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THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF CHRIST
The importance of the gospel of Christ is seen in Romans 1:16 where
Paul wrote: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the
power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth...” Enabled to
believe by the new birth, God uses the gospel in the continuing experience
of salvation of everyone that believes in Christ. The Bible teaches that no
one can be saved apart from the gospel. Again we read:
“But if our gospel
be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath
blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them,”
(2
Corinthians 4:3, 4). Without the gospel humans are lost! And their spiritual
understanding has been disabled: blinded.
In defining the gospel consider what it is not. The gospel is not
'God loves you,' nor is it
'God
wants to save you if you will let Him.' Neither is it 'do this or that and
you will be born again.' If we add such things as these we are adding to the
gospel and distorting it into something else -
into a system of works for salvation. But God says,
“For by grace
are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God: Not of works, lest any man should boast,” (Ephesians 2:8-9). No
works are involved in salvation – even the faith necessary is “the gift of
God” bestowed by God according to His will.
While the gospel may be preached from a multitude of different
approaches it is essentially the proclamation of the finished work of
Christ. Paul makes this clear saying, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto
you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and
wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I
preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you
first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again
the third day according to the scriptures,”
(1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
There is something that happens when the gospel is preached. You
cannot stop it from happening. People either believe the gospel in a saving
way or they reject the gospel. There is no neutrality. They either
experience godly sorrow and repent before God of their sins and experience
faith in Christ or they remain in their sins. Remember the warning of Jesus
who said, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for
if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins,” (John 8:24).
Have you believed in a saving way upon Christ? If not you are yet in your
sins!
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