I have recently been thinking through the difference between the gospel and the implications of the gospel. They are different. If you try to make implications of the gospel the gospel then you have lost the gospel. Mark Dever has an excellent message on this from the 2008 t4g conference. This has also brought me to a very serious view of conversion. As I read about the nature of conversion in the epistles, it seems to be different than the simple "come down the isle, say the sinners prayer, and wala" you are a Christian. Now it can be that simple, but if that is true conversion, there is much more going on than a magical phrase. Some have proposed that repentance is not needed for justification and certainly seeing Jesus Christ as Lord over your life is not essential for the gospel. If this is the case, we have no gospel. I just stumbled across this verse in Romans about five minutes ago in my devotions.
Romans 2: 12-13
12For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.
If are faith in Jesus Christ never penetrates our life it is dead faith.
Thank God for his grace to us daily.
Luke
