What good is the gospel?

It’s a pretty blunt question, but also a necessary one. During our Think Again series this past Spring, we delved into truth, doubt and questions that matter. As a result of that journey we took together, many were struck by the credibility of the Gospel — that it really is true!

But a great follow-up question would be, “So what?” What are the rewards of actually becoming a follower of Christ? On a daily basis, what good is His gospel? “Gospel” means “good news.” Is it really, on a practical level, “good news”? Some might feel it sounds a bit selfish to ask such a question. But the Bible is not at all hesitant — nor is Jesus — when it comes to referring to the benefits of believing and following Him.

Hebrews 11:6 states that,

anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him.

During the Think Again series, you could say we focused on the first of those two realities (“believe that He exists”). Come Alive: Waking up to the Life of Grace, is about the second: “He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” In this teaching series, we’re delving deeper into the rewarding results of following Christ.

What is it you long for?

How would you answer that question? The list could combine an enormous variety of pursuits:
Experiencing some fulfilling relationships.
Achieving a particular bank account balance.
Having an enjoyable family.
Pursuing a gratifying career.
Accumulating enough stuff.
Relishing a particular level of health and fitness.
Avoiding disease and even difficulty.
Discovering some interesting and consuming hobbies.
Taking plenty of exciting vacations.
Encountering enough fun and distractions along the way to keep the ache deep within our soul limited to a manageable level.

Sit back and take a look at that list. Is that it? Is that all that life’s about? A collection of well-crafted circumstances? Really?!

Deep down, we have a persistent suspicion, even a deafening hunch, that there’s more to the depth and dance and drama of our lives than that. We want to live life, not just exist through a lifetime. We want to come alive — which is precisely what Jesus Christ came to enable us to do.