Christ our All in All

I guess what bothers me about some preachers today is that some of them preach messages that HIndus, Jews, Muslim, and Atheists would agree with. Take Joel Osteen as an example. Most of what he says would probably please people of all religions. But he calls himself a Christian pastor. I heard him on an interview say that teaching the Bible was not his gift; that's for others to do. My question is simply: what kind of pastor doesn't preach the Bible?! My point is simply that our message should be distinctly Christian and I want to talk about what elements of which the Christian message should consist.

Most people hear the pastor talk about Jesus and assume that the gospel is being preached. But the truth is that Ghandi was a big fan of Jesus, though not of Christians. Ghandi would probably love a Biblical exposition on the beatitudes. We cannot simply preach a message about Christ our example. This is insufficient. Imitating Christ's actions and attitudes won't get anyone into heaven. What we must realize is that Christ came to fulfill the law on our behalf. This came after the beatitudes and must not be missed. Jesus said, "I came not to abolish them [the law] but to fulfill them." The great sermon on the mount must be read through the lenses of this verse. In fact, the whole Bible must be read in light of this verse. So Christ came to fulfill the law. Why is this so important? Because we cannot fulfill it! Christ came not just as our substitute in death but also our substitute in life. When we believe in Him, we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). But most sermons I hear ignore this important fact. They are full of directives, telling me what Christ commands and then how to obey it. But rarely do I hear the words: "Christ already fulfilled the law on your behalf, so you can rest in that." But resting in that truth does not mean passivity. It simply means that I will know what I screw up that it's been done for me and therefore embrace Christ all the more tightly. But not only has he fulfilled the law on my behalf, he empowers me to obey him.

Christ death atoned for my sin but not only are my sins forgiven, his death secured for me the Holy Spirit to empower me to obey him. This is another crucial point that is missed in sermons today. I imagine that most people walk out of sermons feeling guilty for not measuring up and resolving to try harder this week. Well, my first paragraph was intended to eradicate the feeling of insufficiency in light of Christ's work of fulfilling the law. The key to obedience is more than resolve and will-power. Because will-power obedience does not give any glory to God because it's in our own strength. God glorifying obedience is empowered by the Spirit. it is in walking with Christ, in moment by moment dependence on him that we are filled with the Spirit. Dependence on Christ comes from obeying his promises. We must never see his commands apart from his promises. This again will lead us to despair. God commands us to go to the ends of the earth, as in Pakistan or Sudan, and follows it by the promise of his presence until the end of the age. This is good news!

In summary, what is missing in pulpits today is simply the Gospel, the good news that Christ has come and lived the life we can't life and died the death we deserve, atoning for our sins. And his very presence dwells in us to empower us. This is a message that Muslims will disagree with and that which distinguishes us from everyone else. Christ is our law-fulfiller, substitutionary atonement, and empowerment. May we embrace him for all that he is.