The Effects of the Gospel

What is the gospel?  Why is the gospel preached?  What effect does it have on man?  What are the eternal effects?  What is the effect that it has on our earthly life?  These are some of the questions that I want to think through.  These are things that are very important to me.  The gospel in its definition is good news.  In the New Testament most generally the gospel is the good news of our salvation.  It is telling of what the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has done for his people.  This is the whole purpose of preaching the gospel, that all that has ears to hear it will know of what the Lord our God has done for them.

What do I mean by those that has ears to hear it?  Am I saying that deaf people can’t hear the gospel.  Of course not.  I’m saying that only those figuratively that have ears to hear it, will have any joy in it.  Jesus while he was here on earth often times said, “He that hath ears to hear, let them hear.” Matt. 11:15, Matt 13:9, Matt 13:43.  Those people who are dead in tresspasses and sin can not hear the good news of their salvation, because Christ died for a particular people.  No one knows who those people are, except God.  He said that knowing that not all would get the effect of what he was saying.

If some one bears fruit then he must be a child of God.  All of God’s children will bear fruit, at some point in there life and the gospel is sort of like a fertilizer that helps make the fruit grow.  Kind of like miracle grow.  The fruit is not the cause of some one being a child of God, only proof there of.

Many would like to say that you must hear, and believe the gospel in order to have eternal salvation.  Let us think about that.  To say that you must believe that Christ died for you in order for him to have died for you.  That doesn’t make any since at all.  To say that you must believe that something happened in order for it to be true is impossible.  If Christ died for your sins then how can you believing it make it a reality.  He either did or he didn’t whether you believe it or not.  Man has walked on the moon.  All I have to prove that, is that man says that they did.  I believe that man walked on the moon and by believing that it becomes exciting and seems like an amazing feet for man.  If I didn’t believe that man walked on the moon it would not change the fact that it happened.  The same is true with our salvation.  Jesus died on the cross for our sins.  He “purged” our sins.  He took our sins away.  He cast them as far as the east is from the west.  The power of our almighty is God is infinately stronger than man could even imagine.  To purge means, “to rid of whatever is impure or undesirable; cleanse; purify. “  God by himself purged our sins.  Whether you want to believe this good news or not does not change the fact that he did it.  If it was necessary to hear and believe the gospel then it limits the work of God to the ability of man.  Only the people that man could get to and persuade to believe would have the opportunity to go to heaven.  My God is a gracious god.  He promised his people a place in heaven before the foundation of the earth and He can not deny himself.

There is great joy and comfort that comes to me in hearing the good news, knowing that I’m a sinner unable to please my God.  Romans 3:11 says that there are none that seeketh after God.  Without the help of the spirit that is placed in us upon regeneration we have no way of doing any good.  There is none righteous, know not one.  We are all born sinners, we are born of the seed of Adam.  Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

I hope these thoughts help to appreciate the things that the Lord our God has done for you.

Philip

“KOSMOS” in John 3:16

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By A.W. Pink

 

APPENDIX C,
THE MEANING OF “KOSMOS” IN JOHN 3:16

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It may appear to some of our readers that the exposition we have given of John 3:16 in the chapter on “Difficulties and Objections” is a forced and unnatural one, in as much as our definition of the term “world” seems to be out of harmony with the meaning and scope of this word in other passages, where, to supply the world of believers (God’s elect) as a definition of “world” would make no sense. Many have said to us, “Surely, ‘world’ means world, that is, you, me, and everybody.” In reply we would say: We know from experience how difficult it is to set aside the “traditions of men” and come to a passaGen. which we have heard explained in a certain way scores of times, and study it carefully for ourselves without bias. Nevertheless, this is essential if we would learn the mind of God.

Many people suppose they already know the simple meaning of John 3:16, and therefore they conclude that no diligent study is required of them to discover the precise teaching of this verse. Needless to say, such an attitude shuts out any further light which they otherwise might obtain on the passage. Yet, if anyone will take a concordance and read carefully the various passages in which the term “world” (as a translation of “kosmos”) occurs, he will quickly perceive that to ascertain the precise meaning of the word “world” in any given passaGen. is not nearly so easy as is popularly supposed. The word “kosmos”, and its English equivalent “world”, is not used with a uniform significance in the New Testament. Very far from it. It is used in quite a number of different ways. Below we will refer to a few passages where this term occurs, suggesting a tentative definition in each case:

1 “Kosmos” is used of the Universe as a whole: Acts 17:24 —

“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth.”

2 “Kosmos” is used of the earth: John 13:1 Eph 1:4, etc., etc. —

“When Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end.” “Depart out of this world” signifies, leave this earth.

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.” This expression signifies, before the earth was founded — compare Job 38:4 etc.

3 “Kosmos” is used of the world system: John 12:31 etc. “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the Prince of this world be cast out” — compare Matt. 4:8 and 1 John 5:19, R.V.

4 “Kosmos” is used of the whole human race: Rom. 3:19, etc. —

“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

5 “Kosmos” is used of humanity minus believers: John 15:18; Rom. 3:6

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” Believers do not “hate” Christ, so that “the world” here must signify the world of unbelievers in contrast from believers who love Christ.

“God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world.” Here is another passaGen. where “the world” cannot mean “you, me, and everybody”, for believers will not be “judged” by God, see John 5:24. So that here, too, it must be the world of unbelievers which is in view.

6 “Kosmos” is used of Gentiles in contrast from Jews: Rom. 11:12 etc.

“Now if the fall of them (Israel) be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them (Israel) the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their (Israel’s) fulness.” Note how the first clause in italics is defined by the latter clause placed in italics. Here, again, “the world” cannot signify all humanity for it excludes Israel!

7 “Kosmos” is used of believers only: John 1:29 3:16,17 6:33 12:47;

1 Cor. 4:9 2 Cor. 5:19. We leave our readers to turn to these passages, asking them to note, carefully, exactly what is said and predicated of “the world” in each place.

Thus it will be seen that “kosmos” has at least seven clearly defined different meanings in the New Testament. It may be asked, has then God used a word thus to confuse and confound those who read the Scriptures? We answer, No! nor has he written his Word for lazy people who are too dilatory, or too busy with the things of this world, or, like Martha, so much occupied with “serving”, they have no time and no heart to “search” and “study” Holy Writ! Should it be asked further, But how is a searcher of the Scriptures to know which of the above meanings the term “world” has in any given passage? The answer is: This may be ascertained by a careful study of the context, by diligently noting what is predicated of “the world” in each passage, and by prayerfully consulting other parallel passages to the one being studied.

The principal subject of John 3:16 is Christ as the Gift of God. The first clause tells us what moved God to “give” his only begotten Son, and that was his great “love”; the second clause informs us for whom God “gave” his Son, and that is for, “whosoever (or, better, `every one’) believeth”; while the last clause makes known why God “gave” his Son (his purpose), and that is, that everyone that believeth “should not perish but have everlasting life.” That “the world” in John 3:16 refers to the world of believers (God’s elect), in contradistinction from “the world of the ungodly” (2Pe 2:5), is established, unequivocally established, by a comparison of the other passages which speak of God’s “love.” “God commendeth his love toward us” — the saints, Rom. 5:8. “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth” — every son, Heb 12:6. “We love him, because he first loved us” — believers, 1 John 4:19. The wicked God “pities” (see Mt 18:33). Unto the unthankful and evil God is “kind” (see Luke 6:35). The vessels of wrath he endures “with much longsuffering” (see Rom. 9:22). But “his own” God “loves”!!