The Sugar-coated Gospel

The Bible is a deep and profound book that contains many riches for those who seek to understand it. However, too often, we are content with a superficial understanding of the Bible and its teachings. This is a problem because it means that we are missing out on the full depth and richness of God’s holy Word.

One way to avoid this is to discern between the sugarcoated gospel preaching and the preaching of Christ according to God’s economy. Much of today’s preaching is not healthy because it is sweet and sugarcoated, pleasant tasting, but lacking in nourishment. It is important to be able to tell the difference between this kind of preaching and the real thing.

To do this, we need to adopt Paul’s vocabulary concerning the gospel. Paul was an apostle who wrote much of the New Testament and his teachings are still relevant today. He was able to clearly communicate the message of the gospel and by studying his words, we can gain a deeper understanding of the Bible and its teachings.

For example, in his letter to the Philippians, Paul talks about the importance of fellowship in the gospel. He wrote, “Only, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, that whether coming and seeing you or being absent, I may hear of the things concerning you, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving together along with the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27). This passage shows us the importance of standing firm in our faith and working together to advance the gospel.

Another example is found in Paul’s letter to the Romans, where he talks about the defense and confirmation of the gospel. He wrote, “But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that He is able to guard my deposit unto that day” (2 Timothy 1:12). This passage shows us the importance of not being ashamed of our faith and defending it to others.

In conclusion, the Bible is deep and profound and we should not be content with a superficial understanding of it. We must be able to discern between the sugarcoated gospel preaching and the preaching of Christ according to God’s economy. By adopting Paul’s vocabulary concerning the gospel and studying his teachings, we can gain a deeper understanding of the Bible and its teachings. By doing so, we can better share the gospel with others in humility and love, and help them to see the full depth and richness of God’s holy Word.