When the gospel is not good news
The last two Sundays we have looked at the false gospels from Lucifer and Judas Iscariot. I say false, because while on the surface some may think this is good news, the reality is that living life according to either leads to facing the wrath and judgment of God. Paul, in writing to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3, tells us that these false gospels continue and will gain steam in the last days. “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” As I read this description it seems to mirror the news.
All of this is disturbing, but in light of the sermon this morning, the phrase, “having a form of godliness, but denying its power,” resonates. When your life looks like checking off all the boxes, doing all the expected things, simply being present all point to my activity, my earning, my deserving salvation, we have a form—but it isn’t Jesus. The reality is that it is the activity of God on my behalf that saves me and brings about godliness. This reminds me of Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in Your name, cast our demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name: And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”
I can hear this being the cry of Judas who as one of the 12 disciples and one of the 72 sent out (Luke 10) did these very things. We can think we do things, but we forget that all done in and through us is by the Holy Spirit. We are a surrendered vessel only for His use! Judas’ problem is there was never a surrender; never a trusting and believing in who Jesus truly is; there was never an “I do” moment in Judas’ life. There was never a time that Jesus’ reply to the people in John 6:29: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him who He sent” took place in Judas’ life.
We can surround ourselves with the things of God, but it is the embracing and trusting of “bread which came down from heaven, the very Son of God, Jesus Christ our Savior that saves us. Don’t trust yourself, the things you do, or the crowd you run with; trust Jesus alone.
Pressing on…
Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor
