Page 37 - The Gospel Truth About Death and Dying_Neat

gospel with others. It’s about being a minister of the New

Testament gospel: the ministry of righteousness (II Cor 3:6, 9). It’s

about the fact they are reconciled with God, and they have the

ministry of reconciliation given to them (II Cor 5:18-19). It’s all
about helping others. It’s all about fellowship in the gospel, both

with Father and other people, so that God can continually work

his good purposes and good works into them (Phil 1:5-6). It’s all

about where the gospel is being preached. If it is not being

preached, they don’t want any part of it. They don’t want to live
in ‘a ministry of condemnation.’ They know they can’t experience

righteousness and reconciliation with God in condemnation.

+

RULES. If you talk about discipleship to a ‘nose to the grindstone
rules person,’ they will usually talk in terms of what they do, of

their commitment to Christ, and of the revival they want to see

happen. This usually means more commitment to keep more rules

better. They will talk in terms of following Jesus by denying

themselves daily, and picking up the cross of Christ and following

him (Luke 9:23). They will talk in terms of putting their hand to

the plow and not looking back (Luke 9:62). They talk of working
out their salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12). It’s all

focused on them, not on God.

RELATIONSHIP. If you talk to a person focused on their
relationship with Father, they are always amazed God chose

them before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4, II Tim 1:9).

37