The Flavor of the Gospel

“Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing-as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth… ” Colossians 1:5b-6 (ESV)

The word gospel has been so misused that it is hard to know what someone is thinking when they mention it. Even accurate descriptions of the gospel sometimes seem disjointed when someone is focusing on one particular feature of it. There are several varied metaphors used in scripture referring to the gospel. It is likened to a seed that is planted and grows so unexpectedly large that it becomes the featured plant in the garden. Leaven is another apt description of the gospel as it works slowly but surely (and mostly unnoticed) through the whole lump of dough. It is called a sound that reverberates on a certain pitch so that those whose tuning forks are receptive can hear it. In the text above, Paul says that the core of the gospel is the grace of God.

Grace is such a non-intuitive concept that it continues to be twisted in human attempts to get hold of it. One thing is sure: The gospel that produces a lifestyle of genuine faith and love is the one Paul is espousing here. When grace is neglected, twisted or reinterpreted, the fruit of what is called “gospel ministry” will not be good.

There will be the “greasy grace” that can’t conceive of God as requiring accountability. Or there will be the “grab it grace” that assumes that God has opened the candy store and encouraged all the kids to grab as much as they want without any consequences. Or there is the “grouchy grace” that can’t let go of personal performance as a requirement to get it. “Grouchy grace” is also known as the “yeah, but” version. We have all heard it: “God is love and he has sent his Son, and he has died and been raised and he has sent the Holy Spirit… but if we don’t_____, enough, we will not get the blessings.”

Based on the contents of this letter to the Colossians, Paul’s concept of the grace of God is far superior than any and all of those cheap substitutes. The gospel is the declaration of the true nature of God. He is eternally existent as enjoyable and self-giving. Before creation God existed in a community where each person was concerned about the glory of the others. When God created the universe, it was consistent with his character. Humans were designed to live in relationship with him and others in an enjoyable and self-giving community. It has never been God’s desire or design to limit humankind in any way. He has always wanted to release us fully. After the fall into sin, God worked through humankind to bring the race to a place of enjoying his kind of life.

In every instance of blessing where humankind has made progress, it was God who made the initiative. He sent the flood. He prepared Noah. He appeared to Abram. He led the descendants of Abraham out of Egypt. He gave the Law that made Israel a superior nation among its peers. He anointed David. He brought back the Exiles. He sent Jesus who did for humankind everything necessary for reconciliation to take place. He raised Jesus from the dead. He gave him the authority to rule over all he had purchased by his death. He sent the Holy Spirit so that we could know God personally as he knows himself. The Spirit quickens us, convicts us, and gives us eyes to see the grace of God. This seeing produces faith which embraces God’s love, which transforms us into loving people who enjoy God and live in a self-giving manner. Living in such a satisfying relationship with God and his creation, we are freed from the enslaving determination to provide for, promote, and protect ourselves.

This kind of gospel produces fruit. If it loses the flavor of grace, it will be sour and poisonous fruit. Let us be careful to embrace and proclaim the same gospel that Paul was describing in his letter to the Colossians.

Terry (taken from Dudley Hall’s weekly blog)