Why Christians Need to Continually Hear the Gospel

In scripture, the Gospel repeatedly serves as the benchmark, foundation, driving force, and guiding principle for the Christian life. It goes beyond being a truth embraced solely for salvation; instead, it is a truth we should strive to comprehend increasingly with each passing day and a truth we should actively embody in our daily lives.

The Gospel message stands as the cornerstone of the Christian faith, offering salvation and redemption through Jesus Christ. It goes without saying that the initial act of believing in the Gospel is undeniably significant. But just as important, is the need for Christians to consume a steady diet of its message.

In the first chapter of his letter to the Roman Church, Paul writes, “So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom 1:15-16). 

And writing to the Corinthian church, he said, “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you unless you believed in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:1-2).

These passages reveal that Paul preached the Gospel to fellow Christians. It’s this insight that prompts me to suggest that one of the major misconceptions and errors that individuals and the church as a whole make today, is thinking that once you start living the Christian life, you leave the gospel behind as a first step and graduate to more advanced teachings.

We often assume that the gospel is what gets us through the door but there is some other later process by which we grow. But this is simply not true. The gospel isn’t the one thing, it’s the only thing. And everything else the Bible teaches about the Christian life is centered around it.

Therefore, in this blog post, we’ll explore four compelling reasons why Christians need to continually hear the Gospel, allowing its truth to permeate every facet of our lives.

The Gospel Sanctifies Believers

Through the Gospel, believers are not only justified but also sanctified. 1 Corinthians 6:11 says “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

The process of sanctification, where we are progressively transformed into the image of Christ, is hinged upon the Gospel message. It can’t happen apart from it. The Gospel serves as a constant reminder that we’re crucified with Christ and now live in Him (Gal 2:20). Therefore, our calling is to pursue righteousness and holiness as we grow in our relationship with Him.

Romans 6 says,

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:1‭-‬4 ESV

In this verse, we find the profound truth that our baptism into Christ Jesus also signifies our baptism into His death. Our old self was symbolically buried through baptism into death, allowing us to embrace the newness of life, akin to Christ’s resurrection from the dead

It’s through this understanding that the Gospel empowers us not to allow sin to reign in our lives and instead, live as those who have been baptized into Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit uses the Gospel to enable us to hate sin, resist temptation, confess our faults, receive forgiveness, and pursue holiness. As Romans 6:14 says, “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” 

Yet at the same time the Gospel gently reminds us that even when we seem not to be making progress in our sanctification, God is still working in and through us to conform us to Christ’s image. The truth is, that guilt and shame can often haunt Christians, making them feel unworthy of God’s love and forgiveness. 

But the Gospel reminds believers that Jesus paid the full price for their sins, eradicating guilt and shame. It comforts us with the fact that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Rom 8:1). Furthermore, nothing can separate us from the love of God not even our sins!!

It is in this way that the Gospel offers a healing balm for our souls, inviting us to experience the freedom found in God’s grace.

The Gospel Equips Believers to Evangelize

The Gospel is the message that Christ commissioned us to proclaim to the world. It’s the good news that everyone needs to hear and believe to be saved from God’s wrath and judgment. Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” 

Nevertheless, to boldly and effectively communicate this message, believers must first deeply understand and internalize it themselves. It’s our understanding of God’s impending justice upon sinners and the depth of His loving grace through the person and the work of Jesus Christ, that compels us to spread the message of salvation to those who have yet to hear it. 

The Gospel’s call also prompts a sense of urgency in sharing its message. Romans 10:14 asks “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?”

Therefore, regularly revisiting the Gospel message is important as it not only, arms believers to eloquently articulate it but also, nourishes their fervent desire and commitment to reach the lost.

The Gospel Unites Believers

In Galatians 3:28, it’s stated, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This verse underscores that the Gospel transcends cultural, racial, and social barriers, uniting believers from diverse backgrounds into one family. I firmly believe that one way in which God unites the church is through the proclamation of the gospel.

By continually hearing the Gospel, we are reminded of our common identity as children of God. And most importantly, our call to live in harmony with fellow believers.  Ephesians 4:3 emphasizes our obligation to “eagerly maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” This responsibility stems from the fact that, as believers, we possess a bond much deeper than any other, owing to the unifying work of the Holy Spirit connecting us to our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gospel Gives Believers Hope

In a world marked by uncertainty, the Gospel provides an unshakable foundation of hope. Continually hearing the Gospel reinforces our confidence in God’s promises, reminding us that our ultimate hope rests in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Furthermore, the hope found in the Gospel centers on the anticipated arrival of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This hope transcends the bounds of time, extending into eternity rather than being confined to the present. It reminds us that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven. And the trials of this world are temporary in light of eternity.

In Romans 8:18 Paul puts it perfectly by saying “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Moreover, the Gospel reminds us to fix our eyes on things above not on things beneath (Col 3:2). You may have come across the saying, “You’re so heavenly-minded that you’re no earthly good.” Strikingly, this sentiment aligns with the way we should approach life.

This is because our confidence is rooted not in the visible but in the unseen. A passage from Romans 8:24-25 captures this essence: “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

In this manner, the Gospel becomes a wellspring of steadfast hope. Continually hearing its message keeps us attuned to God’s enduring promises, offering comfort and assurance in the midst of life’s uncertainties.

Related: A Christian Perspective: What Does the Bible Say About Suffering?

Conclusion

The Gospel isn’t merely a doorway that we pass through and then leave behind; it’s the very essence that sustains our spiritual growth and fuels our sanctification. While the initial step of embracing the Gospel is pivotal, its significance doesn’t diminish as we journey through the Christian life. 

Therefore, let us not relegate the Gospel to a mere starting point, but rather, let us embrace it as the cornerstone upon which our entire spiritual journey is built. Let us preach the Gospel to ourselves every day. Because every aspect of our journey, from the moment we believe, to our daily walk and eventual glorification is intricately tied to it.

By continually immersing ourselves in its message, we are equipped and empowered to navigate the complexities of life while remaining firmly anchored in the unchanging grace of Christ.

This also applies to the church as a whole. When the Gospel is deemed secondary, the church may lose its focus and become entangled in legalism, rituals, or programs, devoid of the transformative power of the Gospel message. Needless to say, this only makes for unsanctified believers.

Given these considerations, this serves as an opportune moment to encourage you to seek out a church that places the Gospel at its core. Such a Gospel-centric environment is vital, as your spiritual well-being depends on it.

Related: What is the Message of the Gospel?