The Fullness of Life

In the past, I was guilty of having watered down the gospel, but what does the word ‘gospel’ truly mean? Well, the original Greek word for ‘gospel’ is ‘εὐαγγέλιον’ (pronounced euangelion), a term that carries profound weight. It means ‘good news,’ a transformative message that brings hope and salvation. The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are considered gospel accounts, with their main centerpiece being the life, person, and ministry of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the good news is Jesus Himself. That bears repeating: the good news is Jesus Himself. The entire person of Christ offers us good news beyond compare.

I argue that only a fraction of the gospel message is highlighted today. This is the talk of justification, a very important aspect of the gospel, yet not the only one we should focus on. Why is it so heavily focused on? Well, in a world where unrighteous sinners coexist with a righteous God, we are faced with a contradiction. How is this possible? Christians know that it is possible because Christ Himself, through His sacrifice on the cross, has nullified the power of sin, creating a world where sin has lost its grip. In this transformed world, God can declare us righteous. However, if forgiveness, although essential, is the only thing we focus on, we miss other significant aspects of the gospel, such as restoration and sanctification.

In John 10, Jesus offers the following imagery describing Himself as this life gate of transformation:

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.” 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Jesus Himself is our lifegate. Through Him, we can go out and find pasture alongside what we need to live a full life. Jesus is the only one through whom this is possible. Furthermore, Jesus, our shepherd, walks alongside us; He has a relationship with us and cares for us. His forgiveness doesn’t just stop at forgiveness; it leads us to a new life of abundance where we fellowship with Him. This reassures us of His constant presence and care in our lives, providing us with security and peace. My hope for you today is that you are encouraged by the fullness of the gospel, the good news that Jesus Himself wants a relationship with you, for He has removed all barriers that make that impossible!

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Prayer:

Father, we thank and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness, You’ve accomplished many wonderful things, things that were planned long ago. We praise You, especially for revealing to us Your Son Jesus, who is our life gate, peace, security, and abundance.

We confess to You that we don’t always grasp how amazing and full the picture of this good news is, Father. We are never alone. We are graced by the presence of Jesus Himself. We thank You for His forgiveness leading to our transformation, and that transformation is life.

May we never lose the wonder of the gospel message. Please, by Your Spirit, help us to lead others to Jesus’s life gate so that they can experience the fullness of joy that we have and will continue to experience.

We offer these words in Christ’s name and by the power of the Spirit. Please make them more than words as we go about our days. Amen!