What Is The Gospel pt4

City Men’s Prayer for City Men

Opening Illustration

The Accountability-Free Zone: We live in a strange cultural moment where we simultaneously want two contradictory things:

We want absolute freedom—no one telling us what to do, no rules we have to follow, no authority over our choices. "Don't judge me" has become the mantra of our age. "You do you." "Live your truth." "Who are you to tell me how to live?"

But we also want absolute justice—we want abusers held accountable, we want corrupt leaders exposed, we want victims vindicated, we want wrongs made right. Just scroll through social media for five minutes and you'll see people calling for justice, demanding accountability, insisting that certain behaviors are wrong and people need to face consequences.

Here's the problem: you can't have both.

If there's no ultimate authority, there's no ultimate accountability. If there's no judge, there's no justice. If there are no standards, there can be no violations. The same people who say "Don't judge me" are often the first to cry "That's not fair!" when they're wronged.

We want a world without judgment... until we need judgment. Until we're the victim. Until we're the one who's been wronged and someone needs to be held accountable.

Think about it:

We don't want anyone judging our choices... but we absolutely want the drunk driver judged

We don't want moral standards imposed on us... but we want child abusers prosecuted

We don't want anyone telling us we're wrong... but we want justice for racism, exploitation, and oppression

The contradiction is obvious. And yet we live with it every day, wanting the benefits of justice without accepting the reality of judgment.

[Pause]

Here's what I want to highlight this morning: A world without a judge isn't freedom—it's chaos. And a judge who always gets it right isn't something to fear—it's something desperately needed.

Today we're wrapping up our four-week series on the essential elements of the gospel, and we're looking at what might be the most misunderstood element: Christ will return as final judge to rule.

For some people, that phrase triggers immediate resistance. "Judge? That sounds oppressive. Controlling. Judgmental."

But what if I told you that Christ as judge is actually the most hopeful promise in the gospel? What if judgment isn't the problem—it's the solution?

What if the reason we can stop judging each other, stop trying to settle every score, stop playing vigilante with people's eternal destinies... is because we have a Judge who will finally, perfectly, completely get it right?

Let's dive in.

If you have your Bibles and/or on your devices, if you would turn to the book of Acts 10:34-43, if you are willing and able, would you please stand as I read our portion of scripture this morning.

This is the word of the Lord. Praise be to God. Let’s pray… you may be seated.

10 Essential Elements to the Gospel:

We’ll be reminded of these things each week. This week we take the first three. (Adapted from Matthew Bates: Gospel Allegiance)

Preexisted as God the Son

Was sent by the Father

Took on human flesh in fulfillment of God's promises to David

Died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures

Was buried

Was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures

Appeared to many witnesses

Is enthroned at the right hand of God as the ruling Christ

Has sent the Holy Spirit to his people to effect his rule

Will come again as final judge to rule

Will Come Again as Final Judge to Rule

He will sort out those who are His and not His. We welcome all.

The Core Idea:Jesus tells us repeatedly: "Don't spend your energy trying to sort out who's in and who's out—that's My job. Your job is to welcome, love, and invite. I'll handle the final sorting."

Matthew 13:24-30 (Parable of the Weeds)"Jesus told them another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner's servants came to him and said, "Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?" "An enemy did this," he replied. The servants asked him, "Do you want us to go and pull them up?" "No," he answered, "because while you are pulling the weeds, you might uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn."'"

"Let's not miss what Jesus is saying here. The weeds aren't just set aside—they're burned. The separation is real. The consequences are eternal.

Here's the hard truth we can't avoid: people who die apart from Christ face judgment and eternal separation from God. Hell is real. And that reality should break our hearts.

But notice what Jesus doesn't say. He doesn't say, 'Go figure out who the weeds are and give up on them.' He says the opposite: 'Let them grow together. Keep sowing. Keep welcoming. Keep loving. Because you don't know who I'm working on.'

This is why our mission is so urgent. Not because we can save anyone—only God can do that. But because God chooses to work through us. He uses our conversations, our invitations, our love, our witness as the pathways through which people encounter Him.

So yes, the stakes are eternal. Yes, judgment is coming. But that's exactly why we don't spend our energy sorting people into categories of 'hopeless' and 'savable.' That's God's job.

Our job? Love urgently. Invite persistently. Welcome radically. And trust that the Spirit is working in ways we can't see.

Because here's the beautiful tension: We can't save anyone, but God invites us to partner with what He's doing. We're not responsible for the results, but we are responsible to be available, to be faithful, to be His witnesses.

The harvest is coming. The Judge is returning. And until that day, we keep sowing—loving people, sharing Jesus, creating space for the Spirit to work—trusting that the Master knows His wheat."

Jesus keeps telling us in Matthew 13, Matthew 22-25, and throughout the Gospels: 'Stop trying to do My job. Your job is to love, welcome, and invite. My job is to judge.'

In the parable of the weeds, the servants are eager to start pulling up what they think are weeds. But the master says, 'No—you'll damage the wheat if you try to sort this out now. Let them grow together. I'll handle the sorting at harvest time.'

Do you know what this means for us practically? It means we can stop playing border patrol for the kingdom.

We don't have to figure out who's 'really saved' and who isn't. We don't have to gatekeep who gets to be part of the community. We don't have to waste energy questioning whether someone's faith is genuine enough or whether they're 'one of us.'

Jesus says: 'Let them grow together. I'll sort it out. You just focus on being faithful, welcoming everyone, and pointing people to Me.'

This should be incredibly freeing. It means:

without worrying if they're 'worthy' of your time You can welcome the skeptic

without needing to determine if their faith is real You can embrace the messy person

without first deciding if they're in or out You can love your neighbor

and trust that Christ will work in His time You can invite people into community

Our job isn't to sort. Our job is to sow, welcome, love, and trust that the Master knows His own.

When Christ returns as judge, He will make the final determination. The wheat and the chaff. The sheep and the goats. And here's the beautiful thing—He's a righteous judge who gets it right 100% of the time.

We don't. That's why He doesn't give us that job.

So what does He ask of us? Matthew 22:37-39 sums it up: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.'

That's it. Love God. Love people. Welcome everyone. And let Jesus handle the rest.

Now, let me be clear—there IS a type of judgment we're called to make. Just not the one we usually focus on.

Jesus tells us not to judge others in terms of their eternal destiny—that's His job. But He repeatedly tells us to examine ourselves.

2 Corinthians 13:5 - 'Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.'

Matthew 7:3-5 - Jesus says, 'Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye," when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.'

See the pattern? Jesus isn't against judgment altogether—He's against us judging others' standing before God while ignoring our own.

In our cultural moment, we tend to swing to extremes:

Either we're (playing Holy Spirit in other people's lives, deciding who's really saved, gatekeeping the kingdom)constantly judging everyone else

Or we say and lose all sense of moral discernment and personal accountability'Don't judge anything ever!'

But Jesus gives us a third way: 'Stop obsessing over other people's hearts—I'll handle that. But absolutely examine your own heart in light of My teaching.'

Ask yourself:

Am I living in allegiance to Jesus as King?

Am I growing in love for God and neighbor?

Are my actions matching my confession?

Am I bearing fruit that reflects genuine faith?

This kind of self-examination isn't about earning your salvation—we've already established that's secure in Christ. But it IS about making sure you're walking the pathway Christ has laid out, not wandering off on your own.

(Transition) And here's where it gets really interesting…

The Paradox of Judgment for Christians:

Here's what's remarkable about Christ's return as judge: it should simultaneously give us complete rest and fierce motivation.

This is the paradox of judgment for Christians. A paradox is a statement, person, or situation that contains seemingly contradictory but potentially true elements

Rest because we're not working for our salvation—that's already secured by what Christ did. We don't face judgment wondering if we did enough, were good enough, or earned our place. Jesus already did that. The verdict is in: 'There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus' (Romans 8:1).

But here's the other side: His return should energize us for kingdom work. Not because we're earning favor, but because we know our work has eternal significance. First Corinthians 15:58 tells us that because of the resurrection, 'your labor in the Lord is not in vain.'

1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Think about that. The spreadsheets you work on with integrity. The patience you show your kids when you're exhausted. The meal you bring to a grieving neighbor. The time you spend in prayer. The conversation where you share Jesus with a skeptic. None of it disappears into the void. It all matters. It all counts. It's all building something that will last into eternity.

You're not earning your salvation—you already have it. But you are building a legacy that will be revealed when Christ returns. You're investing in a kingdom that will never end. You're partnering with the King who's making all things new.

So judgment isn't something Christians need to fear—it's something that should free us to live boldly and motivate us to work faithfully, knowing that the Judge is both our Savior and the one who will finally make everything right."

Hope Framework Application:

How we move in the framework of the Hope of the Gospel

Goal: Eternal significance, kingdom advancement, Christ's return and final justice

How we do this (Pathways):

Daily faithfulness in ordinary tasks

Kingdom work (evangelism, discipleship, justice, mercy)

Stewardship of gifts, time, resources

Living out our calling

What motivates us (Agency/Willpower):

Motivated not by fear but by security in Christ

Energized knowing our work matters eternally

Empowered by the Spirit who dwells in us

Sustained by hope that Christ will finish what He started

Conclusion

So here's where we are after four weeks of unpacking the gospel:

Week 1: We saw that the eternal Son was sent by the Father and took on flesh—God didn't stay distant, He came close.

Week 2: We walked through the cross, the tomb, and the resurrection—Jesus dealt with our guilt, validated our grief, and opened the door to new life.

Week 3: We discovered that Christ appeared to witnesses, ascended to His throne, and sent His Spirit—we're not alone, we have historical credibility, a reigning King, and divine presence.

And today: We've seen that Christ will return as final judge—which means justice is coming, our work matters, and we can stop trying to do His job.

Ten essential elements. One complete gospel. And it all points to this:

You are known. You are pursued. You are secured. You are empowered. And you are invited into work that matters eternally.

The gospel isn't just information to learn or a ticket to punch. It's a Person to follow, a King to serve, and a kingdom to build—starting right now, in your ordinary Monday morning life.

So as we close this series, here's my challenge: Pick one element of the gospel we've covered and let it shape how you live this week.

Maybe you need to remember that God sent His Son for you—you're wanted, not just tolerated.

Maybe you need to live like the cross freed your future—stop carrying guilt Jesus already paid for.

Maybe you need to trust that Christ has been in the grave—your grief is valid, and He's with you in it.

Maybe you need to believe in resurrection power for your dead places—that hope, that dream, that part of your heart that feels buried.

Maybe you need to remember you're part of 2,000 years of witnesses—your faith has roots, your testimony matters.

Maybe you need to rest in knowing Jesus is reigning right now—not someday, today. Every authority you face is under His authority.

Maybe you need to lean into the Spirit's presence—you're not figuring this out alone; God Himself dwells in you.

Or maybe you need to hear this: Christ is coming back as judge, and if you're in Him, you're safe. Stop obsessing over who's in or out. Welcome everyone. Love extravagantly. Work faithfully. And trust that your King will make everything right.

Because here's the truth we've been building toward for four weeks:

The gospel gives you everything you need—a clear destination, a proven pathway, and resurrection power to walk it.

You're not wandering in the dark. You're not on your own. You're not working for nothing.

You serve a King who came for you, died for you, rose for you, reigns for you, empowers you, and is coming back for you.

That's the gospel. That's the good news.

And it changes everything.

Let's pray...