have to admit you have the terminal soul cancer and want Him to heal you.
It's really that simple.
But many people get so angry if you try to tell them they have the terminal soul cancer of sin, they may even kill you for it. Jesus Christ's disciples have been killed and martyred for the last two thousand years for simply showing people the cure for sin, and their need for the cure.
"Modern Christianity" doesn't want to be the bearer of bad news. So they just try be nice to people and may even say, "Jesus loves you and has a plan for your life!"
No one has ever been killed for just being nice.
Speaking to the intellectual 'post moderns' of his day, while in Athens the Apostle Paul preached:
“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man (Jesus Christ) whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)
God commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness... i.e. Judgment Day.
Repent means to change your mind, turn from your sin and go a new direction. To turn to Jesus Christ and be saved from your sin. This is not the message that the unbelieving world wants to hear. But they need to hear it.
The question is, do you love people enough to tell them the whole Truth, even if it may potentially cost you your life?
Can your gospel get you killed?
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
—God is Love and Love Never Fails.
