Having grown up in the church and having spent a lot of time with other pastors, I can testify that many people will be studying their Bibles this Sunday, but completely missing the gospel. Just because the church teaches from the Bible doesn’t mean it is clearly presenting the gospel of grace in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This shouldn’t surprise us. It happened in Jesus’ time as well.
Turning to the Jewish leaders of his day, Jesus said, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:39-40). These leaders were studiously studying the Scriptures, but missing Jesus and the gospel. What a tragedy!
So if you will be in a church this weekend that clearly communicates the gospel of grace in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, give thanks to God for it! No church is perfect. Each has its own warts and flaws. But if Jesus and the gospel are preached, be willing to overlook those other things. Rejoice that what matters most is elevated in your church!
