Remember the Gospel
For many people now, Easter is more about eggs and bunnies than about Jesus, the cross, and the ressurection. While most people know Easter has something to do with Jesus, most in Australia do not know the gospel message. As Christians, we need to be able to explain the gospel. Sadly, some Christians are more sure about their convictions in other areas than they are about explaining the gospel. Some are more sure about their views on dating or courtship than on whether or not it is essential to believe salvation is only "by grace, through faith" (Eph. 2:8). Others feel better able to explain their denominational or group distinctives than the gospel.
This lack of ability to explain the gospel is understandable, since Christians are often relating to other Christians. They end up assuming the gospel in these relationships, while other issues which are different between them are discussed and debated. While it is understandable, it is also dangerous. When I was first converted and baptized, I hardly undestood the cross. I knew God loved me, and that I wanted to follow him, but key gospel doctrines were hazy. Thankfully, God has blessed me with a godly mother who can exlain these truths. As well, over the years I have been blessed to attend a university ministry and a church where the gospel is emphasized. C. J. Mahaney has written a good post on the gospel. His daughter Nicole Whitacre has written about how the result of focusing on the gospel is A Happy Soul. Susan Garrison has posted a beautiful William Cowper hymn, There is a Fountain, which is a wonderful choice for Easter!
The gospel and the Bible do apply to all of life, as I wrote in Apply the Bible, and there is nothing wrong with studying and forming convictions on all kinds of issues. Too often, Christians dismiss thinking about how scripture applies, or good works they could do, because those things are "not the gospel". However, we must never loose sight of what is most important. C. J. Mahaney quotes J. C. Ryle on this: "You may spoil the gospel by disproportion. You have only to attach an exaggerated importance to the secondary things of Christianity, and a diminished importance to the first things, and the mischief is done."
A gospel focused life should result in humility. Some Christians who study the Bible and come to opinions about a wide variety of matters also become prideful toward others, and look down upon those who do not think the same way. They withdraw themselves from fellowship and cannot tolerate those who hold different views. However, if we keep our focus on Jesus and what God has sovereignly done for us this should never happen. If we do understand aspects of Scripture better than some of our brothers and sisters, this is only due to the grace of God. How twisted it is to feel superior for something that is a gift, and could never have come from ourselves. Kimi Harris has written a great post on humility, and looking for the signs of what God is doing in other believers. This Easter, and every day, think of what we would all be without God's grace. Then rejoice in him, and all that he has done.
