How the Gospel Helps Us

There are people with no interest in the gospel, the Bible, church, etc. They might think it isn’t much help; they don't “need it”. Yet I can safely say that nothing is more practical than the gospel. There is no greater need in life than to be reconciled to our Heavenly Father. The gospel brings about the help in life we need most deeply. And as believers we have a responsibility to show and share that with others. The Gospel is helpful as we learn from Acts.

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas faced three different scenarios of how the gospel can reach different types of people in different ways:

1.     The Gospel Completes Us (Lydia)

Lydia looks like someone with her life TOGETHER. She's successful, wealthy, and a worshipper so we know she is serious about religion. All these things make it easy to look past Lydia's needs as her life looked so full… but without Christ it’s EMPTY. She obviously realised something was missing in her life and God showed her that Christ was missing. 

Many of our lost friends may be like Lydia. Their life may seem more together than yours. They have more money, friends and career success, and you think “who am I to tell them what's most important in life?” We should remember that we aren't preaching success, but we preach Jesus. And no matter how much success, wealth or “religiousness” we attain, if someone doesn't have Jesus then their life is incomplete. 

2.     The Gospel Frees Us (Slave Girl)

If you know Christ today he has delivered you from the domain of darkness. On the cross he disarmed the rulers and authorities who enslave us to sin. Like the slave girl, many people are just as enslaved (her to the oppressing spirit and her masters; us to sin).  If you do not know Christ yet, Colossians 1:13 affirms you that you can experience this freedom and experience forgiveness of your sins. 

“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Col. 1:13 

3.     The Gospel Rescues Us (Jailer)

In the last scenario, Paul and Silas have been badly beaten, thrown into prison and had their feet fastened in stocks. While they seem to be the ones in DANGER and in need of RESCUE, we see that it’s the jailer in need of rescue. After the prisoner cells had been busted open, the jailer had just been contemplating suicide. But he needed rescue from something greater than the Roman authorities; he needed to be rescued by the Gospel. He no longer fears death and ultimate judgement, but he's been rescued by Christ

Lydia, the slave girl, and the jailer were all different, but they all needed one person. That person is Jesus Christ. Paul was called to help in Macedonia and the help he brought was gospel-centred help. People found what they needed most. People were set free from bondage and darkness. People were rescued. The gospel of Jesus has this power and offers us the help we need most.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gospel. Thank You that each of us matter to You. Thank You for the freedom we now enjoy to boast in Christ. Burn the flames of our compassion for the least and the lost. Give us vision like Jesus so that we may live and love according to Your glory until the day You return. 

In Jesus’ precious name,

Amen.