Keep it Simple
Text: 1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. (NRSV)
I think that one of the biggest mistakes a Christian can make is to argue with someone about the issues of salvation. When we get into an argument trying to defend “Jesus”, we have forgotten what the word gospel means. We have forgotten that what we are supposed to be expressing with our lives is the good news about God’s love. God does not need us to defend him.
Paul was not focused on people’s salvation; Paul was focused on introducing people to Jesus. It was never about cleverly thought out arguments designed to convince people about the process of salvation. It was always as simple as Paul telling about personal experiences of God’s love through his newfound intimate relationship with Jesus. It was as simple as living out the joy of his relationship with Jesus in front of everyone he met.
It is the power of the cross that saves, not the power of our arguments. As Christians set apart for the gospel of God, our role is to express the good news we have found in Jesus with our lives. We are merely those who introduce others to Jesus, it is the Holy Spirit and the power of the cross that works the mystery of salvation into the lives of those who come to know Jesus through our lives lived in a way that brings honor and glory to God.
Pray with me:
Lord God, may the way I live my life be the only argument for your love that I ever need to make. AMEN.
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. (NRSV)
I think that one of the biggest mistakes a Christian can make is to argue with someone about the issues of salvation. When we get into an argument trying to defend “Jesus”, we have forgotten what the word gospel means. We have forgotten that what we are supposed to be expressing with our lives is the good news about God’s love. God does not need us to defend him.
Paul was not focused on people’s salvation; Paul was focused on introducing people to Jesus. It was never about cleverly thought out arguments designed to convince people about the process of salvation. It was always as simple as Paul telling about personal experiences of God’s love through his newfound intimate relationship with Jesus. It was as simple as living out the joy of his relationship with Jesus in front of everyone he met.
It is the power of the cross that saves, not the power of our arguments. As Christians set apart for the gospel of God, our role is to express the good news we have found in Jesus with our lives. We are merely those who introduce others to Jesus, it is the Holy Spirit and the power of the cross that works the mystery of salvation into the lives of those who come to know Jesus through our lives lived in a way that brings honor and glory to God.
Pray with me:
Lord God, may the way I live my life be the only argument for your love that I ever need to make. AMEN.
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