Joshua and The Essential Christian Message
What answers do you think you would receive if you asked people what is the essential Christian message.? I asked Google and got this answer:
“All that's necessary to seal this salvation deal is to believe Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for our sins and rose again.”
Is that the message? Another site correctly points out the doctrines that Christians believe in:
“The essentials are the resurrection of Christ, the gospel, the deity of Christ, salvation by God’s grace, salvation through Jesus Christ alone, monotheism, and the Holy Trinity. These are the basic doctrinal elements that we should understand and believe.”
Surely there is something missing here. Can a person be doctrinally orthodox yet still not be a Christian? In the first century AD there were many orthodox religious people around, the Pharisees who were clearly not right with God. Jesus called them ‘whitewashed sepulchres’! What was missing?
John the Baptist
His essential message was:
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2
His essential message was to introduce the Messiah, God’s chosen king, God’s only Son. However an introduction was not enough. People must repent, change the direction of their life and become real followers of Jesus if they are to be saved and accepted by God as members of his Kingdom.
Jesus
It is no coincidence that when Jesus began his preaching ministry his core message was identical:
““The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:15
Note that their message was not just that Jesus is the Messiah but that an urgent response is demanded. Repentance is nothing less that a change of mind about who rules in my life, myself or the Lord Jesus.
When Jesus was asked what is the central message of the Old Testament he replied:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘The Essential Christian Message .’’ Matthew 22:37
He was quoting both from the Shema, the basic teaching God gave to Moses
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5
“. . . love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:18
It’s a call to total devotion — loving God with every part of who we are: emotionally (heart), spiritually (soul), physically (strength), and intellectually (mind).
Today there are many who have a distorted view of what the Bible teaches. Many hope they will be accepted by God because they believe in God and in Jesus and try to live in a way that pleases him. I remember asking a lady who was dying whether she was ready to meet God. Her reply was typical of many:
“I think so. I have never done anyone any harm.”
She was comparing herself with others and thought she wasn’t that bad. She had a very distorted view of what the Bible teaches. She hadn’t understood that all of us fall far short of God’s standards and that there is no-one who can reach God’s standards by the good way we live.
Distorted Views
Picasso’s paintings often showed a distorted view of people: - let this be a reminder that it is so easy to have a distorted view of the gospel. Our view may be attractive to ourselves but it still remains distorted in God’s eyes . Some of these distorted views have some resemblance to reality but others are well off the mark.
Saul, later called Paul, had such a distorted view of what God wanted. He thought it was right to persecute and even murder the followers of Jesus - until he had an epiphany and came to understand that Jesus really is the Son of God and the Saviour of the world. Paul had thought that the devotion to doing what he thought was right was the way to satisfy God. He thought that righteousness was something he had to do. Later he repeatedly wrote to acknowledge how wrong he had been.
John Berridge became the Vicar of Everton in Bedfordshire between 1755-1793. He also was a sincere man but he had not understood the Bible’s message. His tombstone in the Everton churchyard carries the epitaph that he himself wrote:
The story goes that Berridge had spent 8 years labouring in church ministry in various places and was totally ineffective yet still somehow managed to rely “proudly on faith and works for salvation”. At that time he thought that human merit and virtue was adequate to obtain salvation and his lively sermons exhorted his congregations to a life of good works. This is what he later wrote:
“ It was a doctrine every man will naturally hold while he continues in an unregenerate state, viz, that we are to be justified partly by faith and partly by works of our own. . . . It was some secret reliance on my own works for salvation.”
It wasn’t until he was 50 years old that he understood what the apostles taught, that it is Jesus alone who has won salvation for us. He now understood,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10
“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5
“For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” Romans 3:28
“…a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ . . .because by works of the law no one will be justified.” Galatians 2:16
This doctrine that we can only be put right with God if he gives us the gift of being righteous is throughout Scripture:
“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed - a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17
The religious people in Jesus day, the Pharisees, also thought that God was satisfied firstly by their being admitted to Judaism through circumcision and then, by their keeping God’s laws. They thought is was by a combination of being admitted to God’s people by rite and then by trying to keep God’s rules that a person becomes acceptable to God. This is very similar to much churchmanship today. Jesus however totally rejected this. The thief on the cross was saved simply because he believed in Jesus. Salvation is only given to those who have a personal faith in Jesus, to those who are committed to Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. It is this personal relationship with Jesus that is the door to being given the status of being righteous as a free gift.
Nicodemus was a highly regarded religious man. He had been appointed to the Sanhedrin, the supreme legislative and judicial council of the Jewish people. The Sanhedrin was responsible for both civil and religious law, with a responsibility to interpret and apply the Torah. The Sanhedrin was composed of 71 members, mainly Sadducees and Pharisees, and was presided over by the High Priest. Nicodemus, a teacher of the Jewish law, was interested in who Jesus was, acknowledging that he did mind-blowing miracles. Surely if anyone deserved to be acceptable to God this was the man. But Jesus said to him:
“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” John 3:3
This is the great division between religion, man trying to tie himself back to God, and apostolic Christianity.
Old Testament teaching
Someone may reasonably object that in the Old Testament a person was saved by keeping the law. Rubbish. This has never been the case. God has always wanted his people to have a personal relationship with him. It is this relationship that will be apparent through members of God’s kingdom wanting to live as God has taught.
The prophet Joel wrote:
“And rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.” Joel 2:13
In ancient Israel, tearing one’s clothes (rending garments) was a traditional sign of grief, repentance, or mourning. But in this verse, God is calling for genuine inner repentance, not just outward religious display. He’s saying:
“Don’t just look repentant—be repentant.”
It’s a powerful call to heartfelt, sincere turning to God, not just symbolic gestures.
At the end of their lives both Moses and Joshua urged God’s people to become dependent on the grace of God and to show this dependance by the way they lived.
Joshua and the gospel
Towards the end of his life Joshua summonsed the Israelites together on three occasions.
1. In Joshua 22 he summonsed the tribes who had been given land to the East of the Jordan. He reminded them what God required from them, it was much more than an outward obedience to rules!
“But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Joshua 22:5
Love for the Lord was vital, this is a total commitment to him. Who or what we worship can be seen in who or what we serve. My priorities reveal who I serve.
2. In Joshua 23, when life had become much easier all I Israel was summonsed to hear what Joshua had to say. He again reminds them that all they have is because of God’s choosing them them to be his people. This must mean that the people will continue resolutely to keep living as God had taught them:
““Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left.” Joshua 23:6
They will only live this God-centred life if they have a deep personal relationship with the Lord themselves.
“But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now.” Joshua 23:8
Joshua summarised what the foundation of this relationship was:
“So be very careful to love the Lord your God.” Joshua 23:11
Love for the Lord has always been foundational.
3. In Joshua 24, Joshua assembled all the Israelites at Shechem, together with their leaders. Shechem is one of the most historically and spiritually important locations in the Bible, located in central Israel, in the hill country of Ephraim, between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. Today, it’s near the modern Palestinian city of Nablus in the West Bank.
Shechem was the first place Abraham stopped in Canaan (Genesis 12:6–7) God appeared to him there and promised the land to his descendants. Abraham built an altar there - marking it as sacred ground.
Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, bought land at Shechem and also built an altar to God (Genesis 33:18–20).
Joseph had asked to be buried in the Promised Land (Genesis 50:25). His bones were brought from Egypt and buried in Shechem, on the land Jacob had bought (Joshua 24:32)
Moses recognised that even God’s chosen people remain inherently sinful. None of us is good. What Moses said to God’s Chosen people is true today:
“After the Lord your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, “The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.” No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is going to drive them out before you. It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the Lord your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.” Deuteronomy 9:4-6
Three times in this short section God’s people are reminded that our righteousness is a gift from God. Righteousness in the Bible is not primarily how we live to obtain God’s favour, it is his gift because we love him.
Isaiah similarly taught that the level of righteousness we can achieve is pathetic when compared to the righteousness we need to stand in his presence. He describes our efforts at being good as ‘filthy rags’.
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Isaiah 64:6
Even our best efforts at righteousness are stained by sin and cannot make us right with God. It reflects human inability to earn salvation and points to our need for God’s mercy and grace.
Moses had commanded that when the Israelites entered the Promised land they were to build an altar on Mount Ebal, cover it with plaster and:
“. . . write on them all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 27:3
Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim are deeply symbolic in the Biblical narrative. They are more than just geographical features - they represent God’s covenant blessings and curses, and the choice Israel had to make.
“When the Lord your God brings you into the land… you shall set the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal.” Deuteronomy 11:29
Mount Gerizim represented the blessings for obedience whereas Mount Ebal reminded them that disobedience would result in God’s curses. This was a vivid, visual covenant ceremony: Israel stood between two mountains, literally surrounded by the consequences of their choice.
Moses had specifically said that this message had to be given to those who were outwardly God’s people at a Covenant Renewal Ceremony (Deuteronomy 27–28 and Joshua 8:30–35).
Moses commanded that once they entered the land, Israel must build an altar on Mount Ebal and write the Law of God on these stones and remind the people of the blessings and curses that would result from their decision. Joshua fulfilled this in Joshua 8, after conquering Ai: Half the tribes stood on Mount Gerizim, the other half stood on Mount Ebal. Joshua then read the entire law aloud, including blessings and curses. This symbolised Israel’s choice between obedience and rebellion.
At the end of his life Joshua, after conquering the land, Joshua again gathered all the tribes at Shechem for a massive covenant renewal ceremony. He reminded them that the Lord wants people’s hearts which will result in obedience and service.
He reminded God’s people that everything they had was the result of what God had done for them (Joshua 23:1-7). Joshua later recounted the story of their redemption (Joshua 24:1–13), emphasising again that it was all God’s work. It was God’s power that had achieved their salvation and freedom, not theirs.
To have such a personal relationship involves a deep ongoing choice, just as a good marriage does. He therefore goes on to say:
“Choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
Real faith has always been a personal commitment to live gratefully as one of the Lord’s own people out of gratefulness for all God has done. A stone of witness was set up under a great oak by the sanctuary of the Lord.
He then called them to make a personal commitment that they would follow their Lord:
“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and faithfulness.”
“Choose this day whom you will serve…”
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14–15
He reminds them that there is no place for half-hearted faith because
God is holy and jealous and he will not tolerate divided hearts.
“Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign Gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.”. Joshua 24:19–20
The people make a decision and publicly commit themselves to the Lord:
“We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.” Joshua 24:24
Joshua then set up a large stone of witness as a public reminder. This is surely why public acts such as baptism or confirmation should be permanent reminders of the promise to God we have made.
The core message is that faithfulness of God must be responded to with a personal, total, and enduring faithfulness on our behalf.
We must remember what God has done, reject false idols, keep His Word, and choose daily to serve Him.
Real Faith results in Service
One of the major problems facing much so-called Christianity today is that people think that ‘belief’ means accepting certain doctrines and ideas. Christian belief is to love the Lord Jesus, it is derived from the Old English word ‘leiben’ to love. This word is still in use in German. This is exactly what James meant:
“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17
Joshua understood this:
:Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness.” Joshua 24:14
Joshua deliberately stresses this word about service, it comes a total of 18 times in the chapter, ‘serve’ comes 13 times, ‘served’ 4 times and ‘serving’ once. A real saving faith that God honours will always be reflected in a heart that serves the Lord. What we serve is what we worship. Everyone worships someone or something, if it is something it is an idol.
An important question all should ask ourselves is “How am I serving the Lord Jesus?’
Real Faith results in obedience to the Word of God
What a tragedy it is that some have rejected the Word of God yet still want to call themselves Christians. Kevin deYoung, a contemporary Bible teacher, has written in his excellent book, ‘Taking God At his Word’,
“General revelation is not enough to save us. We cannot know God savingly by means of personal experience and human reason. We need God’s word to tell us how to live, who Christ is, and how to be saved.General revelation is not enough to save us. We cannot know God savingly by means of personal experience and human reason. We need God’s word to tell us how to live, who Christ is, and how to be saved.”
Joshua concluded his appeal to the Israelites with the words:
““See!” he said to all the people. “This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the Lord has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God.” Joshua 24:27
Joshua had started his oration with similar words:
“This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says . . .”
The decsion God is looking for in all people
What better way is there to conclude this article than with the words of those listening to Joshua as he taught them what God required, these are words that we all need to echo if we are to remain faithful:
“And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.” Joshua 24:24
BVP
April 2025
