Being Straight Forward with the Truth of the Gospel
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the message of a kingdom come. It is a kingdom originating in heaven. It was announced by the prophets of Israel and manifest at the incarnation of King Jesus. The introduction of the kingdom of God was not a hostile takeover or a violent conflict as we often see in world history.
Souls transfer allegiance away from the ruler of this world, Satan, and they unashamedly confess, “Jesus Christ is Lord.” God the Father, who is Yahweh the God of Israel, is glorified when each sinner repents to the cause of the kingdom of Christ. It is impossible to please God without apprehending Christ by faith in His Person and work.
The object of one’s Christian faith is the truth as it is in Jesus (Eph 4:21). Faith in a faulty object is disastrous to one’s soul. The one object worthy of each person’s faith and devotion is Jesus Christ. Therefore, faith is increased as one grows in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (Lk 17:5; 2 Pet 3:18).
The Gospel is received and then it is passed along to others. The Christian says, “I believe…therefore, I speak.” This faith has come by hearing. Many hear but do not believe. In order to hear and believe, one must belong to Christ (Jn 10:26). To him or her is sent the Holy Spirit, who causes God’s elect to be born again (1 Pet 1:3). The preacher of the Gospel of salvation uses plain talk…not flattering speech. He has noble motives for making Christ known…not greed. Popularity is meaningless to the true preacher because his ambition is to please God…not men. His boast is Christ, alone (1 Cor 1:31; Gal 6:14).
Of first importance to the Gospel preacher is the straight forward truth. Christ has come to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21) and delivers them from the wrath to come (1 Thess 1:10). As the second Adam, His church represents a new holy nation of people set apart unto Him (Jn 17:17; 1 Pet 2:9).
The Christian herald proclaims the excellencies of Christ the King. This is a direct contrast to the promises of this perverse generation occupying this present evil world. The quest for a humanist utopia is ever the objective of those who want heaven on earth without our Lord Jesus Christ. This is why the world persecutes the Christians in this present evil age. The desire to live godly in Christ Jesus is an affront to worldly kingdom builders.
The Gospel exposes the vanity of those who want their best life now. It steals glory from the idols of peoples’ hearts and the demon spirits behind them. People worship gods who give them sex, money, power and fame. In contrast, Jesus says, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” The call to deny oneself and suffer for the kingdom of God does not appeal to the natural man (Rom 8:7).
False brethren, who are false teachers, infiltrate Christ’s church with a false story. They pervert the Gospel truth often using Christian jargon. They persuade people in the direction of cheap grace licentiousness or enslave them in a program of rules to follow. Both directions appeal to sinful flesh.
The narrow way of Gospel grace is to follow Christ by walking in the truth. God’s Word is truth (Ps 119:142) ; and the Holy Spirit of truth employs the Bible to sanctify the saints of God (Jn 6:63; 17:17). This is not a legalistic regiment of rule following. It is life in the Spirit.
The kingdom of God, here and now, is righteousness and peace and joy in the Spirit (Rom 14:17). The Gospel of Christ’s kingdom present a current and a future reality. The solemn truth of our Christian walk is suffering now but exceeding glory to follow in the world to come (Rom 8:18). Having hope in the one true God and in Jesus Christ our Lord means a trust in the promises of better things to come.
The Apostle Paul was separated from a life of persecuting Christ’s church unto a life of being persecuted for his life of liberty and faith in Christ. The Christian is set free from the futility of a sinful life in this age. He is also set free from the Law’s demands that could never be achieved apart from the Spirit of God. It is God’s Spirit who causes us to walk in His statutes (Ezek 36:27). Therefore, we must walk in faith, trust that God is accomplishing what concerns us (Ps 57:2; 138:8).
The truth of the Gospel is that the Gospel truth is the mechanism for purification. Being holy as God is holy is accomplished by the Holy Spirit (1 Pet 1:15–16). It is Christ who lives in us — both willing and doing His good pleasure (Gal 2:20; Phil 2:13). Thus, it is God’s will for His redeemed people to bear witness of Jesus Christ…not themselves.
The imitation of Christ reflects on Jesus always doing what was pleasing to His Father in heaven. It behooves us to take time to be holy; and this requires a close walk with Him, who loved us and gave Himself for us. So, we pray, “Draw me nearer, nearer precious Lord.” The fact is we need him every hour.
The Christian life is a walk through the domain of darkness as children of light. It is a sojourn toward a better country. It is far better to go there to be with Christ, but we must fulfill our ministry of good works prepared beforehand for us to walk in (Eph 2:10).
Jesus Christ is brining many sons to glory (Heb 2:10). Many people are called to follow Him but few are chosen to be adopted children of God (Mt 22:14; Eph 1:5; Rom 8:15, 23), who serve as ambassadors for Christ, given a ministry of reconciliation empowered by the indwelling Spirit of truth, who is always straight forward about this solemn call to suffer for Christ’s namesake (Phil 1:29).
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
July 24, 2023
