Im not Ashamed of the Gospel of Christ!! I believe it is extremely important that we understand and preach the Completed and Finished work of Christ for and on behalf of all men. Paul writing to the Church at Rome says, (Romans 5:18, 19 AMP) 18 Well then, as one man’s trespass [one man’s false step and falling away led] to condemnation for ALL MEN, so one man’s act of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for ALL MEN! 19 For just as by one man’s disobedience (failing to hear, heedlessness, and carelessness) the many were constituted sinners, so by one Man’s obedience the many will be constituted righteous (made acceptable to God, brought into right standing with Him). Jesus came and represented all of humanity on the cross, died the death and suffered the punishment to deal with our sin for and on behalf of all men for all time! (Heb 9: 26) When He hung on that Cross we were in Him. When He died all men died in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:15-16 AMP) 15 For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] One died for ALL, then ALL died; And He died for ALL, so that ALL those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake. And Peter says in (I Peter 1: 3,4) 3 Praise (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been BORN AGAIN to an ever-living hope through the RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 [Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, (AMP) BUT, it is equally important if not EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that we do not stop there with our message of the Gospel! Because Paul goes on to say, in (2 Corinthians 5: 18-20 AMP) 18 But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring OTHERS INTO HARMONY WITH HIM]. 19 It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the WORLD to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but canceling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor). 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His APPEAL as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] BEG you for His sake to LAY HOLD of the divine favor [now offered you] and be RECONCILED to God (AMP) We are to be representatives of God, and what He did through the Finished work of the Cross, and as representatives of God, we are to make a strong appeal through our preaching and teaching, for all men to lay a hold of this divine favor given to them, and for them to be reconciled to God! There is a divine responsibility upon every man, to receive this free gift given to us by God, by BELIEVING it and receiving it by FAITH for themselves! Thats why Paul said, in (Rom 1:16, 17 KJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that BELIEVETH; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Also in, (Romans 10:9,10 AMP) Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart BELIEVE (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be SAVED! For with the heart a person BELIEVES (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation. And in, (Romans 3:26 KJV) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which BELIEVETH in Jesus. John made it very clear, in (I John 5: 10 - 12 KJV) 10 He that BELIEVETH on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that BELIEVETH not God hath made him a liar; because he BELIEVETH not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. We have been given a wonderful free gift from God, paid for and finished, but it is of no benefit to any man if he does not BELIEVE it, and RECEIVE it by FAITH!!! As representatives of God, and of the Gospel of Jesus Christ it is negligent, irresponsible, and ignorant of us if we do not preach this truth clearly
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 03:00:01 +0000
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