The Gospel is for Christians Too
A seminary friend recently recounted a story one of his professors told to his class. A young woman who had been raised in a hyper-calvinist church began attending the church which the professor was pastoring. Eventually the woman became a member of the church and after some time approached the professor and said “Sometimes I wish I was an unbeliever”. The professor asked why she would say something like this and her reply was, “Because it seems from your preaching that unbelievers can have Christ for free”. The implication of the woman’s statement was that professor’s preaching gave the hearers the impression that they, as believers, still had work or “pay” to gain Christ.
How true that woman’s statement, and its implication, is for so much of the preaching that goes on in our churches! We forget that the gospel is for both unbelievers and believers. Remember what Paul wrote to the church at Rome?
“So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome” (Rom. 1:15).
Paul was eager to preach the gospel to Christans! And we need to hear it because all too often we try to go back to relating to God based on our own performance and not the performance of Christ.
I’ve recommended it before but “The Discipline of Grace” by Jerry Bridges is an excellent book on this subject.
Ryan, sweet post! Amen and Amen!
Juice,
I’ve read several of Jerry Bridges’ books, but never The Discipline of Grace. I’ll have to borrow it. Have you read his article “Gospel-Driven Sanctification” in Modern Reformation? It’s probably a condensed version of the book you recommended.
Ryan, I will be using this illustration in my upcoming sermon. Thanks for sharing it.