The Gospel and Discipleship

We are called to make disciples; not members of our church, denomination, theological perspective, cause, or movement.

This comment is probably driven by my context. I live in a Bible belt area where the gospel has been drowned out by legalism and false gospel living and teaching. That is a strong statement, but I believe is true.

I see people that all they know about the gospel is do better, try harder. The problem is, that's not the Gospel. Understanding this fundamental concept, and being gospel centered in everything that we do, is key to our discipleship at The Bridge. Everything springs forth from the fact that the gospel is not do better, try harder. You can't save yourself...

Sometimes I wonder what we are trying to convert people to, being a disciple of Jesus or some false god? I think churches are full of people trying to do "discipleship" that don't know the Gospel, and thus fail because they have an inability to be a disciple.

So you want to talk about discipleship? First, make sure you know what you are asking people to be a disciple of.

Below are some interesting insights from Keller and others I have collected.

* Religion says, if I obey, God will love me. Gospel says, because God loves me, I can obey.
* Religion has good people & bad people. Gospel has only repentant and unrepentant people.
* Religion values a birth family. Gospel values a new birth.
* Religion depends on what I do. Gospel depends on what Jesus has done.
* Religion has the goal to get something from God. Gospel has the goal to get God.
* Religion sees hardships as punishment for sin. Gospel sees hardship and giants as a chance to grow in our hope - JESUS.
* Religion is about me. Gospel is about Jesus.
* Religion believes appearing as a good person is the key. Gospel believes that being honest is the key.
* Religion has an uncertainty of standing before God. Gospel has certainty based upon Jesus' work.
* Religion sees Jesus as the means. Gospel sees Jesus as the end.
* Religion ends in pride or despair. Gospel ends in humble joy.

More on Religion Vs. The Gospel can be found here.

"Grace as a gift"

Romans 3:10-28
10 as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. 13 Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. 14 Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known. 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.