Heart to Heart (June 2010) ~ The Simplicity Of The Gospel – Part 2 / Dealing With Mixture

THE SIMPLICITY OF THE GOSPEL – PART 2

DEALING WITH MIXTURE

     There are some things that just seem to be made to go together, like fish and chips, bread and butter, and of course … peanut butter and jelly.  Yet, there are other things that if mixed together can be not only distasteful, but harmful and toxic.  This is so true regarding the message of the gospel.  Last month’s Heart to Heart dealt with the simplicity [single focus] of the gospel – which is the person of Christ and the redemptive work of the cross.  This month we want to look at the issue of mixture regarding the gospel.  We must be careful, because there are other things that often times get mixed in with Jesus and are still called the truth – yet they are in fact toxic to our faith.

    There is a story in 2 Kings 4:38-41 in which the prophet Elisha prepared apot of stew for the sons of the prophets.  One of the sons of the prophets went into the field and found a wild vine and gathered from it wild gourds and sliced them into the pot of stew … for they (the sons of the prophets) did not know what they were.  As they began to eat they cried out to Elisha, “There is death in the pot.”  Elisha instructed them to bring meal and throw it into the pot and then there was no harm in the pot.

This story so pictures the condition of things in some places regarding the gospel that is being served to people today.  The sons of the prophets, lacking discernment, went into the field and found something growing from a “wild” vine.  Through salvation we are made branches of “the” vine, who is Jesus (John 15:5) and thus share in all that flows from Him by the Spirit.  The wild vine pictures the fallen nature of Adam and all that it produces.  All of our natural, fleshly efforts and striving – just like the wild gourds – are toxic to true faith.  Our relationship and acceptance with the Lord is based entirely on faith in His sacrifice.  Whenever we try to add our works and efforts with Jesus’ sacrifice in order to gain anything from God we produce a harmful mixture.  This mixture leaves people feeling guilty and disqualified, but the pure message of the gospel shows us that through Jesus we are forgiven and accepted – totally!

    So what needs to be done regarding this mixed message?  Elisha fixed the stew, not by what he took out, but by what he put in.  We must do the same.  The Holy Spirit did not come to just lead us away from all error, but to lead us into all the truth (John 15:13).  We must yield our hearts and minds to the pure message of Jesus and the cross and by the Spirit it will correct and heal any mixture of belief we have.

    The Lord said He will prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies.  He didn’t ask us to bring a side dish or even any seasoning – but to simply feed on what He has given and prepared.  This table is set with “bread and wine” – which is the message and reality of Jesus and the redemptive work of the cross.  Those with true discernment don’t try to bring anything to the table, they simply point out what has already been prepared by the Lord.  So, fix a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a nice cold glass of milk and remember … law and grace never mix, but faith and grace through Jesus open up a whole new life!

Love in Christ,

Pastor David Hughes