I was inspired to write this
post by a conversation I had with a friend. We talked about what message
believers should preach to the world. What is our gospel? Is our gospel a
message of condemnation or love?
Do we tell people the consequences of
living without God or teach them what they gain by receiving the love of Christ?
Almost everyday I hear preachers shout out the sins of people and how they’ll go
to hell. They speak of the curses they bring on themselves by not living
rightly. They call out their sins by name and condemn them. However one thing I
have come to realise is that the preaching of sin and hell make some seemingly
repent out of fear. These who receive the Lord out of the fear of burning in
hell later end up back in the world.
I recall how a friend of mine shared
his experience in high school (in my country most senior high schools are
boarding schools). He talked about how some Christian groups showed videos of
dead people in the mortuary. After showing the video they would talk about sin,
hell and salvation. Most of the students would rash to the front when they gave
alter calls. He pointed out how after a month or less these people who had
raised their hands turned back to their old ways.
Our gospel is good news! It is good
tiding!
Rom 10:15 “And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” AMPIsa 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" NIV
Our gospel is Christ
crucified for the sins of men to bring salvation to all men.
The Bible tells us those in the world
2 Corinthians 4:4 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.
They have been blinded by the one who
rules this world. However the Bible also tells us that
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
And so the Word of God is able to
open the eyes of professed atheists, agnostics and those of other faiths. Just
look at the Paul! So the issue is not whether the world
will listen and be saved but rather what kind of messages should we preach to
the world?
2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
The first verse quoted presents the
purpose of God for every believer's life and then the other verses give us what
to say. Our message is Christ Jesus crucified for the sins of men in order for
men to be forgiven their sins. We are to preach the message of reconciliation.
We have to tell sinners how much God loves them and came to die for them. We
preach the forgiveness of sins. We do not preach morality. Morality is not
Christianity! There is a difference between being a good person who lives an
upright life and being a Christian. We are saved by grace not by our good works
or morals (Eph 2:8-9).
Our gospel is not condemnation but
good news because our Lord saves! He saves and changes the worst of
sinners.
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