TSP DAILY DEVOTIONAL
UNBIASED GOSPEL
17th May 2020
Dr. Phil Ransom-Bello
KEY SCRIPTURE/MEMORY VERSE: John 3:16(NKJV)
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.
As we unravel what John’s baptism really stood for, the more we realize the value of the gospel that Jesus came to declare. Like we saw yesterday, at the core of the message of John’s baptism was a deep-seated belief in the law because it made forgiveness a function of what we did or couldn’t do and not a function of what the cross came to do.
How can people change and produce fruits consistent with repentance or worthy of forgiveness when they’ve not been transformed on the inside?(Matthew 3:8)
If we really had the ability to produce actions worthy of God’s forgiveness, then there was no need for Jesus to come.
And this was the message Apollos taught so eloquently in Acts 18. But you must know that its not about how astute a person is or the gift of gab, you can err in eloquence. True eloquence comes from preaching the gospel of Christ alone.
In John 3:15, Jesus shows us the criteria for receiving all that the gospel declares. He says whoever believes.
So when you stand before the sinner to preach the gospel, you don’t say;
” Madam or Oga, change your ways.”
Rather you say- “Believe in Jesus.”
Anybody who understands the gospel knows that the focus is not the person’s behaviour or actions, you are not talking to the woman in that red light zone about her prostitution, you are talking to her about the love of Jesus and asking her to believe in Him. You are not asking her to change her ways to be forgiven. No, the woman has been forgiven before while Jesus died.
Or does 2 Corinthians 5:19 say “God was in Christ reconciling the CHURCH to Himself no longer counting their sins?”
Read that again.
It says, “God was in Christ reconciling the WORLD to Himself.”
John 3:16 emphasizes this when it says “For God so loved the WORLD that He gave His beloved son, Jesus”
And as though that’s not enough, I John 2:2 says- “Jesus Himself is the payment for our sins and not ours alone but for the whole WORLD”.
See the scriptures! The gospel is unbiased.
You know sometimes, when we preach the gospel to sinners, we forget who we once were before we came to the saving knowledge of Jesus. God was in Christ reconciling not the Bishop or the Pope but the world.
God was. Past tense.
And now, He is no longer counting the sins of the world.
So when you come breathing fire and passion to preach about the sin of the world- wrong approach!
Isn’t it interesting that this same John was the one who saw Jesus in John 1:29 and said- “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the WORLD”?
The question is- Has Jesus taken it away or is still taking?”
John 3:16, one of the most popular scriptures every Christian knows is so simple yet so easily glossed over.
It says whoever, anybody, anybody! that believes in Jesus will have eternal life. Nothing in that verse points to confession of sins.
Hear me friends, because the spirit of our message disqualifies no one from receiving forgiveness or eternal life, your gospel must be unbiased.
REFLECTION
When I preach the gospel, do I highlight the sin of the sinner or the love of God for them?
DECLARATION
-My understanding and declaration of the gospel is not defined by old mindsets or biases.
-In witnessing for the gospel, I declare the love of God not the sin of the sinner that Jesus already took away.
-I declare the gospel accurately. No additions. No subtractions. I am eloquent in the gospel.
-I believe that forgiveness of sins is a product of the sacrifice and not a function of us or change in behaviour.
-I am an ambassador of the gospel that qualifies everyone and condemns no one.
-Daily, I am faithful in the business of soul-winning and I make profit of souls in millions for the Kingdom.
-Daily, I enjoy the advantage and dividends of the gospel.
Hallelujah!
HEARING BY THE WORD
(Recommended Listening)
Listen to What Do I Preach?>> Dr. Phil by The StandPoint Church on #SoundCloud
