Villagersonline : blogs : Mike_Wise : Where does the Gospel lie?

From: Mike_Wise
Date: Wed Jan 25 13:46:24 EST 2012
Subject: Where does the Gospel lie?

Responses
russ: both at once (1/29/12)

Mike_Wise: Thank you Russ (1/30/12)

Responses (sorted by date)
Mike_Wise: Thank you Russ (1/30/12)
russ: both at once (1/29/12)

Hey guys,
I've been slack on posting lately and I apologize for that. I have been extraordinarily busy.
Yesterday I listened to a NT Wright lecture in which he was hitting on some of the points of his latest book "Simply Jesus" and I am paraphrasing from his statements here but he noticed that there was a 2 fold problem in the Christian Church today both having to do with what people see as the central crux of The Gospel.
Some seem to want to only focus on the teachings of Jesus not wanting to make too big of a deal of his death on the cross.
Some don't focus nearly at all on his work while he was alive only focusing on his crucifixion.
NT Wright seemed to think that the gospel was found somewhere between these two extremes. YES Jesus death on the cross was of the utmost importance in starting the restorative work of salvation in us individually and in the whole of creation. But yes also we MUST pay attention to the teaching and work that Jesus performed while he was alive. While he walked among us. While he established God's kingdom in his disciples. To focus too much on either one or the other and you miss out on something pivotal.
But what do YOU think? Where do you personally find the gospel?

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From: russ
Date: Sun Jan 29 14:38:04 EST 2012
Subject: both at once

If I were perfect, then I think that I would be able to clearly see how the two are the same thing. God is constantly in motion into our lives, to restore us, to restore relationship, and to make us more like Him. Sometimes, that takes the form of Him providing for our salvation; sometimes, it takes the form of Him instructing us in the practicality of a moral existence.
The point, of course, is never morality in isolation: we are not trying to live up to some abstract, distant standard. The point is always to be more like God in our every moment and every motivation. That requires both empowerment from God, centered at the cross, and disciplined labor, centered on the Sermon on the Mount.
The problem for me is that I always overstate my role. I was raised with the belief that God alone could save us...but that we could live a terrible, shameful life despite our salvation. It was a strange mix of save-by-grace and save-by-works. I'm coming to realize that my gospel has been "Live as close to a perfect life as you can, and the Cross will make up for the little you mess up."
God is teaching me that it has to all be about Him. Even my labors are, somehow, not my labors at all, but Him working within me. I don't understand it, yet. My old "gospel" still screeches inside my head, wagging its finger and promising shame if I screw up. It loves to quote the most dire Scriptures at me. I worry that I will switch over to the other extreme: "I am saved, and thus there are no imperatives which bind me."
But I really see God a work in my life here...I have confidence, despite my worries, that He is crafting something inside me. I'm looking forward to seeing what exactly it will be.

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From: Mike_Wise
Date: Mon Jan 30 11:57:39 EST 2012
Subject: Thank you Russ

Russ,
Thanks for your thoughtful response. I also have fought against the voices in my head, those crafty religious voices which tell me again and again that I am not measuring up and I never will. Crafty and cunning is our enemy who knows how to use even that which is good and turn it against us. It makes many throw the baby out with the bathwater, I did that for awhile for sure.
It really does have to be all about Jesus. HE is doing a good work within me too. It's painstakingly slow and I wish with all of my being that it was instantaneous but it's not.

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