Is the Gospel Changing You and Your World?

There's a powerful question worth pondering today: Is the gospel truly changing you and your world? Not just intellectually or theoretically, but in tangible, observable ways that transform both your inner life and the sphere of influence around you?

The mission is clear and compelling: change the world by changing your world. This isn't about grandiose plans or waiting for someone else to make a difference. It starts with you. If every believer would genuinely change their world—their family, their workplace, their neighborhood—the cumulative effect would be revolutionary. The ripple effect of one transformed life touching another cannot be overstated.

 A Gospel That Bears Fruit and Grows

In Colossians 1:1-10, we find a beautiful description of what happens when the gospel takes root in human hearts. Paul writes to the believers in Colossae, commending them for their faith in Christ Jesus and their love for all the saints. But he doesn't stop there. He notes something remarkable: "All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth."

Notice the two key actions: bearing fruit and growing. These aren't optional extras for the Christian life—they're the natural result of genuine faith. Just as a healthy tree produces fruit and continues to grow, a healthy Christian life produces spiritual fruit and demonstrates ongoing growth in grace and knowledge.

The gospel is truth. In a world saturated with lies, half-truths, and carefully crafted narratives, the gospel stands as unchanging truth. Young people across college campuses are reportedly crying out, "We're tired of being lied to. We want the truth." That truth is found in Jesus, who declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me."

The Power of a Changed Life

Consider the story of Lazarus. After Jesus raised him from the dead, people couldn't stop talking about it. They had witnessed something undeniable—a man who had been dead for three days was now alive. The religious leaders became so threatened by this testimony that they plotted not only against Jesus but also against Lazarus himself. Why? Because his very existence was a living testimony to the power of Jesus.

This reveals something profound about the nature of testimony. When your life has been genuinely transformed by Christ, people notice. They can't ignore it. Your changed life becomes a walking, talking advertisement for the reality of Jesus. And that kind of authentic transformation threatens the powers of darkness.

The enemy hates the light. Throughout history, those who bear witness to Christ have faced opposition, persecution, and even death. Nothing has changed. Evil still seeks to silence the testimony of transformed lives. But here's the truth: you cannot kill a testimony. The blood of the martyrs has always been the seed of the church.

 Bearing Fruit That Lasts

In John 15:5, Jesus declares, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." This isn't just poetic language—it's a fundamental truth about the Christian life.

Apart from Jesus, we can accomplish nothing of eternal value. We're limited, broken, forgetful, hurting human beings. But with Jesus? Everything changes. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). Not in our own power, but through His strength working in us.

Jesus continues in John 15:16: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you."

Fruit that will last. This is about legacy. It's about investing in things that outlive us. The greatest legacy anyone can leave isn't wealth, fame, or accomplishments—it's people whose lives have been changed because you shared the gospel with them. That's fruit that endures for eternity.

Think about the spiritual mentors in your life—those people who invested in you, encouraged you, challenged you to grow. Their legacy lives on in you. And when you pour into others, your legacy extends beyond your lifetime. This is the beautiful multiplication of the kingdom of God.

 Growing in Grace and Knowledge

Second Peter 3:18 gives us a clear command: "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." Growth isn't optional for Christians. When a child stops growing, parents become deeply concerned. Something is wrong. The same principle applies spiritually.

If someone claims to be a Christian but shows no growth, no change, no fruit—that should raise serious questions. Scripture tells us, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Transformation is the mark of genuine salvation.

Why is growth so crucial? Because if we don't grow in grace and knowledge, we become vulnerable to false teaching. The church today faces an epidemic of biblical illiteracy. People who sit in churches week after week but don't know what Scripture actually teaches. This makes them easy prey for those who twist God's Word for their own purposes.

First Peter 2:2-3 urges us: "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." Imagine if Christians craved God's Word the way a hungry baby cries for milk. What if we pitched a fit when we missed our daily time in Scripture?

In some countries, believers treasure a single page of the Bible because it's all they have. They memorize it, share it, live by it. Meanwhile, many of us have multiple Bibles collecting dust on our shelves. We have unprecedented access to God's Word, yet we remain spiritually malnourished by choice.

You Are the Light of the World

Jesus makes a stunning declaration in Matthew 5:14-16: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Notice Jesus doesn't say you should be the light or you could be the light. He says you ARE the light. If you're in Christ, you're a light in this dark world. And a city on a hill cannot be hidden. So why are so many Christians hiding?

We live in times when speaking biblical truth is increasingly labeled as hate speech. When standing for righteousness is called intolerance. When simply believing what Scripture teaches makes you a target. But this is precisely when the church must shine brightest.

The world needs the light. The darkness is growing deeper. Evil is becoming more brazen. But remember: light always overcomes darkness. One small candle can illuminate an entire room. And when believers stop hiding their light, when they let it shine boldly, the impact is immeasurable.

Are You Ready?

The signs of the times point to the soon return of Christ. While we can't know the day or hour, we can recognize the season. Jesus is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle—a church that's bearing fruit, growing in grace, and shining brightly in a dark world.

The question remains: Has the gospel changed you? And is it changing your world? Your family? Your workplace? Your community? The transformation starts with you. When your life is genuinely changed by the power of the gospel, others will notice. Your world will begin to change. And collectively, the world itself will be impacted.

Don't wait. Don't hide. Let your light shine. Bear fruit that lasts. Grow in grace and knowledge. The world desperately needs what you have—the truth, the light, the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ.