Full Gospel
Posted: August 31st, 2009, 5:37 pm
Have you noticed “Modern Christianity” seems to leave off the negative side of the Gospel message? People seem to preach Heaven but not Hell, Eternal Life but not eternal damnation, mercy but not justice, forgiveness but not the sins that need to be forgiven. They speak of God’s love but never mention God’s wrath. I believe this is a mistake.
Scripture teaches us there are two sides to the story and I believe mankind needs to hear both sides to appreciate the other side. When you read the OT you find a God who destroys the Earth with a flood and who turned Sodom & Gomorrah into ashes. You find God ordering the destruction of cities and the annihilation of every human being in those cities. Yet, you see a much different God revealed in the NT. He speaks of love, longsuffering, and forgiveness. Just as an example, in the OT he orders the stoning of sinners and in the NT Emmanuel refuses to allow the stoning of the woman caught in adultery. The picture both testaments reveal are so different one could be left wondering “Are there two Gods?”
Obviously there are not two Gods but there are definitely two sides of the same God. I believe the OT reveals God as a God of law and justice while the NT reveals God as a God of mercy and grace. Both work together to give a complete picture of God.
When you think about it, the cross tells the whole story although many only preach half of the message of the cross. The cross reveals a God of love and mercy who sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins. This is the side most modern preachers speak about and educate people about. They forget the other message of the cross – God doesn’t overlook sin. Think about it. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross to provide forgiveness? Why didn’t God simply forgive man without Jesus having to die? The answer is that God is a God of justice and He doesn’t overlook sin. God provided a sacrifice for our sins and we are left to either accept Jesus’ substitution or we have to bear the judgment for our sins ourselves. God doesn’t overlook sin.
Some think it horrible to preach about sin and judgment but how does one appreciate forgiveness if they don’t understand they’ve sinned? How does one appreciate mercy if they don’t understand the consequences of sin? People talk about being “Full Gospel” but you can’t be “Full Gospel” if you don’t tell the whole story of Salvation.
“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God…” (Rom 11:22a)
I fear the enemy is succeeding in recruiting ministers to preach a lopsided message in an attempt to neutralize the power of the Gospel. Don't be fooled.
Scripture teaches us there are two sides to the story and I believe mankind needs to hear both sides to appreciate the other side. When you read the OT you find a God who destroys the Earth with a flood and who turned Sodom & Gomorrah into ashes. You find God ordering the destruction of cities and the annihilation of every human being in those cities. Yet, you see a much different God revealed in the NT. He speaks of love, longsuffering, and forgiveness. Just as an example, in the OT he orders the stoning of sinners and in the NT Emmanuel refuses to allow the stoning of the woman caught in adultery. The picture both testaments reveal are so different one could be left wondering “Are there two Gods?”
Obviously there are not two Gods but there are definitely two sides of the same God. I believe the OT reveals God as a God of law and justice while the NT reveals God as a God of mercy and grace. Both work together to give a complete picture of God.
When you think about it, the cross tells the whole story although many only preach half of the message of the cross. The cross reveals a God of love and mercy who sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins. This is the side most modern preachers speak about and educate people about. They forget the other message of the cross – God doesn’t overlook sin. Think about it. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross to provide forgiveness? Why didn’t God simply forgive man without Jesus having to die? The answer is that God is a God of justice and He doesn’t overlook sin. God provided a sacrifice for our sins and we are left to either accept Jesus’ substitution or we have to bear the judgment for our sins ourselves. God doesn’t overlook sin.
Some think it horrible to preach about sin and judgment but how does one appreciate forgiveness if they don’t understand they’ve sinned? How does one appreciate mercy if they don’t understand the consequences of sin? People talk about being “Full Gospel” but you can’t be “Full Gospel” if you don’t tell the whole story of Salvation.
“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God…” (Rom 11:22a)
I fear the enemy is succeeding in recruiting ministers to preach a lopsided message in an attempt to neutralize the power of the Gospel. Don't be fooled.
