In Christ Alone

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1Corinthians 2:1-5

“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.” Galatians 1:6-7

“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:21-25

What does it mean for us to be “In Christ Alone?”  Paul expressed that he wanted to know nothing ‘except Jesus Christ and Him crucified’ to the Corinthian believers.  He also tells the churches in Galatia that other gospels were being preached, and those who preach them should be cursed.  It is extremely important for us to understand what the gospel is, and preach it properly both for Christians and unbelievers alike.  We should find also that the gospel remains the most important of things in our lives in thought and action.

The gospel as expressed in 1 Corinthians 15 (an early creed) concisely states the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Often we find it easier to see how this relates to our unbelieving brothers, being dead in sins, and condemned to hell.  Yet it was not us that discovered the gospel, in effect saving ourselves, but it was God who brought it to us, sovereignly.  We cannot get to a point in our minds, intellectually, that we let the gospel become a one hit wonder.  The same song over and over everyone knowing what comes next, losing all meaning. 

Christian living is a chance to show the gospel every day.  What constitutes ‘Christian living?’  We are called to follow him, and sin no more, or be righteous.  We were unable to be perfect before, we are still not; we lean on Christ’s sacrifice, and realize it is sufficient to cover all our faults.  It then can spur us on to glorify Him even more.  We are told to forgive others, and be kind to our enemies; because that is what He did.  Each situation we come to offers another opportunity to glorify Him.  Take a moment and reflect how can I show the gospel in this?