When we talk about the gospel, we’re not just discussing a set of doctrines or a theological system; we’re talking about the good news that Jesus Christ brought to the world. But over time, some interpretations have shifted, leading to a version of the gospel that might stray from what Jesus originally taught. One of the key shifts happened back in 1918, when a theologian named Lewis Sperry Chafer introduced the idea that there are two kinds of Christians: carnal and spiritual. He based this on 1 Corinthians 2:15–3:3, suggesting that some Christians might live in a way that looks no different from those who don’t know Christ at all. This idea was pretty radical at the time and has since become a central belief for many.
However, it’s important to step back and consider what this means. Chafer’s teaching was influenced by a specific theological system known as dispensationalism, which divides history into different eras or “dispensations” where God interacts with humanity in different ways. Chafer took this idea and, in many ways, ran with it, creating sharp distinctions between these eras, particularly between the age of law (like the Mosaic Law) and the age of grace (the church age). But here’s where we need to be cautious: while dispensationalism has its merits, especially in recognizing that God has different plans for Israel and the Church, it can lead to an over-compartmentalization of biblical truth. For example, Chafer and others in his camp started teaching that Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount wasn’t really meant for Christians today but was instead intended for a future millennial kingdom. This line of thinking can dilute the power and relevance of Jesus’ teachings for us today.
The Bible makes it clear that salvation has always been by grace through faith, whether in the Old Testament or the New.
Now, let’s take a closer look at this idea. The age-of-law versus age-of-grace distinction, while useful in some contexts, has sometimes been taken too far. The Apostle Paul, in Romans 4, points out that even Abraham was justified by faith, not by works. So, while there is a difference between law and grace, it’s a mistake to think they are entirely separate in God’s plan. Both law and grace work together across all dispensations. This misunderstanding has led some to believe that large portions of Jesus’ teachings, like the Sermon on the Mount, don’t apply to us today because they supposedly belong to another era. But if we start excluding Jesus’ words from our lives, we miss out on the full richness of His message. Jesus didn’t come to offer a gospel that would only be relevant in some far-off future. His gospel was, and still is, the good news for every person in every age.
Think about it—if we dismiss Jesus’ teachings as not being for us today, what are we left with? We might end up with a version of Christianity that feels comfortable but lacks the full impact of Jesus’ call to follow Him with our whole lives. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, to call sinners to repentance, and to offer salvation to all. That’s a message that transcends time and applies just as much now as it did when He first preached it. When we understand that Jesus’ gospel is for today, not just for some future kingdom, it changes how we live out our faith. It challenges us to take His words seriously, to apply them in our lives, and to share that same gospel with others.
The challenge for us as believers is to return to the heart of the gospel that Jesus preached, recognizing its relevance and power for our lives today.
Let’s not compartmentalize or dilute His message but embrace it fully, allowing it to transform us from the inside out.
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