Discipline of the Gospel

DISCIPLINE OF THE GOSPEL:The Source of Godliness

excerpt taken from Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes

By this gospel you are saved...Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. I Corinthians 15:2-3

"Why do I get so excited about the Gospel? Because it reveals God's loving plan for this world and for humanity - men, women, and children. It's good news-the best news anyone can ever receive. When a person understands God's love in Christ Jesus, life finally makes sense.

Jesus Christ is the central figure of God's Gospel. Paul said if we believe any other Gospel, we have believed in vain. In a day when everything (including theology) is decided by popular opinion, how easy it is to believe another gospel. How easy it is to shape our god according to what we think he should be like and not allow the whole of Scripture to explain Him.

Our part is to believe. But we must believe in THIS Jesus- the Christ God has revealed in the holy Scriptures and not one of our own imagination. Here I must ask: In what gospel do you believe? Is your Jesus a messiah defined by your own imaginings or the promised Messiah defined by the Scriptures? The Jesus of the Bible is utterly wonderful! And His Gospel is the only path to godliness.

When we are born again, life starts to make sense. Within the pages of Scripture, we find the blessed answer to the age-old question, "Who am I?" Beginning in the opening pages of the Bible, we learn that we are MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD. We learn also that as women, we are made distinctly female as opposed to male. Most importantly, we discover that we are of great value to God, as demonstrated by Christ's death on the cross. The Gospel, therefore, not only brings dignity and value to our humanity, but it brings purpose and meaning to gender distinctions.

The gospel is motivating; it gives us purpose in life: "Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:17) The scriptures show us where we fit into God's plan for the world and detail what we are to do with our lives.

The gospel satisfies us. As a pastor's wife, I have often had Christian women express to me their longing for something they do not possess. In their search to find what is lacking, they casually diminsh and even dismiss what they have taken for granted- the knowledge of God and His gracious provisions for us discovered in the pages of Scripture.

Here's the gospel truth: " His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ( 2 Peter 1:3) God's provision for His children is astonishing! We have everything we need! "