The Lasting Impact of the Gospel
The gospel did more than just save you…it continues to save you!
I do not imply that the gospel didn’t completely seal your eternity (Eph. 1:13). I am implying that after you were justified, when your sin was forgiven and you were declared righteous, the Holy Spirit began a work in you called sanctification. Sanctification is your process of spiritual growth that will end when we are perfected in Christ and see him face-to-face.
So how am I continuing to be saved?
In Philippians 2:13-14, Paul writes, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Paul is not referring to justification when he uses the word “salvation.” He is referring to sanctification, as the word salvation includes not only our moment of justification, but also our continued spiritual growth. And we carry a responsibility to work with God in that growth process.
So, what makes me say that the gospel has a lasting impact?
Obviously, there are eternal ramifications to the gospel, such as our eternal life, our eternal inheritance, our eternal glory, etc. But I am referring to the lasting impact the gospel has temporally, while we remain on this earth.
What makes me so confident to say that the gospel has a lasting impact while I remain here?
In Galatians 1:6-7, Paul blasts the “foolish Galatians” (Gal.3:1) with an accusation that literally baffles his mind. Paul writes, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel – not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.”
When Paul entered Asia Minor, and preached the gospel in four cities in southern Galatia (Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe), many believed and began the churches of Galatia, to whom the letter to the Galatians is written. More than that, these Galatian believers witness the power of the gospel in Paul’s brutal stoning and subsequent return to Lystra, the very city in which he was stoned nearly to death, just to strengthen the newly formed church (Acts 14:19-23).
After such a powerful showing of the effectiveness and importance of the gospel through Paul’s suffering, he heard that the churches there were no longer strictly adhering to gospel that he preached, the gospel that saved them and was validated as adequate.
What were the Galatians believing?
Jewish leaders were spreading heresy after hearing the good news, which landed on their ears like finger nails on a chalk board. They were feeding the Galatians a syncretistic gospel message, a message that synchronized, or blended, the true gospel with non-gospel Jewish elements, such as circumcision and obedience to the Law.
These are the very things the gospel had freed them from, which is why Paul told them in 5:1, “For freedom Christ has set you free; stand therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.” The “yoke of slavery” being submission to the Old Covenant and its Law, as Christ had marshalled them into the New Covenant, which is a “better [covenant], since it is enacted on better promises” (Heb. 8:6).
Therefore, upon hearing this report, Paul was “astonished.” He was baffled, confused and probably pretty angry (righteous indignation no doubt), that those who were causing “trouble” and trying to “distort” the gospel of Christ were succeeding at deceiving the Galatian believers.
What does all this have to do with the lasting impact of the gospel on our earthly lives?
If the gospel was only sufficient in justifying us, and that is all we needed it for, then Paul would have had no problem letting the Galatians turn to a different gospel. After all, it already saved them, they’re all good now, no need to keep believing it, right? Wrong.
It is there role in the continued and lasting work of the gospel that goes on after justification that was at stake for the Galatian church. Paul knows the gospel does more than save, it continues to save, or sanctify.
Therefore, when the Galatians “deserted” the true gospel, Paul saw that there was a serious lasting impact that would be abandoned by the church if they fell hard for the false teachings of the “dogs” (Phil. 3:2), or Jewish teachers. Hence, his letter to the Galatian church with strong language to “stand firm” (Gal. 5:1) in the gospel.
The gospel is active. It is at work right now. For some, it is justifying them as they experience the effectual work of the Spirit regenerate their hearts (Eph. 1:13). For some, it continues to sanctify us, mold us, and fashion us into the image of the Christ (Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18). For others who have passed, it has ushered them into the presence of our beautiful Savior, whose face of glory shines on them in joy as they experience the fullness of satisfaction and pleasure (1 Cor. 13:12; Ps. 16:11; Phil. 1:21; 2 Cor. 5:6).
Therefore, “Always be of good courage” (2 Cor. 5:6), for the gospel’s power has not left you. It is at work in your life now, continuing to save you, to sanctify you. Do not abandon the gospel of your salvation. Rather, enjoy it, revel in it, live in it, work in it, cherish it, praise in it, worship in it, study it, read it, pray about it, share it, but never…I repeat…never desert it, for it has lasting impact, not only for the life to come, but for this life, here and now.