The One True Gospel: Embracing God’s Grace as Fathers and Disciples
The Gospel is free. It’s the work of one person—Christ—and one thing—grace. We cannot earn salvation or spiritual freedom. Our Heavenly Father invites us to experience salvation in His Son alone, through grace alone. The Gospel wasn’t invented by man but revealed by God through Christ.
When we add to or take away from the Gospel, as the Galatians were doing, we pervert it and cheapen grace. The Galatians were focused on performance and works, but the Gospel frees us because Christ fulfilled the law 100% and died on the cross for our sins.
What is the true Gospel message?
Paul summarizes it beautifully in Galatians 1:3: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” These two elements—grace and peace—come from our Father in heaven who loved us enough to give His only Son as payment for our sins.
You cannot have grace and peace apart from one another. The grace of God leads to the peace of God because it’s God’s grace that sent Christ to the cross. This peace surpasses all understanding and comes only through experiencing God’s unmerited favor.
How does God call us to discipleship?
Just as Paul was called on the Damascus road, God has a calling for each of us. For fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers, that calling begins with experiencing salvation yourself. The only way you can effectively lead your family is through the grace of God that comes through salvation.
We are called by grace, to grace, and to share grace with others. As fathers, you’re called to:
Place your faith in Christ
Read Scripture and pray
Foster your personal growth and walk with God
Be involved with other believers
Be a disciple who makes disciples
Disciple-making happens first and foremost in the home. God didn’t intend for the church to replace the home but to walk alongside it. The erosion of our culture today happens because of the erosion of family.
What is a father’s God-given purpose?
If you are a father of young children, your God-given purpose is to raise those children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. While not everyone has had the blessing of a godly earthly father, our Heavenly Father is greater than our earthly fathers and can help us overcome those frustrations and pain.
The same grace that called you to salvation through Christ is the same grace that equips you to live out your faith. As fathers, you’re making sacrifices for your children and grandchildren, trying to lead them in the ways of God—and that’s to be commended.
How can fathers fulfill their calling?
Take time personally with the Lord yourself. Be grounded in Him so you can strengthen your children and help your adult children. You never stop being a father; you’re always making a difference.
Your commission is the Great Commission—to make disciples, beginning with your own family. It’s your calling to:
Lead your children to Christ
Lead your children in Christ
Help them become people who share Christ with the world
Imagine how different our communities and world would be if all fathers first came to Christ, then shared Christ with their children.
What should fathers remember about God’s grace?
You have a Heavenly Father who is stronger than anybody, more powerful than anyone. He loves you, cares for you, and can handle all your needs. Among billions of people on earth, God knows each one individually—what an amazing God whose grace covers us!
God will strengthen you and uphold you with His righteous right hand. He will lead and direct you if you put your trust in Him. But don’t just rely on Him to do it alone—rely on the church to help you too, as the church is supposed to come alongside the family.
Life Application
This week, I challenge you to embrace your calling as a disciple of Christ who makes disciples, starting in your own home. Whether you’re a father or not, consider these questions:
Have you fully embraced the one true Gospel of grace, or are you still trying to earn God’s favor through works?
How are you personally growing in your relationship with God through prayer and Scripture? What specific steps can you take this week to deepen that relationship?
In what ways are you currently discipling those in your sphere of influence (children, grandchildren, friends, coworkers)? What’s one intentional step you can take this week to better fulfill the Great Commission?
Are you trying to handle life’s challenges on your own strength, or are you relying on your Heavenly Father’s grace and provision? What burden do you need to surrender to Him today?