The Struggle with Our Gospel

The gospel is foundational to the Christian faith, yet believers often struggle to live in its fullness. In this week’s message, “The Struggle With Our Gospel,” Pastor Chuck McRobie guided us through a thoughtful examination of how easily the gospel can shift from a source of life into something we attempt to manage, maintain, or improve through our own effort.

At its core, the gospel is the good news that salvation is God’s work, not ours. Pastor Chuck emphasized that while many Christians clearly understand this truth at the point of salvation, it can become blurred over time. Instead of continuing to rely on grace, we may begin to measure our faith by performance, spiritual habits, or perceived success. This subtle shift changes how we relate to God—moving us from trust to striving.

A key teaching point in the sermon was the distinction between justification and sanctification. While justification is the once-for-all act of being made right with God through Christ, sanctification is the ongoing process of spiritual growth. The danger comes when we try to approach sanctification in the same self-reliant way the gospel freed us from at the beginning. Growth, like salvation, is fueled by grace.

The message also addressed common signs that we may be struggling with the gospel: spiritual fatigue, guilt-driven obedience, comparison with others, or a constant sense of falling short. These symptoms often reveal that we are leaning more on ourselves than on Christ. Pastor Chuck reminded us that the gospel was never meant to be something we outgrow—it is the daily framework for faith and discipleship.

Rather than discouraging us, the sermon offered a corrective lens. Recognizing our struggle is not failure; it is an opportunity for renewal. God repeatedly calls His people back to the truth that Christ’s work is sufficient, both for salvation and for ongoing transformation.

As we apply this teaching, we are invited to ask not only what we believe, but how we live. Are our spiritual practices rooted in gratitude and trust, or in pressure and obligation? The gospel calls us to return—again and again—to grace.

Reflection Questions

• In what areas of my faith have I shifted from trusting Christ to relying on myself?
• Do my spiritual disciplines flow from grace or from guilt?
• How can I intentionally ground my daily walk in the truth of the gospel?

Lord, thank You for the truth of the gospel that saves, sustains, and shapes us. Reveal the places where we rely on ourselves instead of Your grace. Teach us to grow not through striving, but through trusting in the finished work of Christ. Amen.