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WHEN THE GOSPEL IS RECEIVED

When the Gospel is received, embraced, and surrendered to it does major things in the life of the one who believes.

It changes the way people live. They turn from idolatry to serve the True and Living God. Idols are those things in life people look to, sacrificing time and resources to try and find meaning, purpose, esteem and recognition, safety and hope. Those things are not inherent in anything this present world system has to offer, regardless of the plausibility of the promises that are made. Wholeness of life is not the product of human effort. Wholeness of life is only found in God. Wholeness and soundness of life are only known when God, Himself, comes and makes His home in you. Only He can restore a human life into wholeness.

That is what salvation means. When a person believes what God has done through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, they see that all they have ever hoped for has not been done by human effort, but by the power and goodness of God. Idols demand everything sacrificed for promises they can never deliver on. The Gospel declares that God has already made the only sacrifice for us that can restore us once again into Life. Turning from Idols to serving the living God in an eternal relationship of grace in faith makes the difference between life and death.

Receiving the Gospel also results in a radical reorientation of one’s focus in life. It results in a growing anticipation and longing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. There is an ever-growing, radical reorientation in perspective as the believer grows in their awareness that this world and its ways are not “home” any longer. The things of the world have never and will never satisfy the deep longings and hunger of the human heart. “Stuff” no longer is the ground of comfort, security and peace. There is no ignoring of life and people around you, but you no longer draw life FROM the world and its ways. You are set free, with a heaven-ward perspective, to live with open hands and open hearts to give to others out of the abundance of grace and love that Jesus Christ is living out within you.

Believing and receiving the Gospel changes everything.




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