Have you ever felt like there's something standing between you and a deeper relationship with God? Maybe you've wondered if you're "good enough" to approach Him or if you need to clean up your act first. If so, you're not alone. Even the early church grappled with similar questions. Today, let's explore how we can break down these barriers and embrace the true inclusivity of the gospel.
The Crisis in the Early Church
In the book of Acts, we see a pivotal moment in the history of the church. As the message of Jesus was spreading, some people started teaching that new believers had to follow all the old Jewish laws before they could be saved. In Acts 15:1, we read:
"While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: 'Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.'"
This created a huge hurdle for new believers. Imagine being told you had to follow 613 laws perfectly before you could even approach God! Paul and Barnabas recognized the danger in this teaching and "argued vehemently" against it (Acts 15:2).
The Inclusivity of the Gospel
The beauty of the gospel is that it's for everyone, regardless of their background or past mistakes. As Peter so eloquently put it in Acts 15:11, "We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus."
This inclusivity is at the heart of our faith. Recall John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." The implications of this truth are powerful – you can't run too far or too fast from the grace of God.
The Power of the Gospel to Change Lives
We often forget that the gospel itself has the power to transform lives. We don't need to clean ourselves up before coming to God – that's His job! As Jesus said in Mark 2:17, "Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."
The gospel message isn't for those who have it all figured out. It's for the messed up, the confused, the wandering, and the hopeless. If that describes you today, take heart – the power of the gospel is here to rescue and change you.
Sharing the Truth of the Gospel
If we want to remove barriers for others, the most important thing we can do is simply tell them about Jesus. Paul writes in Romans 10:13-14:
"For 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?"
It's time we move past the idea of "preach the gospel, and when necessary, use words." Instead, let's preach the gospel and then live like we actually believe it!
Putting It Into Practice
So how can we live out this inclusive, barrier-breaking gospel? Here are a few practical steps:
1. Embrace the inclusivity of the gospel in your own life. Remember, God's love is for everyone – including you.
2. Trust in the power of the gospel to change lives. You don't need to "fix" people – let God do that work.
3. Share the truth of the gospel. Don't be afraid to talk about what God is doing in your life.
4. Invite others to join you on your faith journey. As I often say, "If everyone in our church invited the way that you invited, what would our church look like?"
Remember, Jesus removed the hurdles. He didn't come up with a list of "to-dos" before we could come to Him. Instead, His arms are open wide, saying, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
Let's be people who remove obstacles and invite others into God's story. The kingdom of God could look radically different if we all lived this way. Are you ready to break down some barriers?