It was a crucial moment in history. It was monumental. It was a
day that changed the course of history. A day to mark in the history
books. What were the stakes? Will Truth or lies prevail? Will grace
abound? Will the new church unite or divide? The debate was real. You
could feel the division growing.

The Galatian church was about to
abandon the true gospel. The truth Jesus spoke of as he walked on
earth was clear. Believe that Christ died for our sins and rose again.
Believe that Jesus is God. Believe and you will be saved. Salvation
through faith alone in Christ Jesus by grace was at stake. However, men
and women claiming to be Christians were in the church preaching a
different message. They thought salvation was obtained by circumcision.
They believed salvation could be obtained through human efforts. And
Paul could hardly believe what he is hearing. Verse 6: “I am astonished
that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of
Christ and are turning to a different gospel.” Amazingly, they
wrestled with the issue, and as a result truth prevailed. The twelve
apostle united under one banner. Salvation by grace through faith in
Christ Jesus. As a result the world was changed, forever.

John Piper describes it best in a sermon Gospel to the Nations,
Generosity to the Poor “That is one of the most important moments in
history-all of history! Unity is reached among the founding apostles of
the Christian Church, and the gospel is safeguarded from one of its
earliest threats. I think it would be fair to say that for the first
and greatest missionary to the Gentiles, the most essential thing in
missions was to get the gospel right-exactly right. Otherwise he would
be running in vain.”

As I prepare for the World Race is becoming ever more clear to me
that the gospel I preach and bring forth into this world is right. As
John Piper said it -exactly right. I went through a period in my life
when I questioned often. Who was God? Is there no God? Are Mohammad,
Buddha and Jesus all the same god? What is my purpose in life? How did
life come into existence? What will happen to me when I die? Is Hell
real? Am I really a good person? And is being good what life was all
about? From reading tons of books, asking many questions, and
wrestling these issues through myself, I came to a conclusion. I
wanted to believe in what was true. Period. It didn’t make sense to me
to believe in something wasn’t true. 1+1 does not equal three. In the
same way I would not live life thinking there is no God. Then die and
find out I was wrong the whole time. Why waste your one and only life
believing a lie? I wanted urgently to figure out what is true and align
my life accordingly.

With all that said I am about seven years into this thing we call
being a Christian. This is exactly what I believe about myself, God and
this crazy thing we call life. I believe Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus
is a unique fellow. He is unique because he is all about relationship.
He’s not about religion. No lists, just Jesus. I believe Jesus suffered
for my sins, and He was crucified. Sins are the wrong things we do
in life. You may be a good person, but when I am honest with myself, I
am not a good person. So, I won’t be getting into heaven by my list of
thing I have done correctly in life. However, Jesus’ death on the
cross was sufficient to completely pay the sin debt owed by me. Jesus
suffered for my sins and your sins, and He was crucified. Jesus’s
death restores the broken relationship between God and man. Amazing! I
didn’t earn my salvation. I simply believed in Jesus. Furthermore, I
believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God. The
Bible’s teaching is the final authority. Its a great book, really you
should read it. I believe in one God that exists in three persons, the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is the creator of all people,
the world, the universe, and everything seen and unseen. I believe
there are angels among us. I believe in Satan and demons. I believe
there is power in prayer. I believe I will be in heaven one day. Heaven
is the place where Jesus lives forever. When I get there, I plan to eat way too many Reece’s
peanut butter cups, surf huge waves and sing on key for the first time
in my life! I am excited for the day I get to be there. Believe in
Jesus, I want you to be there with me.