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The Gospel and Christ are Inseparable

We cannot have the gospel without Christ, and we cannot have Christ without the gospel. They are inseparable. As Paul instructs, we must be willing to suffer and even die for both. We are unable to have undying, unfettered love for Christ unless we seek to know and trust Him unreservedly. It takes faith, time, commitment, sacrifice, and dedication to know and trust the Lord in this way, to “know that we know” Jesus and the power of His resurrection. We want to worship Jesus Christ and no other.

Loving and serving a Jesus of our own making is not Christianity. The details of what and who we believe are important. Our doctrine and beliefs impact our deeds. We must worship the one true God and not a god of our own making. There are many today who call themselves Christians, yet their words and deeds do not reflect Christ at all. We all have blind spots. Let us ask ourselves, “What is our true treasure? Do we know Christ, and are we worshiping Him? Are we willing to share in His sufferings?” To know Christ is to love Him and follow Him no matter where He leads, whether it means life or death. Paul wrote, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21 ESV).

Paul instructed Timothy to follow the pattern of sound words and to guard the good deposit entrusted to him. We do not want to be carried away or deceived by human reasoning.

Years ago, at a Starbucks in Boston, a couple shared with me that they did healing in the name of Jesus. When I asked them about Jesus, they began to describe a “Jesus” I did not recognize. The couple explained that they did not attend church, did not read the Bible, and did not believe in it, yet they claimed to know "Jesus."

Jesus tells us, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (Jn. 4:24 ESV). Jesus also said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14:6 ESV). We cannot have the gospel without Christ, and we cannot have Christ without the gospel. They are inseparable. Lord Jesus, help us know and hold fast to you, the truth, and the gospel.