The Gospel We Forgot: Gods Love Calls for Repentance, Not Comfort

 

“God loves you just the way you are.”

We hear this phrase often in modern Christianity. It sounds comforting—and in many ways, it is true.

But if we stop there, we distort the true message of the Gospel.

Because according to Scripture, while God absolutely loves us even in our sin, His love is not permissive—it is transformative. His love rescues us, refines us, and calls us to live holy lives through the power of Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

If we ignore repentance, transformation, and the call to die to self, we’re not preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ—we’re preaching a powerless gospel that cannot save.

Let’s dig deeper:

1. God’s Love is Real — But It Calls for Repentance

God’s love is unconditional in the sense that He initiates it even while we are still sinners:

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8

However, His love demands a response: repentance.

Jesus’ very first public message was not “Come as you are and stay as you are.” It was:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” — Matthew 4:17

Without repentance—a turning away from sin—we cannot enter the Kingdom. God’s love welcomes us in our brokenness, but it also demands we turn away from the very things that separated us from Him.

2. Where the Modern Church is Going Wrong

Many modern churches are preaching a half-Gospel:

• A gospel of comfort without conviction.

• Blessings without obedience.

• Grace without repentance.

Paul warned us that this would happen:

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” — 2 Timothy 4:3

Today, many are drawn to charismatic speakers, vibey worship music, and motivational messages that lack the call to true repentance and holiness.

These “feel-good” sermons create fans of Christianity, not disciples of Christ.

3. You Cannot Truly Love God and Remain Unchanged

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” — John 14:15

The Bible is clear: loving God is obedience to His Word.

Continuing to live in deliberate sin while claiming to love God is self-deception.

John writes sharply:

“Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” — 1 John 2:4

Grace is not a license to sin (Romans 6:1–2).

It is the power to live free from sin by the Spirit of God.

4. The Role of the Holy Spirit: Transformation, Not Permission

When we are saved, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us to transform us:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

The Spirit convicts us of sin (John 16:8), sanctifies us (Romans 15:16), and empowers us to live righteously (Galatians 5:16–17).

If there is no inward battle against sin, no growth, no transformation—there may be no Holy Spirit dwelling within.

5. The Importance of Dying to Self

Jesus was clear:

“If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” — Luke 9:23

Following Christ requires the death of self-will and the embrace of God’s will.

It means daily choosing obedience over personal desires, truth over comfort, and holiness over popularity.

Paul echoes this:

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” — Galatians 2:20

6. The Human Desires We Must Confront

Scripture lists the desires of the flesh that must be crucified:

• Sexual immorality
• Impurity
• Idolatry
• Jealousy
• Anger
• Selfish ambition
• Drunkenness

(Galatians 5:19–21)

The Word of God confronts our sinful nature and calls us to live by the Spirit instead.

7. Jesus Came to Free the Sinners — But Freedom Means Freedom From Sin, Not Freedom To Sin

“So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” — John 8:36

Freedom in Christ is freedom from the bondage of sin, not freedom to live however we want.

Salvation is deliverance from our former way of life.

Anything less is not the Gospel Jesus preached.

8. A Gospel That No Longer Saves

Many modern messages centre around self-empowerment, positive thinking, and emotional experiences.

They barely mention sin, repentance, holiness, or the cross.

This is not the Gospel.

Paul said:

“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” — 1 Corinthians 2:2

A gospel centred on man’s happiness instead of Christ’s glory is a gospel that cannot save.

9. The True Gospel According to Christ

• We are dead in our sins and deserve judgment (Ephesians 2:1–3).
• Christ died for our sins and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).
• We must repent and believe the Good News (Mark 1:15).
• We are justified by faith alone but a faith that produces obedience (James 2:17).
• We receive the Holy Spirit to sanctify us and empower us (John 14:16–17).
• We live not for ourselves but for Him who died and rose again (2 Corinthians 5:15).

Closing Challenge:

Dear Reader,

If your version of “God’s love” doesn’t lead you to a life of repentance, obedience, transformation, and surrender—you are believing a false gospel.

The real love of God meets you where you are, but it refuses to leave you there.

It calls you higher, to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16), and to live a life worthy of the calling you have received (Ephesians 4:1).

Today, let us repent of the false gospel of self and return to the true Gospel of Christ:

• Repent.
• Believe.
• Follow.
• Be transformed.
• Live for His glory.

Because only this Gospel has the power to save.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” — Romans 1:16

“Return to the True Gospel: A Reflection Journey”

1. Key Scriptures for Reflection:

• Romans 5:8 – God’s love demonstrated while we were sinners
• Matthew 4:17 – “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near”
• John 14:15 – Love and obedience
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 – New creation in Christ
• Luke 9:23 – Die to self-daily

2. Personal Reflection Questions:

• In what areas of my life am I still living unchanged despite professing faith?
• Am I truly repentant, or have I been using grace as an excuse to continue in sin?
• Is my faith marked by obedience or convenience?
• Am I being discipled by the Word or by motivational messages?
• What “human desires” listed in Galatians 5:19–21 do I still need to confront?
• Where have I prioritized comfort over conviction?

3. Next Steps:

Spend daily time in God’s Word, asking the Holy Spirit to search and purify my heart (Psalm 139:23–24).

• Practice repentance daily — not guilt-driven but relationship-driven.
• Choose a Scripture each week to memorize about holiness and obedience.
• Pray specifically for transformation, not just blessings.
• Seek out churches and teachers who preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).

4. Prayer Prompt:

“Lord, search my heart. Show me where I have accepted a comfortable gospel instead of Your true Gospel.

Give me the courage to repent, the hunger to obey, and the desire to be transformed by Your Spirit.

Let me love You not just in word, but in action.

Help me die to self-daily and live wholly for You.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Love in Christ, P💝💝💝