The Gospel

From the "Daily Thoughts" email that Mack Tomlinson sends out...

The Gospel

Let us be clear regarding the gospel. The gospel is not a thing. The gospel is not an event. The gospel is not a promotion. The gospel is not a work of man. The gospel is not a system. The gospel is not a method. The gospel is a proclamation of the person of Jesus Christ. The apostles proclaimed Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected from the dead, and in like fashion, the church of the 21st century ought to do the same.

The gospel is to be proclaimed. The gospel does not need a gimmick. The gospel does not need the wisdom of man. The gospel does not need any help from people who come up with cutting edge ideas. The gospel does not need additions. The gospel does not need subtractions. The responsibility of the church is to rightly proclaim the glory of the person, Jesus Christ, who is the gospel. Men, women, boys and girls, are to respond to Jesus. The proclamation of the gospel is for the glory of God and not the glory of man. To mix the gospel with other things is to detract from the person of Jesus Christ and ultimately to lead men to idolatry and damnation in hell. The apostles proclaimed the person of the gospel without gimmicks.

-- Randall Easter

Testimonies

In the past week or so, the Lord has really blessed us with opportunities for sweet fellowship with other believers. A brother passing through Wichita needed a place to stay, so we got to spend an evening with him. As so often happens when Christians meet for the first time, we spent most of the evening sharing our testimonies. And this particular brother brought with him the news that the Lord had saved his wife that very morning! Praise the Lord!

This past Sunday, we had lunch with a couple from our church that we're just getting to know...and once again, much of the time was spent sharing about God's work of redemption in each of our lives. How encouraging to reflect on the salvation we have in Christ, and also on how God draws each one to Himself through circumstances, the hearing of truth, crossing paths with Christians, etc. That same night, Johnny heard the testimony of another brother in our church (we're still kind of new to this church and just getting to know everyone).

We could--and will--reflect forever on God's mercy just in saving us, period. But after hearing all these testimonies, I've also been thinking about all the other kindnesses of the Lord in each believer's testimony--things like keeping marriages intact for years before conversion, or (also before conversion) restraining the person from particularly damaging sins, or restoring certain relationships after conversion, or just blessing a new Christian with a sweet friendship with another believer, and on and on and on. I mean, He didn't have to save us in the first place...and of course, justification and Christ's righteousness and peace with God and a new heart are the things we really need. But then it seems like God just floods the believer with all kinds of blessings.

"Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!"

Great is His faithfulness!