The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. It does more than forgive our past; by the Spirit, it teaches us to hear Jesus, follow Him, and bear fruit that reflects His life.
Here is a simple test of whether I am allowing the power of the gospel to continue its saving and transforming work in and through me today:
When I am challenged by the world around me—especially through conflict, disappointment, or ongoing offenses—I must ask myself:
What is this producing in me? Am I becoming more like Jesus? Is His character being formed in me? Or am I becoming more consumed with defending myself, proving my point, and protecting my right to be right?
Jesus said, “A tree is known by its fruit.” (Matthew 12:33) So, before I examine everyone else’s fruit, the gospel calls me to examine my own. What is growing in me—love or resentment? Peace or agitation? Humility or self-righteousness? Mercy or judgment? Surrender or the need to control? The question is not just, “Was I right?” The deeper question is, “Is Christ being formed in me through this?”
The gospel does not merely save me from something; by the power of the Holy Spirit, it continues transforming me into the image of Jesus.
Before I pronounce judgment on what is happening around me, I must allow Jesus to reveal what is happening within me. Judgment begins with the household of God. Therefore, we work out our salvation with fear and trembling—not to earn salvation, but because God is at work within us. We need a healthy awe of Him: a heart willing to be corrected, cleansed, and led by His Spirit.
The gospel is essential because it brings us to Jesus, empowers us to keep our dependent on Him, and forms His fruit in us. As we abide in Him, our lives become a witness of and to His kingdom.
His gospel message is the Life we live, and it is attractive to the lost when our continual focus is first on personal self-examination rather than accusation of others. When Jesus warns us that “a tree is known by its fruit,” our first response should not be to inspect everyone else’s tree. It should be to humbly examine our own: What fruit is my life producing? Is Christ being formed in me? A life continually surrendered to Jesus—marked by humility, repentance, love, mercy, and transformation—becomes a powerful witness of the gospel we proclaim.