"And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned [neglected] to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” Acts 20:25-27

We have been considering what it means to declare the whole counsel of God. The most important and often most neglected aspect of the whole counsel of God is the gospel. Ironic isn’t it!? Sadly, many Christians think the gospel is only for the unsaved. After we are saved—so this misdirected thinking goes—believers need to move on to how to live the Christian life. Some even misunderstand, and therefore cite, Hebrews 6:1-2 to bolster their position.

Yes Believers do need instruction about living the Christian life, but the most essential instruction about living the Christian life is the gospel! Why? Because without the gospel, instruction on living the Christian life rapidly devolves into legalistic “do, do, do,” instead of trusting in Christ. You see, the gospel is the only correct motivation to live the Christian life because living the Christian life is a response to God’s saving grace—never a means of obtaining or securing that grace. That’s why Christians need to continually hear the gospel.

We are familiar with Romans 1:16: “the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.” But salvation does not end with our initial justification. Salvation includes a lifetime of life-changing sanctification by which we grow in grace. The power of the gospel is no less essential for the sanctification part of our salvation as it is for the justification part of our salvation.

Read your Bible to know how to live the Christian life, but only always in light of the gospel that motivates and empowers Christian living.