“…our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world.” Galatians 1:4
Dear Ones:
In the letter of Paul to the Galatians, he uses some very strong language concerning the preaching of “another gospel,” different from the true one. (Gal. 1:9) John, in the book of the Revelation, in his conclusion, wrote: “If any man shall take away from the words of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life.” (22:19) Again, why such strong language with regard to the gospel, and the prophetic revelation of God working through history, especially in the last days? The answer has to do with another declaration in Galatians where the apostle writes with respect to the gospel: “For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1:12) The gospel, as well as the revelation, has nothing to do with man, with regard to its essence, purpose, effectiveness and power. It is only OF God, designed by God, and will be used by God alone. As Paul writes in the letter to the Romans, “…it (the gospel) IS the power of God unto salvation.” (1:16) What does this mean? It means that God has committed Himself, by the declaration of the truths of the Gospel, to work in the individual heart to save the soul. How? The Spirit of God, according to the words of the Lord Jesus, came into this world, to “reprove the world of sin, and of righteous, and of judgment.” (Jn. 16:8) When the Lord works in the heart of the individual, to bring that person to a knowledge of his need, His intent and will is to use the truths of the Gospel, concerning who God is, and what Jesus has done, to provide a means, a path, a basis and reason, by which God in His mercy, will GIVE power to believe, trust, and commit oneself to God, to BECOME a child of God. It is as the Holy Spirit, in His power and goodness, regenerates the soul, that the power of the gospel becomes evident. As Jesus said to Nicodemus, with regard to how this occurs, and the effects of its occurrence, “…The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell from where it comes, and where it is going: so is EVERY ONE who is born of the Spirit.” (Jn. 3:8)
God has always blessed His word, His promises, His messages. That which He will NOT bless is error, “another gospel.” He cannot bless the lie because Christ IS the truth. It is as the truth of the Gospel is preached that the power of the Spirit will work to save and regenerate the soul. This is a matter of great confidence, because God will ALWAYS work according to the truths of the Gospel. This is why the gospel is so wonderful, and of such great value, for by IT the Lord WILL work, in particular in behalf of the one who will truly believe. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
So, what is to be our response to the Gospel, and how is it to be used effectively in bringing others to Christ? First of all, the Gospel, that compilation of the truths associated with the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, must be embraced fully by faith, for it God’s way for the power of God to be known. Secondly, in trusting the Lord for a clear understanding of the message, we are to proclaim it in the power of the Spirit, that the hearer, will not trust in the “…wisdom of men, but IN the power of God.” (1 Cor. 2:5)
Dear Father, teach us Your Gospel, by which we can all KNOW the power of God to save. We praise and thank Thee, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad