Hello everyone, I want to share something related to a book I recently read about youth ministry. The author presented three aspects related to the gospel: (1) the gospel and salvation, (2) the gospel and grace, and (3) the gospel and redemption.
The author wanted us to focus on the first two aspects with an emphasis on “the gospel and grace.” He shared that while the youth may understand the gospel and salvation, as I hope all of our brothers and sisters do and rejoice in, he found that it was common for the youth to not grasp the gospel and grace.
Many youth believe in the gospel for salvation and then live without the gospel of grace. Their day-to-day Christian lives revolve around avoiding things like smoking or drinking and focusing on being a “nice person.” In other words, they think that Christianity is one more way amongst many to be a good person. They may believe in Christ for salvation but at the same time live as if they were earning it.
As a result, when their efforts fail, they blame themselves for not trying hard enough. Their lives are characterized by attempts to “prove themselves” before God because they don’t know that through their faith in the Christ of the gospel of grace, they are in Christ and fully accepted and loved by God. It is from that grace that the power for the Christian life comes.
Brothers and sisters may you rest in Christ who fulfilled every requirement you never could and whose righteousness has been credited to you.
“The gospel is rest. The gospel means Jesus carries the burden of your life. The gospel means you will never have to prove yourself again, because Jesus has proven you on the cross.”
May we rest in him, rely on him, and live for him. Take care!
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