Christ in you, the hope of glory.
–Colossians 1:27

Brothers and sisters often send me questions: “For several years now I’ve been listening to preachers of grace, reading their books and articles, but there are lots of problems in my life. Why is that? Didn’t Jesus finish all the work of my salvation, healing and the solving of all my problems? What is the reason?” I want to say that every case is individual, and the gospel is not a formula; it is a power that sets us free from any bondage, whether sickness, poverty, a family problem, addiction or other forms of curses.

The Power Is in the True Gospel

Paul wrote to the Romans: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…” (Rom.1:16) Salvation here is often understood as salvation from eternal condemnation. But the Lord saves us not only from the eternal torments of hell, but also from all kinds of life’s problems and troubles. I want to point out right away that there are different gospels. So even if you attended meetings for a long time and heard that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that does not yet mean that you have heard the true gospel.

“What, is there some other gospel?” — I have often come across this question. Of course there is, my friend. Paul wrote to the Galatians: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel” (Gal.1:6) Notice the word different. And in the next verse Paul explains that there are people who pervert the gospel of Christ. Why do they do it? So that it loses its power!

Recently I was talking with a sister, and she said: “The pastor at the meeting says that if I have health problems, it’s probably because of some sin.” I asked her: “But when Jesus hung on the cross, didn’t He take that sin upon Himself? Maybe He took some of them but forgot about this one, and that’s why you’re paying for it. Is that true?” She just laughed in reply. The truth always sets free and brings joy. Indeed, it is written that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world (1 Jhn.2:2). And if He paid with His blood for every sin, then how can we pay for anything else, if everything has already been paid for on the cross of Calvary?

That is why the teaching and the doctrine we abide in are so important. Paul wrote to the same Romans: “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” (Rom.6:17-18) Truly, the gospel of the grace of God sets us free from sin and all its manifestations, such as sickness, poverty, addictions and other curses. The righteousness which is by faith gives eternal life with all its manifestations — salvation from eternal condemnation and God’s wrath, strong health, prosperity, success in business, a blessed family, freedom from all kinds of curses and addictions.

Knowing and Believing

“All right, Brother Paul, but I’ve been listening to the true gospel for a long time now, and there’s no power and no miracles in my life. How come?” Well, since we’re talking about miracles, let’s read what Paul writes about them: “Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Gal.3:5) It is one thing to listen endlessly to what a preacher repeats, and another to believe the word that is preached. It’s just that many of us spent a long time in this “Galatianism”, listening to a different gospel, and so very often the gospel of grace, pardon the expression, “takes a long time to sink in”.

Recently the Lord showed me that it is one thing to know the gospel in theory and even preach it to others, and quite another in practice. If, for example, I know the gospel of grace, but at the same time get angry at my wife and tell her how she “should” behave so as not to make me angry, then how do I believe it? If we say that we live under grace, but tighten the screws of the law on our children, then how do we believe it? If we keep arguing with legalists and calling them 21st-century Pharisees, then what kind of life in grace are we talking about? For us it is just a beautiful theory that we like very much.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, who had heard the gospel of grace: “For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” (1 Cor.3:3) Carnal means living by the law, for the law is aimed at human flesh. Of course, many of you were steeped for long years in this different gospel, and legalistic strongholds make themselves felt, but don’t despair. I am not writing you another commandment here, like “start believing correctly” or “strengthen your faith”. Being strengthened in faith is not our concern. In the letter to the Hebrews, chapter 12, it is written that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. I really love this verse: “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb.12:2) Amen! Let us look steadfastly unto Christ and come to know Him, and He Himself will take care of our faith.

The Truth Sets Free

Jesus testified: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Jhn.8:32) “What is truth?” Pontius Pilate asked Jesus. Jesus said to the disciples: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (Jhn.14:6) and Paul wrote that “the truth is in Jesus” (Eph.4:21) Do you want to be set free from sickness? You will come to know Jesus as your healer, and Jesus will make you free. More precisely, Healing already lives inside you. Many brothers and sisters run from seminar to seminar chasing miracles, although the Holy Spirit, who raised Christ from the dead, lives inside them. Paul wrote: “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Rom.8:11)

The enemy wants you to dig into yourself, trying to understand why you are sick or why you have financial problems or why your children are disobedient or whatever else, and to try to answer the eternal question: “Why?” As if the power were in the answer to that question. Or he will point you to that brother or that preacher who supposedly teaches wrongly. The main thing is to knock you off focus — and then he’ll even tell you that focus isn’t the point. No, my friends, the power is in the very joyful, glad and wonderful good news of Jesus Christ, and we will look steadfastly unto Christ Jesus.

I really love these verses from Paul’s letter to the Colossians, and I repeat them again and again, because I know that the enemy always shoves earthly things under our nose, so I will write them once more as a reminder: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Col.3:1-2) Look at the right hand of God. What do you see? Jesus is seated next to the Father. And why is He sitting there, since He was with the Father from the creation of the world? For our sake, beloved brothers and sisters. Paul goes on: “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears…”

Our life is not a sequence of some daily events. Our life is Christ. Having received the Spirit of adoption, we were joined forever to our Beloved, and now He is our life. Christ is our righteousness, Christ is our holiness, Christ is our redemption, Christ is our healing, Christ is our strength, Christ is our wisdom, Christ is our faith, Christ is our salvation, Christ is our glory, Christ is our success in every undertaking, Christ is our greatest wealth. Everything we need for life and godliness is in Christ Jesus our Lord. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col.1:27) Amen!