Gospel Connections

Let’s talk about connecting the gospel to our everyday lives. This is a question I receive frequently, and I’d like to illustrate it briefly here. If you want a more detailed exploration, I recommend watching the one-hour webinar at Life Over Coffee.

1. Forgiveness: Connecting the gospel to forgiveness is clearly seen in Matthew 18. The parable of the unforgiving servant teaches us that just as God had mercy on us by forgiving our enormous debt, we should extend mercy to others. This gospel application emphasizes why we should forgive: because God forgave us.
2. Kindness: Ephesians 4:32 instructs us to “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Our kindness is a reflection of God’s kindness toward us, rooted in the gospel. We are kind because God was kind to us.
3. Gratitude: Understanding the gospel fosters gratitude. As Jesus said, “He who is forgiven little, loves little” (Luke 7:47). A deep awareness of our forgiveness through Christ grows our gratitude toward God and others. A lack of gratitude often indicates a disconnect from the gospel.
4. Encouragement: Romans 2:4 tells us that “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.” Recognizing God’s kindness in our own lives should motivate us to encourage others. We aim to inspire and uplift others with grace, reflecting the kindness that led to our own repentance.
5. Serving: Jesus said, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45). Serving others is a direct application of the gospel. By serving, we emulate Christ and understand the essence of the gospel.
6. Suffering: 1 Peter 2:21 says, “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” Our suffering is connected to the gospel as we strive to walk in Christ’s footsteps.
7. Humility: The gospel humbles us by showing us our need for a Savior. Recognizing God’s grace should keep us from elevating ourselves. True humility flows from a gospel-centered life.
8. Modeling Christ: Paul exhorts us to “imitate me, as I imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). We are called to model our lives after Christ, following His example in all we do.
9. Confessing Sin: 1 John 1:9 reminds us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confession is an essential part of living out the gospel.

In contrast, certain negative behaviors indicate a disconnection from the gospel:

1. Unrighteousness: Living in unrighteousness shows a failure to grasp the gospel’s transformative power. Our righteousness comes solely from Christ.
2. Anger: As illustrated in Matthew 18, sinful anger, especially when paired with an unforgiving spirit, shows a disconnect from the gospel’s message of mercy and forgiveness.
3. Lust: 1 Corinthians 7 teaches us about godly intimacy. Living in lust reflects a departure from gospel-centered living.

For a more in-depth look at connecting the gospel to daily life, please visit lifeovercoffee.com and watch the webinar. Let’s strive to live as gospel-connected people, drawing our attitudes and actions from the transformative power of the gospel as taught in scripture.