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
September 17, 2007 at 10:25 pm |
Philip
I like your point about “believing.” It is true that belief does not make something effective or ineffective. It is God’s decision, but all God has chosen will believe. Not that believing makes it effective, but the proof of election is faith, right? And God’s calling is through or by the gospel. 2 Thess. 2:13-14 The encouragement to go on preaching the gospel and personally sharing the gospel to individuals is that there are elect out there who do not know it yet. Thanks for the good thoughts.
PS I like A. W. Pinks writing as well.
Josh
September 18, 2007 at 3:51 am |
Josh,
I appreciate your comment.
Pertaiing to your statement about God’s calling being through the gospel. I would have to say there is a calling in the gospel, I would call it a gospel call, and there is also an effectual call. If you would notice that this calling in 1Thess. 2:13-14 is a call of people who already believe. “worketh also in you that believe.” This “call” that the gospel has is only effective to those that believe. 2 Tim 1:9 talks of a call that is of God, I would describe it as an effectual call. “Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” And this calling is “made manfest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:”
I don’t know if that is what you trying to say or not, but that is my belief on the gospel call.
I greatly appreciate your comments.
Philip
November 18, 2007 at 3:34 am |
Philip,
Why when the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved did Paul not tell him he was already saved? (See Acts 16) What was the answer Paul gave him? “BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be (will be [future tense]) saved, and thy house.” If what you have said is true, then were Paul and Silas being deceitful or were they telling an outright lie? They never, never, never said that he was already saved. They told him he would saved only AFTER he believed – not before. Jesus said in Mark 16:16 after telling the disciples to “preach the gospel to every creature; he that BELIEVETH and is baptized SHALL BE (future tense) SAVED.” How come Jesus did not say a person will believe because they have been saved? I am not aware of any verse that says salvation comes before faith. However, there are numerous examples I can think of that state that faith, or belief, comes before salvation. I would like to know your thoughts on the Philippian jailer and Mark 16:16.
David
November 18, 2007 at 9:55 pm |
David,
These are some of the thoughts that come to my mind when thinking of these particular verses. I will start with the phillipian jailor. This man was about to take his own life as he thought that the prisoners had escaped. If those prisoners would had escaped then the Romans would had tortured this man, and possibly his family as well. When they cried out to him and told him to stop, he said what must I do to be saved. I don’t see how this could possibly be an eternal text. This man was worried about being tortured here on earth and was going to take his life unless there was some other way to be delivered “saved” from the torment he would recieve. They told him to believe in the Lord and he woud be saved. Saved from what the torment. He and his house. Do you believe that the faith of this man would save his family eternally? I would guess you don’t believe that. I would guess that you would believe on the other hand that your faith in Christ would deliever your family from many things in life though. That is my take on that verse.
As pertaining to Mark 16:16. First I want to go to John 5:24. He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, HATH everlasting life. This verse ,clearly an eternal context, states that if you believe you, hath (already in possetion of) eternal life. I believe that there is salvation in hearing the gospel. Salvation just means deliverance. If you are saved you are delivered. They were told to go and preach the good news of what our saviour had done for those he loved to the gentiles. They could not know of what the lord had done unless some one told them. This what they were commanded to do. Those that are a child of God will rejoice to hear the Gospel. Those that believe the good news will be delivered from there sinful life and have a new master to follow and will know better how to serve their lord. Does it change the fact that the lord died for them if they believe it, No. Christ died to put away the sins of his people so that they could be Holy and without blame before him as he chose them to be before the foundation of the world. The gospel delivers them from some of the sorrows of this world and lets you know how much your saviour loved you that he loved you enough to die for YOU. Not just anybody but for YOU.
You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and in sin. How can a dead man make a choice to become alive? Unless the spirit of God is placed in us we cannot make a choice to follow after him. We died when Adam died in the garden. If you eat of this fruit you shall surely die. We are spiritually dead until that spirit is placed in us.
I’m sorry for the lenghthy reply but this topic is very near to my heart. I’m very thankful for what the lord has done for me. It brings great joy to my heart to know that God died to take MY sins away. Not just any one but for me. Despite my ugly sins and wrong doings He died for me when I deserve to go to hell and burn for eternity. He cast my sins away never to be remembered again.
I certainly apprecitate your comments as it causes me to dig deeper and to remember these things that I studied very diligently before I came to understand them.
May God Bless You in your studies,
Philip