The Goal of the Gospel

Most of us, I think, when we are beginning to start a new venture or task, or even learning a new job – we have to think about what the purpose is in doing that task.

Learning what the purpose of that task is will help us to learn how to complete it properly and to its best advantage to us.

So, with that thinking in our minds this morning, I want to ask a related question:

Did you ever think about, or question: what the goal of the Gospel is? Did you ever think about what is the purpose of living according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Let me suggest this as a brief statement of what the Goal of the Gospel is:

The ultimate goal of the Gospel is to present every person perfect in Christ Jesus.

Perfection is Christ Jesus requires at least three things:

1.   It requires the privilege of suffering.

2.   It requires the sincere desire to do God’s will.

3.   It requires a constant contact with the Power Source.

Let’s look at Paul’s message to the church in Colossi –  

Colossians Chapter 1, verses 23-29  

And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

So, we see there that we are to preach, and warn, and teach people so that we may  present every on perfect in Christ Jesus.

This is the goal that all Christians need to strive toward ---Perfection.

This word – Perfection – scares a lot of people – or are, at least, intimidated by it.

We question – or wonder – or even protest – how can God expect us to be perfect?

Nobody can be perfect! Only Jesus lived a perfect life!

But the word “perfect” as used in the Scriptures is one which means “to render fit, or complete. Going further --- what does it mean to “render fit”?

Render, in the Biblical sense means simply “to give up or yield.” If we are to become perfect in Christ Jesus, we must, then, give up our old life, and yield to the teachings of Him.

In some passages of Scripture, you might use the word “mature,” also meaning “perfection.”

Perfection is a process that is on-going throughout our lives as Christians.

You may have seen the slogan displayed – maybe on a T-shirt or other articles that says: “NOT PERFECT, JUST FORGIVEN.”

When we come to Christ, repentant of sin, confessing Jesus Christ as Lord, and being baptized into Him, we begin to grow in Christ; we begin to mature in Christ; be begin becoming fit or complete in Christ.

So, now we will look at some of the requirements to gain perfection in Jesus Christ.

Gaining perfection in Jesus Christ requires the PRIVILEGE OF SUFFEERING.

Look at 1 Peter 4:16 – “Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering* for evil but use it as bond-slaves of God.”

Look also at 1 Peter 5:10: “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”

And, in our human thinking we ask: “How is suffering a privilege for us?

We usually think of suffering as a condition what is undesirable; something that we would rather try to avoid.

But we need to a look at what the Word of God has to say about suffering and what it is in that context.

1.   It is a certainty in the life of the Christian.

2.   It is a test in the life of the Christian.

3.   It is a sharing in the suffering of Jesus Christ.

So, let’s look first at the certainty of suffering in the life of a Christian.

Acts 14:19-22

But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

As Christians, we can expect some suffering to come into our lives.

Entrance into the kingdom of God is accomplished through much tribulation. We live in a sin-filled world, and we cannot expect to live in that sin-filled world without encountering some degree of affliction to come upon us.

Friends, co-worker, even family members may ridicule one who has just become a Christian and those see a difference in the Christian’s way of life and behavior and attempt to cause the new Christian to return to his or her old way of life – without Christ.

The Christian life does require – even demands – certain thinking and behaviors.

The Christian life demands a distinct set of standards from the world’s standards.

The Christian life demands that we re-evaluate our priorities.

It is an unpleasant fact that human nature dislikes someone whose behavior is different than what is considered normal – by those in the world.

But the Christian must live a life that is different than the life of a non-Christian.

If a person who claims to be a Christian, but the life he/she lives is no different than those who have not become Christians – Is that person a Christian? We must be incredibly careful about how the world sees we who are Christians.

To those who are without Christ in their lives truly expect someone who is a Christian to life a perfect life. As we know, the perfect Christian is not the norm. It is an every-day journey into achieving that perfection in Christ.

As Christians, we become a conscience to the world.

Our way of life rubs the non-Christan the wrong way.

Our way of life causes the non-Christian to face his/her own sinful way of life. And, very often, the reaction of our life as a Christian causes the worldly person to inflict abuse upon our lives a Christians.

It is a test in the life of a Christian.

We are faced with the necessity of asking ourselves a question: “Am I willing to suffer to sustain my salvation in Christ?”

Look at 1 Peter 4:19: “ Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”

Concisely, Peter is saying: “endure, keep your soul, reach maturity, attain completeness.”

It is a test of our strength, or reality of our faith.

Psalm 73:1-9.

Surely God is good to Israel,

To those who are pure in heart!

But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling,

My steps had almost slipped.

For I was envious of the arrogant

As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For there are no pains in their death,

And their body is fat.

They are not in trouble as other men,

Nor are they plagued like mankind.

Therefore pride is their necklace;

The garment of violence covers them.

Their eye bulges from fatness;

The imaginations of their heart run riot.

They mock and wickedly speak of oppression;

They speak from on high.

They have set their mouth against the heavens,

And their tongue parades through the earth.

This passage speaks of the life of a person who seems to get all the breaks without a relationship with God, while the person who lives within the teachings of Jesus, lives with all manner of troubles and trials.

It also speaks of the truth that that person will eventually be dealt with by our God.

We can be assured that good will come out of our troubles.

When death comes upon a loved one; when surgery is necessary, when a child is wayward – the Christian is equipped to help others who are in those situations.

Also, our suffering is a sharing in the suffering of Jesus.

Philippians 1:29 – 30: “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”

One of the early theologians in Christian history – named Tertullian – made this statement: “the man who is afraid to suffer cannot belong to Him who suffered,”

And 2 Timothy 2:11-13 became one of the hymns of the early church. Here is that hymn:

It is a trustworthy statement: For is we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”

Note the vital words in that hymn: Endure, reign, saved. Remember, suffering becomes a privilege, not a penalty.

Jesus suffered to bring us to God – 1 Peter 3:17-18: For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit...”

So, there must be purpose in our suffering, too as well as a purpose in the sufferings Jesus endured.

So, as Christians, we are required to become perfect, complete, mature, in Christ.

And one way we are able to become complete is through enduring and overcoming suffering.

This is something that is necessary in our lives.

We are not strengthened in our faith by the easy life. That only makes us more confident in ourselves and our own abilities, rather than placing our confidence in Him.

We are strengthened in our faith by the trials that come our way.

If we are truly trying to live a life pleasing to God, we will have these tests – they will come.

However, each time we overcome one trial, we find ourselves drawn closer to God.

But, when we allow the trials to be the conqueror, we will find ourselves drifting further away from our Father, and drifting away further from the No

When trouble wins over, we are really saying: “this situation is bigger than God is.”

Instead, we should be saying that: “with Christ all things are possible. I can do all things through Him because He strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13

Nothing that comes to you is greater than God, for He is the source of all deliverance and endurance.

As I think about that truth, I am reminded of John’s statement in his letter – 1 John 4:4: “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them (that is, the spirit of the antichrist); because greater is He that is in me, than he who is in the world.”

How about you this morning – Have you considered your trials and suffering as a privilege, or have they been only a drudgery to you?

I hope that today you will begin to realize this day that through suffering and affliction in your life, you will be made complete, fit to be called a joint heir with Christ.