To Be Like Jesus

"…the Christian is in a different position from other people who are trying to be good. They hope, by being good to please God if there is one; or—if they think there is not—at least they hope to deserve approval from good men. But the Christian thinks any good he does comes from the Christ-life inside him. He does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us…” -C. S. Lewis, "Mere Christianity"

This is the Gospel, is it not? That God has rescued us from ourselves. That we can never be good enough. We can never hope to be blameless in the eyes of the Almighty Righteous One. We were dead in our trespasses and sin, but God has made those of us who believe, alive. This is the good news we preach. We are on a mission and our “missions” work must include humanitarian aide, feeding the homeless, clothing the naked, and all the rest of the activities we would call “missions.” But it can’t just be that. It must include going to our neighbors as well as people in the far reaches of the earth who have never heard. This Gospel, this “Good News,” is just that. God doesn’t love us because we are good, He promises to make us good because He loves us. This is the Good News we bring to the world.

Sometimes our world seems dark and hopeless…it is, but we have hope! His name is Jesus. This message never gets old. So many churches try to be relevant by adding a coffee bar here or doing some new song and dance there. The Gospel is relevant. No machinations of men can add to its efficacy. It doesn’t need to be tweaked. The Gospel is relevant. It always has been. It always will be. Let us not grow weary in telling the world there is hope and that hope is Jesus. Peter says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

-Chad Bozarth