Bridge Point Sermon Podcast

The work of the Gospel transforms us. It transforms us on a personal level (the Gospel transforms me), on a communal level (the Gospel transforms the church), and on a global level (the Gospel transforms the world). All of these aspects of transformation are involved in what God is accomplishing through the work of Jesus.

As we continue in our Gospel Defined series, we look this week at what it means for the Gospel to not only true but also beautiful. It's not simply something that is meant to be intellectually understood; it's actually meant to elicit worship in our hearts. And it's through that worship that we actually experience real, lasting, joyful change.

As we begin our new Gospel Defined series, we look at the fact that the Gospel is an objective, historical event. It's news about something that has happened, and it affects everything about the world. The beauty and security that the Gospel gives us lies in the fact that it is actually true.

In Romans 8, Paul gives us an astounding promise of God's love and faithfulness, declaring that nothing—nothing!—can separate us from the love of God in Christ. It is a magnificent promise that has widespread implications on our faith and practice.

At the Mount of Transfiguration, we see striking similarities to the revelation of God to Moses and Israel at Mt. Sinai in the Old Testament. But there is a key difference: because of Jesus, the people of God can now be in the presence of God and his glory in a way that they could never have imagined before. The good news of Christmas is that we now have a way to be with God.

When the angels announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, they're announcing the coming of a new King and an establishment of a new Kingdom. That announcement is good news for us, because Jesus is a King unlike any other King, and he has secured for us the peace that our souls so desperately long for.

While John's Gospel doesn't necessarily give us "what happened" at the Christmas story, it does give us profound insight on the "why it happened"—and what that now means for us. At Christmas, God put on flesh and dwelt among us, and that means we can now see him, know him, and be with him.

The birth of Jesus did not occur in a vacuum. It was a long-awaited climax of the story of Israel. And all throughout their history, there were seasons of waiting, confusion, and pain. Many times, it seemed as if God was distant, or even that he had forgotten his promises to his people. But when Jesus was born, it was proof that God had not abandoned his plan and that he still desired to draw near to his people.

As John wraps up his letter, he wants the believers to be confident in who Jesus is and all He has accomplished for them. We can be a people who are confident in prayer, in revealed truth, and in Jesus’ protection over the enemy.

John tells us that everyone who is in Christ "overcomes the world." That is both a great assurance and a high calling. As "exiles" living in light of the Kingdom of God, we must reject the lies of the world and cling to the promises of God in the Gospel.

John gives us a beautiful picture of the love of God. It is purposeful, it is powerful, and it is sufficient. And all of these things are most clearly seen in the sacrifice of His Son, sent as the propitiation for our sins. If we want to really know what the love of God looks like, we look to the Cross.

John tells us that the Gospel is objective, meaning it is mutually exclusive from any other claim that denies who Jesus really is and what He accomplished for us. But it is precisely that objectivity that makes it so inclusive! Because it tells us that we are all sinners saved by grace, so there is no room for pride and self-righteousness.

Throughout his letter, John continually is reminding us that it's necessary to examine ourselves to see if we are bearing fruit in line with our faith. One such fruit? Loving one another. John makes it clear: if we are not striving to loving others as Christ loved us, then that could be a sign that the love of Christ is not in us.

It is a universal truth that who you are will inevitably determine how you live. For all of us, our actions will flow out of our identity. John encourages his readers to take hold of their identity in Christ and puruse righteousness and purity as He is righteous and pure.

John encourages us to remain in the faith and not to be pulled away by false teachings. Doing so means remaining under the authority of the Word of God and remaining with the people of God. Ultimately, though, enduring means trusting in the One that endured for us—abiding in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

John gives us a sobering reminder that we cannot simultaneously live for the "things of the world" and live for God. Ultimately, we will give our lives to something—we will look for fulfillment in something. John shows us why it's foolish to look for joy in the things of the world: because they are passing away and were never designed to satisfy. We were Created by God and for God, and it is only in God that we will find what our hearts are longing for.

John makes it clear that 1. We are not saved by our obedience, and 2. That our obedience still matters greatly. It is both the confirmation of our relationship with God and the way that relationship flourishes. He then shows us how the only hope for carrying on in obedience is through the Gospel.

The Gospel is neither legalism (how we live determines our standing before God) nor antinomianism (how we live doesn't matter at all); it's the "tip of the spear" between the two. John's letter shows how our works do not earn us our salvation, but they do confirm if we are saved.

In the opening of 1 John, we're given an astounding reality: that through the work of Jesus we can now—presently!—have fellowship with God. And because of that, we are to press into fellowship with one another, as well.

On the four year anniversary of our first public Gathering, we take time to look back at God's faithfulness and look ahead to what He's still yet to do in and through our church body!