Some (Really) Important Things to Believe

We preach Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor 1:23; 2:2) because there is no other name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). We proclaim Him (Col 1:28), as the only God and Savior (Titus 1:3; 2:13; 3:6; 2 Pet 1:1), who was sent into the world by God the Father (Jn 3:16), in order to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21).

God’s people, the sheep of His pasture (Ps 79:13; 95:7; 100:3), hear the voice of their Good Shepherd (Jn 10:3–4), when the Word of God is preached by called men of God (2 Tim 4:2), appointed by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28). With beautiful feet (Rom 10:15), these men are sent to proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light (1 Pet 2:9; Jude 1:1).

Jesus Christ is the light of the world (Jn 1:9; 8:12). The world of darkness does not comprehend (Jn 1:5) because the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the icon of God (2 Cor 4:4). Even if our preached Gospel of grace is hidden from those who are perishing (2 Cor 4:3), the slave of Christ, doing the work of an evangelist (2 Tim 4:5), must be found faithful as a steward of the mystery, that is, Christ in us (1 Cor 9:17; Eph 3:2; Col 1:25).

When Christ Jesus is received, according to the will of God (Jn 1:12–13), it is the indwelling Holy Spirit that enters the soul by baptism (Mt 3:11; Jn 14:17; Acts 2:38; 10:45; 11:16; Rom 8:9, 11; 1 Cor 3:16; Gal 4:6; 2 Tim 1:14; Jas 4:5). As the token of God’s love (2 Cor 1:22; 5:5) poured out into the heart (Rom 5:5), it is the new, permanent Resident of the soul who produces the spiritual fruit (Gal 5:22–23) in the new creature positioned in Christ by His doing (1 Cor 1:30; 2 Cor 5:17). It is by God’s grace that one is saved, through faith, and not by works, so that no man may boast in his own imaginary goodness, or his self-justifying “good works” done in the flesh (Is 64:6; Rom 3:12; 4:5; Eph 2:8–9).

All people everywhere are called to repent of their sins and to turn from their wicked ways and unto Christ (Acts 17:30). They are commanded to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in their hearts (Acts 16:31) and confess with their mouths that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father (Rom 10:9–10; Phil 2:11), who draws them to Jesus with irresistible grace (Jer 31:3; Jn 6:44, 65). They come to Christ (Mt 11:28) because they have been constrained by His love (2 Cor 5:14) and effectually called by the Spirit (Eph 4:1, 4), who demonstrates His power (1 Cor 2:4) in the “foolishness” of the Gospel, that is, the Word of cross (1 Cor 1:18) which we preach without shame because it is the power of God unto salvation for those who are being saved (Rom 1:16).

Those who are being saved are delivered from bondage to sin (Jn 8:34; Rom 6:6, 16–20; 7:14), Satan (Mt 6:13), and the kingdom of this world (Jn 17:15). The wrath of God is directed against all of this that is aligned in rebellion against Him (Rom 1:18–32). His wrath to come will vanquish all that is opposed to His righteous reign (Mt 3:7; Lk 3:7). The kingdom of this world will become the kingdom of God and His Beloved Son (Rev 11:15), as He makes all things new — things in heaven and thing on earth (Rev 21:5).

This Gospel of God is to go into all the earth, to all Creation (Mk 16:15), to all nations (Mt 24:14), preached in the power of the Holy Spirit, who guides us into all truth (Jn 16:13), as it is in Jesus (Eph 4:21), who is the truth (Jn 14:6), for God is true and every man a liar (Rom 3:4). We are His witnesses (Acts 1:8).

The Word of truth sets the captives free (Jn 8:32) from the tangle of lies and confusion put forth by the father of lies (Jn 8:44). The deceived are dead men walking because death is looming, and it is appointed for each one to die once and then comes the judgment (Heb 9:27). The Word of life, implanted into a dead soul, by the life-giving Spirit (Jn 6:33, 51, 63; Jas 1:21), causes one to be born again of God (Jn 3:1–8; 1 Pet 1:3), who raises the dead soul to life, making him or her alive in Christ (Eph 2:5; Col 2:13).

Jesus Christ is believed on in the world because He is proclaimed among the nations (1 Tim 3:16), as the King of kings (1 Tim 6:15), who has overcome the world (Jn 16:33), for He must reign until he has put all His enemies under His feet (1 Cor 15:25), and we shall also reign with Him (2 Tim 2:12). There is no end to the increase of His government (Is 9:7) and His kingdom will have no end (Lk 1:33) because the Lord sits as King, forever (Ps 29:10).

He who believes in the Son of God, Jesus, has eternal life (Jn 3:16, 36) because faith has been granted to him (Phil 1:29), as it has been handed down to all the saints (Jude 3) by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Pet 1:1). The righteous shall live by faith (Rom 1:17), trusting in the Lord, our righteousness (Jer 23:6; 33:16), who fulfilled the Law for righteousness (Mt 5:17; Rom 10:4). Jesus Christ is just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Him (Rom 3:26). Jesus Christ is the author and perfecter of the one who does not work for righteousness, but who believes in Him who justifies the ungodly (Rom 4:5; Heb 12:2).

The justified have peace with God (Rom 5:1), having been reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:18), who is Himself our peace (Eph 2:14). With the blood of the covenant shed for the forgiveness of our sins (Mt 26:28; Eph 1:7; Heb 9:22) by Christ our Passover, the Lamb of God, who was sacrificed on our behalf (Jn 1:29; 1 Cor 5:7; Rev 5:6, 12), there is therefore now no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1). So, thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ (2 Cor 2:14), our Victor victorious, by whom we overwhelmingly conquer all foes arrayed against us (Rom 8:37).

Rejoice and again rejoice for nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:31–39), who loved us and gave Himself for us, while we were yet sinners (Jn 10:11, 15; 15:13; Rom 5:8; Eph 5:25). Our boast is in Jesus Christ (1 Cor 1:31) for so great a salvation, to which we bear witness (Acts 1:8) because we were blind but now we see (Jn 9:25). His message burns in our bones (Jer 20:9), so that it is pure woe if we do not preach this Gospel of salvation (1 Cor 9:15).

Do you believe our report (Is 53:1)? If yes, there is due thanksgiving without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17–18), in order to ascribe all honor, praise, and glory to Him who is the wisdom of God, the power of God (1 Cor 1:24), our all-in-all (Col 3:11), who is Lord of all (Acts 10:36). O believer, our God has done great things (Dt 10:21; Job 5:9; 9:10; Ps 71:19; 126:3; Jn 5:20)!

The knowledge of Christ is precious treasure in our earthen vessels, shown mercy and being prepared for glory (Rom 9:23). While we have breath, let us praise the Lord (Ps 150:6) and make His exalted name known to all nations, tribes, and tongues that they may join us in true worship from this day forth and forevermore (Jn 4:23–24; Rev 5:9; 7:9).

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

May 30, 2022