Deut. 6:24-25: “And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.”
The commands that God gave through Christ are a blessing. 'How' and 'why' is this true? The ‘how’ is because of the nature of the message; it is a blessing because God’s commandments contain instructions for the sinner as to how to “call upon the name of the Lord” and thus, to be ‘born anew’. It also contains instructions for the one ‘born anew’ as to how to live faithful to Christ, his Lord.
We see this from such passages as Matt. 28:20, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…” and;
2 Tim. 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
Apart from these commandments, neither "calling upon", nor "faithful living" in Christ, can be done. The gospel is therefore literally the ‘good news’ as it contains news as to how this salvation may be obtained and maintained. The reason‘why’ this is true, is because of God’s love for man. God’s love for man is the reason that He gave man commandments. They were what He purposed in sending His only begotten Son. Thus, Jesus taught and preached those commands while here on earth. He spoke of His church that He would build, and the church is comprised of those who have been ‘born anew’ and who keep His commandments.
This being true of the gospel, one would think that people would readily accept it. Sadly, however the opposite is true. Why is this? Let us examine WHY such a message of ‘good news’ is not only ignored, but viewed and treated with contempt.
The gospel is treated as something to be avoided in polite conversation, something that offends and creates fights. In many circles it is considered rude to bring up the subject of the gospel to one's acquaintances, family, or co-workers, and it is considered offensive to suggest that the gospel is the ONLY truth and that ALL must obey it. The good news is literally treated like bad news.
What is it about the gospel that draws such a negative attitude? Consider some unique characteristics of the ‘one’ gospel that separate and distinguish it from other or false gospels:
Gal. 1:6-8- “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."
The true gospel message begins with the fact that all are sinners and stand condemned before God (Rom. 3:23). The first thing the gospel reveals to us is that we are wrong. We are wrong because we have not lived in the way that God purposed for us to live. As such, we are condemned by God as transgressors. Most people do not like to hear that. People would prefer to hear that they are good and that they are living right (even when they admit they are not perfect). We do not like to be rebuked. It hurts the conscience and the heart. So rather than listen to the gospel's initial rebuke, many people turn away from it.
One of the craftiest plans Satan ever developed was to present people with a false gospel that strips away all the unpleasant parts. That's the kind of gospel people will hear. The apostle Paul warned Timothy, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Tim. 4:1-4)
The world has become flooded with false gospels that have virtually eliminated the concept of sin from its doctrines. To many people the gospel is like an invitation to join a club. No guilt, no sacrifice, no hardship, no loss of respect. Just join the church and have a good time. In such groups the gospel is not about salvation from sin's consequences or the cleansing of the conscience of the load of guilt sin brings. It is a gospel without condemnation.
Any gospel that does not begin by telling us that we are sinners has two fatal faults. First, it is not the gospel taught in the New Testament. The gospel preached by the apostles began with rebuke and warning. No "gospel" that downplays or ignores this feature has the right to call itself the gospel.
Second, in what sense can we say that the gospel is good news if it does not portray the problem of our sin as enormous? If our sin is no big deal (as the false gospels portray it), then what is so good about the gospel? If God accepts me just as I am, if I have little or nothing to change, then the good news is just a fix of a minor problem.
We must beware of any "gospel" that minimizes sin. Only when we truly understand the nature of our sin, what it does to us and what it does to God, will we be able to appreciate fully what is so good about the gospel. The gospel is presented as the answer, the solution, to the worst problem in the world. The gospel's glory will never be seen for what it is if we depreciate sin.
Not only must we beware of any gospel that minimizes sin, we must not succumb to the temptation to decrease the Biblical message about sin to make the gospel easier for others to accept. We all know many people that we want to see saved. In our love for them and our zeal to preach the gospel there is a temptation that we will try to relax the message so that it is not so harsh, so that it will be a "friendlier" gospel.
But our love for the lost has no authority over God. We may not relax God's standards because we think they are too tough. God created us, and God is the only One who has the right to say what the way to fellowship with Him will be. If we are not content to preach God's message just as He gave it, then woe to us, for we have become judges of God.
God sets the conditions for salvation. Preaching or obeying a watered-down gospel does not change or solve anything. If people find the gospel offensive, ugly, and a turn-off, so be it. Let us preach without apologies or embarrassment. Let us say with Paul, "I am not ashamed of the gospel" (Rom 1:16).
to be continued...
RDB
The commands that God gave through Christ are a blessing. 'How' and 'why' is this true? The ‘how’ is because of the nature of the message; it is a blessing because God’s commandments contain instructions for the sinner as to how to “call upon the name of the Lord” and thus, to be ‘born anew’. It also contains instructions for the one ‘born anew’ as to how to live faithful to Christ, his Lord.
We see this from such passages as Matt. 28:20, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…” and;
2 Tim. 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
Apart from these commandments, neither "calling upon", nor "faithful living" in Christ, can be done. The gospel is therefore literally the ‘good news’ as it contains news as to how this salvation may be obtained and maintained. The reason‘why’ this is true, is because of God’s love for man. God’s love for man is the reason that He gave man commandments. They were what He purposed in sending His only begotten Son. Thus, Jesus taught and preached those commands while here on earth. He spoke of His church that He would build, and the church is comprised of those who have been ‘born anew’ and who keep His commandments.
This being true of the gospel, one would think that people would readily accept it. Sadly, however the opposite is true. Why is this? Let us examine WHY such a message of ‘good news’ is not only ignored, but viewed and treated with contempt.
The gospel is treated as something to be avoided in polite conversation, something that offends and creates fights. In many circles it is considered rude to bring up the subject of the gospel to one's acquaintances, family, or co-workers, and it is considered offensive to suggest that the gospel is the ONLY truth and that ALL must obey it. The good news is literally treated like bad news.
What is it about the gospel that draws such a negative attitude? Consider some unique characteristics of the ‘one’ gospel that separate and distinguish it from other or false gospels:
Gal. 1:6-8- “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."
The true gospel message begins with the fact that all are sinners and stand condemned before God (Rom. 3:23). The first thing the gospel reveals to us is that we are wrong. We are wrong because we have not lived in the way that God purposed for us to live. As such, we are condemned by God as transgressors. Most people do not like to hear that. People would prefer to hear that they are good and that they are living right (even when they admit they are not perfect). We do not like to be rebuked. It hurts the conscience and the heart. So rather than listen to the gospel's initial rebuke, many people turn away from it.
One of the craftiest plans Satan ever developed was to present people with a false gospel that strips away all the unpleasant parts. That's the kind of gospel people will hear. The apostle Paul warned Timothy, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Tim. 4:1-4)
The world has become flooded with false gospels that have virtually eliminated the concept of sin from its doctrines. To many people the gospel is like an invitation to join a club. No guilt, no sacrifice, no hardship, no loss of respect. Just join the church and have a good time. In such groups the gospel is not about salvation from sin's consequences or the cleansing of the conscience of the load of guilt sin brings. It is a gospel without condemnation.
Any gospel that does not begin by telling us that we are sinners has two fatal faults. First, it is not the gospel taught in the New Testament. The gospel preached by the apostles began with rebuke and warning. No "gospel" that downplays or ignores this feature has the right to call itself the gospel.
Second, in what sense can we say that the gospel is good news if it does not portray the problem of our sin as enormous? If our sin is no big deal (as the false gospels portray it), then what is so good about the gospel? If God accepts me just as I am, if I have little or nothing to change, then the good news is just a fix of a minor problem.
We must beware of any "gospel" that minimizes sin. Only when we truly understand the nature of our sin, what it does to us and what it does to God, will we be able to appreciate fully what is so good about the gospel. The gospel is presented as the answer, the solution, to the worst problem in the world. The gospel's glory will never be seen for what it is if we depreciate sin.
Not only must we beware of any gospel that minimizes sin, we must not succumb to the temptation to decrease the Biblical message about sin to make the gospel easier for others to accept. We all know many people that we want to see saved. In our love for them and our zeal to preach the gospel there is a temptation that we will try to relax the message so that it is not so harsh, so that it will be a "friendlier" gospel.
But our love for the lost has no authority over God. We may not relax God's standards because we think they are too tough. God created us, and God is the only One who has the right to say what the way to fellowship with Him will be. If we are not content to preach God's message just as He gave it, then woe to us, for we have become judges of God.
God sets the conditions for salvation. Preaching or obeying a watered-down gospel does not change or solve anything. If people find the gospel offensive, ugly, and a turn-off, so be it. Let us preach without apologies or embarrassment. Let us say with Paul, "I am not ashamed of the gospel" (Rom 1:16).
to be continued...
RDB
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