The 3C/3S Gospel

~ Converted/Saved, Consecrated/Separated, Commissioned/Sent ~

Saved by the Gospel   ~  “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:8-12).

Conversion  ~  This salvation – new birth – born from above – born again experience is also termed “conversion.” We have been converted from darkness to light, from children of the first Adam to children of the second Adam—Jesus Christ. We are changed into a new creation and all things are becoming new (2 Corinthians 5:17) through the process of transformation or metamorphism (2 Corinthians 3:18). 

Separated to the Gospel  ~  “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God  which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name”  (Romans 1:1-5).

Consecration  ~  After conversion we are to be separate from the world system (John 15:19, 17:14-16), to live in the world but not be a part of the world’s system since we now are pilgrims passing through rather than tourists—we are His ambassadors (Ephesians 6:20).

Sent with the Gospel  ~  “So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit [Barnabas and Saul], they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant” (Acts 13:4-5).

Commission  ~  Conversion and consecration result in following our commission. We are sent out to a needy world in a similar way that the Son of God was sent (John 20:21) and we are all His witnesses (Matthew 28:18-20).

How about you? Can you add other C/S combinations? What has been your experience? Have you experienced conversion? Are living a consecrated life? Are you fulfilling your commission?

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW