Good advice or good news?

Do you go to church to hear good advice or good news? Many Christians view the gospel as good news for the unconverted, which is certainly true, but they fail to recognize that it is also excellent news for believers. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mt 28,19-20).

Christ desires disciples who love to know him and who will learn throughout their lives to live in him, through him, and with him. If the only thing we as believers hear in church is good advice on how to recognize and avoid evil, we miss a large part of the gospel. Good advice has never helped anyone become holy, righteous, and good. In Colossians we read: “Therefore, if you have died with Christ to the elemental forces of this world, why, as though you were still living in the world, do you submit to regulations: ‘You shall not handle this, you shall not taste this, you shall not touch this’? These things are meant to be used up and consumed.” (Kol 2,20-22).

You might be inclined to remind me that Jesus said, “Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” So we need to look at what Jesus commanded his disciples. A good summary of what Jesus taught his disciples about Christian living is found in the Gospel of John: “Remain in me, and I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (Joh 15,4-5)They cannot bear fruit on their own. We have read what Jesus said to his disciples at the end of his life: “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” In other words, only through partnership and connection in an intimate relationship with Jesus can we obey him.

Good advice throws us back into a futile struggle, whereas the good news is that Christ is always with us and ensures our success. We must never think of ourselves as separate from Christ, for every one of our so-called good works is like a dirty rag: “So we all became like the unclean, and all our righteousness is like a stained garment.” (Jes 64,5).

In connection with Jesus Christ, you are precious gold: “For no one can lay any other foundation than the one that has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, then each person’s work will be clearly seen. The Day of Judgment will bring it to light, for it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.” (1. Kor 3,11-13)The message of being one with Jesus is so good because it changes our lives.

by Christina Campbell