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Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Tuesday,
January 30, 2024
"The
Glorious Gospel"
Message
summary: We
have a choice
today. Do we
stand up for
the gospel of
Jesus
Christ?
Or do we
pursue the
ever-changing
philosophies
and trends of
our day? We
really can’t
do both, since
trying to do
so will bring
about
compromise,
frustration,
lack of
effectiveness
and the real
possibility of
falling away
from the truth
once for all
entrusted to
the saints.
“The glorious gospel of the blessed God, which He entrusted to me” (1 Timothy 1:11). “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1). “I am so eager to preach the gospel” (Romans 1:15). “I am not ashamed of the gospel” (Romans 1:16).
The “Jesus” film has been a remarkable tool in the proclamation of the Gospel all over the world. Wendy Murray Zoba writes: “In Peru, during the insurgence of the Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path), a Wycliffe couple was traveling to show the “Jesus” film in a village. Their vehicle was intercepted by the Senderos, and they feared for their lives (with just cause). Instead of killing them, however, the terrorists decided to seize their equipment, including the film projector. The husband boldly suggested that they might as well take the film reels too.
Sometime later, a man contacted them to say that he had been among the Senderos who had robbed them. He told them they watched the film seven times (out of sheer boredom), and some had been converted through it. He came to apologize and to tell of his ministry in preaching and evangelism!
Among words rich in theological meaning but increasingly cheapened is the word "gospel". For instance I came across a blog named, “The Gospel of Good Cooking”. This is similar to how Bible has been used such as "The Cook's Bible" which is actually an exhaustive supply of recipes.
The Gospel is foundationally the truth concerning the mission of Jesus Christ to earth and very specifically His atoning death, burial, and bodily resurrection. (See 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.) For many who have been in Bible-preaching churches it’s the old, old story but one we should be hearing and preaching unceasingly; to use the words from the old hymn "I Love To Tell The Story", "for those who know it best, seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest."
I find this succinct description helpful:
“The
Gospel of
Christ is the
message of how
Jesus is the
promised
Messiah and
how He was
conceived in
Mary’s womb by
the Holy
Spirit and was
born the Son
of God and how
He received
the Holy
Spirit and
went forth for
3½ years
preaching and
doing great
miracles and
wonders by the
power of the
Father. At the
end of the 3½
years Jesus
fulfilled His
ministry by
dying for our
sins on the
cross of
Calvary and
was
resurrected
from the dead
3 days later
by the
Father.”
This
Gospel is
surely at the
very core of
the true
church, “contending
earnestly for
the faith once
for all
delivered to
the saints”
(Jude 3)
Let us consider three attitudes that Paul expressed concerning this Gospel in the first chapter of Romans. As I read them I ask God that they would be mine as well.
Paul wrote to the Ephesian believers, “Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus” (Ephesians 4:21). The “apostle’s teaching”, expressed in the Scriptures, form the foundation for genuine Christian discipleship. It is surely the faith delivered to the saints once for all that Jude in verse 3 instructs us to earnestly contend for.
As our world plunges into wickedness and now shamelessly revels in it and even promotes it, Christ’s true church needs to stand firm for the Gospel. Today, as individuals scattered around the world, let us proclaim unashamedly the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the only power of God for salvation from sin!
We have a choice today. Do we stand up for the gospel of Jesus Christ? Or do we pursue the ever-changing philosophies and trends of our day? We really can’t do both, since trying to do so will bring about compromise, frustration, lack of effectiveness and the real possibility of falling away from the truth once for all entrusted to the saints.
Let us consider three attitudes that Paul expressed concerning this Gospel in the first chapter of Romans. As I read them I ask God that they would be mine as well.
1)
“Set apart for
the gospel”
What sets you
apart? People
who know me
may consider
the suspenders
that I’m
almost always
wearing sets
me apart
(utilitarian
purpose in
keeping my
pants up!)
People try so
many outward
things to set
them apart,
but Paul
states that he
is "set
apart for the
gospel of God".
We may not all
be called into
vocational
ministry but
we should all
be set apart
for the
gospel!
2) “Eager to preach the gospel” Paul demonstrates this abundantly following his miraculous conversion to Christ. In 1 Corinthians 9:16 he states, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” It would seem that preachers can readily apply this, but we should all be prepared and eager to share the Gospel.
3) “Not ashamed of the gospel” This in my view is one of the greatest verses in the Bible and an essential truth to live by. The world has always been hostile to the truth that is in Christ Jesus. Paul certainly experienced this hostility and many times paid a price for his unwavering commitment to preaching the Gospel. This hostility can contribute to feelings of embarrassment, apology, or even shame to those who preach the Gospel, if they’re not well-grounded in the Scriptures. The evidence is overwhelming that this hostility is increasing as is commonly expressed in various settings and on numerous fronts. And sadly many are compromising the message in order to be acceptable to the world.
2) “Eager to preach the gospel” Paul demonstrates this abundantly following his miraculous conversion to Christ. In 1 Corinthians 9:16 he states, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” It would seem that preachers can readily apply this, but we should all be prepared and eager to share the Gospel.
3) “Not ashamed of the gospel” This in my view is one of the greatest verses in the Bible and an essential truth to live by. The world has always been hostile to the truth that is in Christ Jesus. Paul certainly experienced this hostility and many times paid a price for his unwavering commitment to preaching the Gospel. This hostility can contribute to feelings of embarrassment, apology, or even shame to those who preach the Gospel, if they’re not well-grounded in the Scriptures. The evidence is overwhelming that this hostility is increasing as is commonly expressed in various settings and on numerous fronts. And sadly many are compromising the message in order to be acceptable to the world.
Paul wrote to the Ephesian believers, “Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus” (Ephesians 4:21). The “apostle’s teaching”, expressed in the Scriptures, form the foundation for genuine Christian discipleship. It is surely the faith delivered to the saints once for all that Jude in verse 3 instructs us to earnestly contend for.
As our world plunges into wickedness and now shamelessly revels in it and even promotes it, Christ’s true church needs to stand firm for the Gospel. Today, as individuals scattered around the world, let us proclaim unashamedly the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the only power of God for salvation from sin!
We have a choice today. Do we stand up for the gospel of Jesus Christ? Or do we pursue the ever-changing philosophies and trends of our day? We really can’t do both, since trying to do so will bring about compromise, frustration, lack of effectiveness and the real possibility of falling away from the truth once for all entrusted to the saints.
That’s
why I am not
ashamed of the
Gospel,
The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I am not afraid to be counted,
But I’m willing to give my life,
Now I’m ready to be all He wants me to be.
Give up the wrong for the right,
I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I am not afraid to be counted,
But I’m willing to give my life,
Now I’m ready to be all He wants me to be.
Give up the wrong for the right,
I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Be
encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, the
philosophies,
trends, and
mind-set of
the world
stands in
great contrast
to the gospel
of Jesus
Christ. Your
Word tells us
that those who
are not for
You are
against You.
We can’t walk
on both sides
of the fence
so we are
faced with a
choice we must
make; the same
kind of choice
Joshua gave to
the Israelites
thousands of
years ago. We
must choose
whether to
follow after
the gods of
this world and
forsake You or
we must
forsake the
world and
devote
ourselves to
You. Father, I
choose to
follow after
You; You who
reconciled me
to Yourself
through Jesus.
You have
proven
Yourself
trustworthy
for Your
promises are
true. You
provide the
power and
presence of
Your Holy
Spirit to lead
me and direct
my every path.
Your Word
illumines my
every thought.
I choose You
today,
exclusively
and eternally!
Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"Not
Ashamed of the
Gospel" (Live
in Vienna)
Watch
on YouTube
[feat. Daniel
Hagen &
Hanna Sheets]
| Awakening
Music
"All
I Have is
Christ"
Watch
on YouTube
Live at
WorshipGod
"He
is Worthy"
Watch
on YouTube
The
Glorious
Christ
Live
What
does it mean
to not be
ashamed of the
Gospel in
Romans 1:16?
| Brief
teaching from
GotQuestions.org
Video
Stand
for what is
worthy, no
matter the
cost
Brief
article
using the
story of
Shadrach,
Meshach, and
Abednego and
applying it to
standing for
truth today.
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Stephen & Brooksyne
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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