aGood (a-“not” “good”). The Christian message is not about being “good.” It is not about what you can present on your resume before God. It has nothing to do with earning the love or favor of God. The Bible says that there is “no one who does good” (Rom. 3:10). So, first off, some of you need to quit trying to be a part of a group called “good people.” It does not exist. Others of you need to quit thinking you already belong to such a group. You don’t. While we may do some “good” things here and there, we are burdened with the weight of our own sin and we can’t rid ourselves of it on our own.
Fallen. Sin, unrighteousness, selfishness, hate, failure, and fatigue. These are all part of our problem. We are inconsistent in doing what we know to be right. We have fallen down so much that we have calloused hands and knees. We lose ourselves and manipulate to cope. “Its not my fault” is our internal blog. We do what is right in our own eyes (Prov. 21:2) and ignore God.
Drunk. To be drunk is to lose yourself in something else. When people get drunk it is a form of escape to a different place for whatever reason. Maybe to hide. Maybe to become. Maybe to have something trip us. It is our excuse for falling. Either way, you allow yourself to be controlled as a form of escape. It is not necessarily about alcohol, either. It is about whatever you are being controlled by. In that, you are drunk. God wants you to be drunk with him, but something has to change.
Alone. Right now, you are alone. You may have friends and family, but you are alone. We will all stand before God (Rom. 14:10). Stand before God alone and you will stand condemned. You will face the severity of God’s judgment. Alone, you will tell God “I will take my chances and see how I fair.” You won’t fair well. God has already said as much (Rom. 3:23). You can’t make it alone. God himself must be your at your side.
Covered. Alone, drunk, and having fallen in the dirt, we see Jesus Christ, God himself, became one of us. He walked among us. His words were tender. Though he did not fall, was drunk only in goodness, and was never alone, he took pity on us. He offered to stand by our side. He loved us and died in our place (Rom. 5:8). The shame and pain that was ours, he took. He offered us a covering that no one else could offer.
Broken. Look upon Christ and cry out for him. He will hear. The cry is a recognition of your brokenness. Pride stands in the way. “Have mercy on me the sinner” (Luke 18:13) is your white flag of surrender. You are there right now. You are already broken. God knows it. But you must cry out. Call upon Jesus Christ and he will rescue. No need to wash your face. No need to clean your hands. You can’t. Just cry. Just cry out right now while on the ground.
Belief. It is true. Jesus Christ died for sins—your sins. It is true. He loves loves you exactly as you are, broken and insecure. It is true. Christ is Lord of everything. Belief is necessary. No need to close your eyes. You need to open them wider. Jesus Christ died for your sins and death could not keep him. Christ is the only way. There is no other (John 14:6).
Hope. Believe in Christ and cry out for his mercy and you can be sure you have it. You will no longer be alone (Heb. 13:5). You will no longer be broken. Christ will cover all your life with his. You will stand before God as one purchased by Christ. Through the rest of life’s pains, you can be sure that God will be with you. Believe and cry and you are no longer alone and now have hope.
Who. Who do you say that Christ is (Matt. 16:15)? This is the most important question you will ever be asked. He is the Son of God. He is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. He is the one who covered you. He is the Lord of all, creator of all, and the only hope for all. He defeated death. He is God in the flesh. And he is the one who is coming again to make all things right, to raise the dead and restore the earth.
If you cry out to Christ, he will save you. That is the message.
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?'” (John 11:25-26)
Do you?
24 replies to "The Christian Message in 9 Words"
Awesome posted! I swear ^^v
So, first off, some of you need to quit trying to be a part of a group called “good people.” It does not exist. Others of you need to quite thinking you already belong to such a group. You don’t. While we may do some “good” things here and there, we are burdened with the weight of our own sin and we can’t rid ourselves of it on our own.
This message is relevant: to those who are self-righteous, to those who are burdened by the weight of trying to ‘measure up’, etc..
But what I find is that most Christians do not understand the ‘other side of the coin’ in regards to the gospel: those in Christ have become new creations, saints, righteous, given new hearts, and so much more! This is a reality of the gospel, or good news. It becomes fantastic news! But, unfortunately, most people don’t see this or believe this. This is because of Christ, and it is because of Christ that these things are true.
So, I would try and stay balanced here and make sure we are encouraging the body of Christ of who they really are in Him. I think this might encourage us to walk out what He has called us to.
I hear you, however, I don’t see that it says “if you cry out He will save you” – it says if you believe. How do you know you believe? Well in my understanding, James says that you know you believe when you see the works that it produces. So in that sense I appreciate what Scott says about the balance.
It is faith that saves, but saving faith does lead to a change – gradually and with many slips back, but a change in thinking (repentance?).
But then even the faith is given by God… Balance, balance, balance 🙂
Buks, considering this is a message towards those that don’t believe, I don’t think we should confuse it with works. Salvation is a work of God alone, who will work it out in the genuine believer as he/she progresses in the Christian walk in their commitment to Christ (Phil 2:12-13). It seems you want to inspect the sanctification before getting to salvation.
In the spirit of the post, let’s focus on belief in Christ first.
Buks on 02 Nov 2009 at 5:35 am I hear you, however, I don’t see that it says “if you cry out He will save you” – it says if you believe. How do you know you believe? Well in my understanding, James says that you know you believe when you see the works that it produces. So in that sense I appreciate what Scott says about the balance. It is faith that saves, but saving faith does lead to a change – gradually and with many slips back, but a change in thinking (repentance?). But then even the faith is given by God… Balance, balance, balance 🙂
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13
Israel most often “called on the name of the Lord” when they needed help and deliverance – Psalm 107 – and He delivered/saved them.
EricW on 02 Nov 2009 at 9:35 am
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13
Yes, but what about the next verse:
Rom 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?
Ps 107 yes, but
1Sa 8:18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day.”
What is the difference? I think the cry from a believing heart, will be answered – but I think the believing comes first.
“God, if there is a God, I don’t even believe in you, but if you’re there and can help/save me, then HELP!!!!”
I can’t say that God won’t answer that prayer.
My “salvation” was a prayer that was in effect: “Jesus, if you’re who people say you are, you’re going to have to show me, because I’m tired of looking.”
Did I say that with or from “a believing heart”? I’d have to answer, “No.”
Yet I was saved at that moment and delivered from a spiritual darkness and depression that has yet to return 32+ years later.
EricW – You are of course right in that it would be incredibly presumptious for me to say what kind of prayer God would or would not answer.
It just that, as I understand Scripture, it is not even possible for us to cry out to God without Him calling us first and giving us that first mustard seed of faith.
But of course I take Lisa’s point – I’m probably going where the original post did not intend to go!
Jesus compared faith to cast out demons or to move mountains to a mustard seed. There he was speaking to believers/disciples, not to unbelievers. Hebrews says he who comes to God must believe that he is and that he rewards those who come to him, so maybe faith is required. But that, too, was written to believers.
Got me!
According to John Calvin, only the people who have been elected by God have been foreordained to call out to him, and thus God has foreordained their cry of help and foreordained that he would answer. In addition, saving faith is not given by God until after he has regenerated the elect person. Lastly, for those people who are not elected but have been foreordained by God to travel awhile in the church (evanescent belief), their call out to God has been foreordained as well, but because they are not elect their call will not result in a saving faith but only a temporary belief that looks real to other people and to the person themselve until they come to the point (which God has also foreordained) where they stop following Jesus and join the others on the broad path to hell and hellfire. Consequently, it doesn’t seem to matter, from the Calvinist viewpoint, whether one has belief or faith before one calls out to God.
Of course, if one is not Calvinist, then the debate might have some significance, but I have not yet thought a great deal about that aspect.
regards,
#John
#John1453 on 02 Nov 2009 at 10:51 am #
According to John Calvin, only the people who have been elected by God have been foreordained to call out to him, and thus God has foreordained their cry of help and foreordained that he would answer. In addition, saving faith is not given by God until after he has regenerated the elect person. Lastly, for those people who are not elected but have been foreordained by God to travel awhile in the church (evanescent belief), their call out to God has been foreordained as well, but because they are not elect their call will not result in a saving faith but only a temporary belief that looks real to other people and to the person themselve until they come to the point (which God has also foreordained) where they stop following Jesus and join the others on the broad path to hell and hellfire. Consequently, it doesn’t seem to matter, from the Calvinist viewpoint, whether one has belief or faith before one calls out to God.
Of course, if one is not Calvinist, then the debate might have some significance, but I have not yet thought a great deal about that aspect.
regards,
#John
Calvinistic syllogisms and arguments give me hemorrhoids and headaches (i.e., they make me hurt at both ends; and if I study them long enough, they, like Calvin himself experienced, give me dyspepsia, too).
Just sayin’… 🙂
Ummm your post is 828 words long. That 819 more than 9.
Christian message in 1 word: Love.
Not sure how this didn’t make the list.
Funny, the Bible says it’s purpose is for “training in righteousness”. Paul says no wicked person has any inheritance in the Kingdom and Jesus says the disobedient will go away to eternal damnation.
Of course the shrunken-Evangelical-quick-fix-salvation-plan-ideal-for-passive-consumers message is not about being good. It’s about Jesus having done it all so you don’t have to. If you believe some stuff you get Jesus good deeds on your moral account and it’s like a free ticket to heaven. Thank heavens Paul came along and gave us Justification by Fath which overrides Jesus clear message of Judgement by Works.
re “a-good” as the first word
CMP wrote, “The Christian message is not about being “good.””
Like Marc (see comment #14) I would have to agree. The Christian message is about being good, though one has to be good in the right way and for the right reasons. CMP’s contention is really that the Christian message is not about being good in order to be saved (wrong reason). CMP’s initial phrase is ambiguous and permits both interpretations.
regards,
#John
Marc, I believe Jesus made it pretty clear that belief (faith) is what saves. Of course – faith without works means nothing and is dead. Works is what identifies saving faith – but it is through faith that we are saved unto good works.
Joh 6:28-29 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
Joh 11:26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Joh 20:31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Joh 12:46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
Joh 12:36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.
Joh 11:40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”
etc.
Here are my 9 words:
frienship
fallen
fidelity
forgiveness
family
frankness
freed
filled
follow
Anyone else have ideas for lists?
What is the greatest sin? Unbelief
What is the greatest good? Belief
7 Words……
It’s not about works, it’s about grace.
Pointless
Hopeless
Unable
Light
Sorrow
Release
Hope
Purpose
Eternity
My two cents worth?
Sorry, I intended to include a definition.
Belief defined:
1. Knowledge of Jesus.
2. Acquiescence to His authority.
3. Faith and Trust in Him alone.
CMP: Great post! I’m going to send it to my family who think that it’s all about being “good” based on THEIR perception and definition of “good.”
Here’s my two words,
Think, Love
And Christianity has no copyright on either of them.
Michael , great post.
John, you seem to have a simplistic, preverted view of Calvinism. I would not even consider myself a 5 pt Calvinist and yet I believe that people at times misunderstand the point of the strong emphasis on the sovoregnty of God by those who hold to the doctrines of grace. I feel that we need a strong view of His soverignty not to relieve man of his responsibility nor to paint a picture of a heartless heavenly Father but to show that He has all power and all glory goes to him for our salvation.
I guess the above comment was a little beyond the scope of this post.
So anyway, Michael great word pictures concerning the sinful condition of all men. If we don’t to at least some degree see our sinfulness why would we put our trust in him for salvation? You have said what all people without Christ need to hear.
Thank you.
re C. Skiles’s post 22
In what way is my view of Calvinism perverted or wrong? I wrote nothing other than what Calvnists themselves have written or what is entailed in their beliefs. I share your visceral reaction against Calvinism, and so should more people. An understanding of Calvinism does result in exposure of its ugliness and untruth. But that does not mean that Calvinists themselves are not saved and our spiritual siblings, or do not share in and display the full fruits of the Spirit. There are many godly Calvinists. Hmm, on second thought, don’t bother telling me where I’m wrong because this is not a thread on Calvinism. A discussion on Calvinism should be held elsewhere.
regards,
#John
aGood – God doesn’t want you good, He wants you dead.