Seven truths have life-changing implications

0
432

Christian thinkers say there are only about seven basic ideas that have changed the world. If so, then anyone promoting them will have a profound effect on the part of the world near him. They are a danger to the status quo.

The part of the world nearest us is our family, church, workplace and neighborhood. These places include both saved and lost people.

Believers God has gifted with the ability to think biblically, logically and with historical context have identified these seven dangerous, world-changing truths:

1. The resurrection from the dead.

2. The incarnation of God.

3. The creation had a beginning and order.

4. The recognition that there is evidence for God.

5. The salvation of man is not by works.

6. The value of man comes from his Creator.

7. The purposefulness of suffering.

As a preacher of the Gospel, I am most interested in those truths directly related to explaining the Gospel. Of these seven, I see at least four that relate to the Gospel, and possibly a fifth.

•The Gospel — 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 succinctly describes the Gospel: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” These three key points are rooted in the Old Testament and New Testament.

Notice God’s love is not listed. Is it important? Of course, but it’s not essential as Jesus’ death and resurrection. If God had never loved us and yet still sent his son, could we be saved? Absolutely. Whether our sin debt was paid out of love or some other motivation, as long as it was paid the door of salvation would be open.

From 1 Corinthians 15, I know that 1, 2 and 5 from the list are key to the Gospel. For Jesus to be fit as sin-payer he had to be sinless. That makes the incarnation critical. Because Jesus’ death was sufficient to pay for all sin, our works have no effect to take away sin.

•Creation — I also see God being Creator as vital to the Gospel. Creation was included in Paul’s explanation of the Gospel: “And saying, sirs, why do ye these things? … Ye should turn from vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein. … God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands” (Acts 14:15, 17:24).

The less biblically-based society is, the more vital it is to explain who this God is who offers rescue from sin. Depend on the Creator God when sharing the Gospel.

•Distinction of man — People were made in the image of God.

Theologians speak of man’s natural image of God and man’s moral image. Our natural image notes that human beings have intellect, can rationalize, are immortal, have a will and are created beings.

Our moral image speaks to the fact that we were made holy, righteous and with a knowledge of God. Sin ruined our moral image. Now, all are dead in trespasses and sins.

Unsaved people still can be brilliant intellectually but remain dead morally. They need to be born again, regenerated.

•Light a candle — Christ calls us to shine in our world. Matthew 5:16 reads, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.”

Jesus is the light, the ultimate communication of God to men. Hebrews 1:2 reads, “(God) hath in these last days spoken unto us by his son…”

Early believers shared the gospel, were scattered with the gospel and suffered for the Gospel — and changed the world. In this generation, we must imitate the lives who shared, were scattered and suffered.

The church changed the world by proclaiming seven dangerous truths. I doubt they ever listed them, but they preached them. We need to tell those world-changing truths. Every child of God can.

As this world becomes more dangerous, we must become more dangerous ourselves. Declare and defend these dangerous truths. Do it in the power and love of God. Let’s go and change the world.

Joseph Merriman is pastor of First Baptist Church of Greenfield. This weekly column is written by local clergy members.