Jeff Jackson Live

A few days ago I wrote an article entitled “Where is God in the midst of my sin?” I made a point about the Gospel being the driving force for our sanctification and I wanted to elaborate some on this topic.  Being a pastor of a local church I hear some things that make me wonder some time.  I have heard people complaining that their church always talks about the Gospel (live, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ) and fail to give the meat of the scriptures.  Early on I didn’t understand why this didn’t sit well with me until I started to understand the entirety of the Gospel.  You see the Gospel is not for sinner alone but also for the saved.  We systematically think that someone who is not redeemed needs the Gospel and those who are need Theology.  While this is true, we must also include the Gospel in our Theology.  In fact the Gospel is the root for all Theology and its the driving force behind developing christian to be more like Jesus Christ.  The more we understand the Gospel the more we begin to understand the gravity of our sin.  This draws us closer to God and drives us deeper into the study of our God which results in becoming more like our Savior. In fact, its our destiny to become more like Jesus Christ.  Look what Romans 8: 29 says:

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

Without the Gospel we have no foundation for our Theology and we can’t grow into the image of Christ.  So realize the Gospel is the meat of the scriptures and fosters our growth as believers.

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Maybe not a question you are asking your small group or your pastor but definitely one  you are asking in your heart.  Let me explain.  When we sin and our lives are filled with guilt and shame we naturally detach from community and fellowship with God.  We don’t want to face accountability and fear our sin might be exposed by the light. Mostly I feel people detach from community and hide from God because they don’t have a correct view of the Gospel.  Most Christians understand the Gospel to be for the lost and fail to realize it is just as much for the redeemed.  We believe in the saving power of the cross to redeem sinful souls but we fail to see the sanctifying power of the Gospel for the believer.

The Gospel is what removed all the guilt and shame that kept us from the father yet we find ourselves living a condemned life through a redeemed soul.  STOP, this is sin and we must begin to embrace the Gospel and allow the work of the cross to sanctify and form us into the image of Jesus Christ.  It’s not easy but understanding the depth of the Gospel and power to set us free from our bondage and allow us to live in the freedom of the cross.  Next time you find yourself checking out draw near to the Gospel for its ability to save and remove your shame is incomprehensible and will move us closer to God.

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No really? Maybe for the middle schoolers at your church can’t answer this question honestly. But unless you have some very unusual set up circumstances you take a shower, right? I was, of course, taking a shower this morning and I began talking with God and confessing my sins from the previous day and I realized that I had not confessed my sins for two day. Wow! Immediately I became shameful. How can my life honor God if I am walking around with an unclean heart…It can’t. I never miss a physical shower but I easily miss my spiritual shower. How about you? When is the last time you have confessed your sins to God and started the day with a clean heart? I feel great this morning.

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Why is there a common misconception that you have to clean up your life before you can go to church?  Most likely because the church has lost the essential essence of what it means to be the church.  Read what Jesus said when the Pharisees tested Jesus on God’s commandments:

Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ‘This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:37-40

The commands are simple, “Love God and Love People.”  This means love people where they are at no matter what the condition of the person’s life.  I recently had time to work with hoseashouse.com who ministers to women who have been abused mentally, physically and emotionally. Hosea’s House does most of their ministry in the west end of Louisville.  This area is a very diverse area and the only discriminator is the economy.  This area is not a common area for churches to go because of the common violence and the bad reputation the area has, which is too bad because I found tons of people who welcomed the token white guy with open arms.  The main reason I was in West Louisville was to take picture for hoseashouse.com and here is what I found:

Remember that there are no perfect people allowed in the church.  LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE!!

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There is no doubt, even if you don’t believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that Jesus lived an incredible  live.  He modeled a perfect life so that we may know how to honor God with our lives.  He always met the physical needs of the people and always followed up with a spiritual concession.  He was the ultimate role model, even on the cross.  Jesus, while dying on the cross, which is  the most horrific death one could image, decided to look past all the pain and suffering he was experiencing and he chose to focus on other people.  We read the most selfless act humanity has ever experienced in John 19:26-27:

²⁶When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” ²⁷and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Here we read how Jesus, even in extreme amounts of suffering and pain, looked down from the cross and committed his mom to his disciple and we see Jesus committing his disciple to his mom.  Why is this important?  Even in His last breaths Jesus chose to love others over himself.  Wow….what a great picture!  I am convinced that even in death Jesus knew our name and saw our face just before he took his last breath.  Jesus loves you!  I know this might sound clique but He really does and he proved that by being a perfect example on the cross.  Jesus wants to have a relationship with you.  He desires to have a relationship with you.  However, all though he could, he does not enforce this relationship.   Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  If Jesus is the way and he is then how do we enter into a relationship with him?

A. Admit you are a sinner.
“There is no one righteous, not even one … for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:10,23. (See Romans 5:8; 6:23.)

Ask God’s forgiveness.
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:13

B. Believe in Jesus
(put your trust in Him) as your only hope of salvation.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (See John 14:6.)

Become a child of God by receiving Christ.
“To all who receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 (See Revelation 3:20.)

C. Confess that Jesus is your Lord.
“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 (See verse 10.)

If you decided to step into a relationship with Jesus by living these three steps then I want to encourage you to tell someone about it.  Tell your pastor, if you don’t have one find a church and tell that pastor.  Call 1-800-need him (this is a great place to call if you would like to speak with someone about your decision).  Email me Jeff Jackson at jeff@jeffjacksonlive.com . Whatever you do, tell someone.  Why?  It is important to tell someone so you can be encouraged in your decision and they can help point you in the right direction as you start your jouney with Christ.

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