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Why I cannot comply with a Gospel that exceeds Christ.

written by Michael McBane

Here I sit as a year that has brought much upheaval to the hearts and minds of men and women who call themselves Christian comes to a close. 2012 will extend to 2013. The world as some speculated did not end, but it may have transitioned into a new dimension. I have had opportunity to search my soul long through the years here in upstate New York. Having furrowed through the disappointment of expectations that fell flat and finding no alternative plan that gained traction has been a conundrum in itself. I have not only examined who I am but stepped back from waving a flag to demand that someone, anyone consider my words that I labor over before God. I asked should I stop writing? I answered no for as I consider this labor an opportunity, it is like I am drawing from what is within. In the least I hear my life being strained before God which has merit? The image of Christ is before me. I am a temple that will not prevent the Lord from coming forth. There is room in this Inn for the Lord to lay His head.

I have also considered much that has been taught and is being taught to Christians in this hour. And I find I cannot find peace in so much. Why? Because the longer I live and the longer I dwell before God the simpler my faith becomes.I wonder about the reaching for something more as we do so often as Christians. I wonder at the feeling that is projected of being incomplete or lacking. I question the spin that is forever offered in speculations. 

I have considered this that the gospel is Christ Jesus and nothing more or nothing less. Few will allow such a leveling to their existence. They would tell me that I was limiting God. I would say, limiting by no means I am giving in. I am saying I will live only in Christ. My faith is not limited it is vast. The mind of Christ is the filter we must see all through and the mind of Christ is contained in the completion of Christ as an obedient son first which then allowed for the cross to have significance. If Christ was not obedient first His death on the cross would have no meaning. 

Grace has been given to us, it is the foundation of the Good News that bears fruit. We live in a completed grace that stills us with such awe that we are compelled to please God. It becomes our pleasure to find our rest in the completion of His love. That is the holiness of grace.

We have been given something in Christ that allows us to be complete in life, in sorrow and in death because we step forward into eternity one moment at a time. We see the vast wonder of God and what He has set aside for us. 

Somethings must be seen as here and forever. And in forever they are forever deepening, they are vast beyond. Yet if we do not hold them today our soul will miss the opportunity to live in the perfect peace that passes our comprehension. Therefore consider these words and let your soul dwell in the travels that avail us therein;  "But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved- and raised us up with HIm and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in the kindness towards us in Christ Jesus." Eph. 2: 4-7.

The wonder of Christianity is found as we are rooted in Christ or placed in Him. We live through HIm. He is our abundance not something. Until that door is opened we will lack and be unable to leave behind the treasure of this earth to follow Him in extreme obedience.

The promises of God are complete in Christ, they are yes and amen. We as Peter wrote are partakers of the divine nature or attributes of God. They are ours, discovered in our life contained in Him.

Perhaps this scripture as I saw it recently interpreted sums it up. Taken from the text of Luke 22:35. Shortly before the last days of Jesus on this earth He reminded His disciples of a mission He had sent them on. He asked them how He had sent them out. They were to take nothing with them they answered. He then asked did they lack for anything? They said, No.

The interpretation I had read asked its reader to consider this possibility.  As we enter into the life of eternity perhaps the Lord will ask us if we lacked for anything when we obeyed as He asked us to follow. We could only answer, no. And continue by saying, You gave us all we needed pertaining to life and Godliness. We had our identity offered in You. We had a peace that surpassed our understanding. A comfort that was not of this earth. Hope blossomed in sorrow, joy exceeded our soul. We were complete and justified in Christ. No past as our sins were gone. Love has no definition accept by Your name. Our cup overflows with goodness and mercy.

That to me was a satisfying piece of life. It so enlarged me. I ask you to consider the possibilities in this example. I think it is freeing. It enables us to let go. 

I bless you with the abundant grace of God, still more.