THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

Part Three

Raphael Oye Taiwo

The gospel of Jesus must be received with faith

‘And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.’ Mark 1:15.

The Israelites had the gospel proclaimed to them. But the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith. Hebrew 4:2.

To hear or read the gospel is not enough. For the Good News to do man any good, it must be believed and accepted in faith. Those who fail to receive the gospel in faith will suffer eternal punishment in the Everlasting Fire of hell (2 Thes 1:8-9).

 The gospel of Jesus must not be hindered

A person who does things that hinder the gospel is like a person who places his head in the path of ball lightning.

There are many who work hard to hinder the gospel. Such as the Muslim Jihadists and other groups of people whose religions and official philosophy is opposed to the gospel and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. They severely persecute the people of God who believe and preach the gospel. Check the following sites to see some of the things that I am talking about: www.persecution.com; www.jihadwatch.org; www.christianpersecution.info; www.christianmonitor.org

Some Christians and ministers today allow their love for riches, desires of the flesh and love of the world to throw hindering blocks in the way of the gospel. People watch them and conclude that accepting the gospel is a waste of time.

Paul would rather give up his right and suffer than be an hindrance to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 ‘If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.’ 1 Cor. 9:12.

The gospel of Jesus must not be regarded as a thing to be ashamed of

Paul boldly declared, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ…” Rom. 1:16

Many are so ashamed of the gospel that they refuse to accept it. Oh, they believe it. They know it makes spiritual sense. They know they ought to accept it. But because of the gospel’s lack of popularity with their peers or family or in their community, they reject it.

A child of God must not be ashamed of the gospel –2 Tim. 1:18. He must not be ashamed to admit before the whole world that he is a gospel believer. He must not be ashamed to be known as a bearer of the gospel.

Ridicules, mockery, threat of torture or death, should not make a child of God pretend that he is no believer of the gospel.

The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is not a thing to be ashamed of. And it must not be treated as such by any believer.

The gospel of Jesus must be obeyed

What everyone must not fail to do is obeying the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. To hear the gospel and not to obey it is the height of folly.

It is really dangerous to ignore the gospel for any reason. Disobeying the gospel will bring down severe judgment of God. ‘In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ’  2 Thes. 1:8.

To say we obey the gospel and then live in disobedience to its injunctions and requirements is the height of hypocrisy.

‘Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ…’ Philp 1:27

Our manner of life must be worthy of the gospel of Christ. Our way of life should be as the gospel of Christ requires. We must ensure that our life-style is not a blemish on the gospel we claim to know and bear.

The gospel of Jesus must be preached

“Preach the gospel” was the last order the Lord Jesus gave to His disciples when He was about to leave this world and ride on the cloud of glory to heaven. ‘And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature’ Mark 16:15.

We must not only accept the gospel. We must preach the gospel. We must do all in our power to let the others know about the redemptive work of Christ on the cross for them. We must tell the perishing ones about the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ waiting to be received by them.

Paul the Apostle says in Act 20:24, “I don't care what happens to me, as long as I finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do. And that work is to preach the gospel of the grace of God.”

The gospel of Jesus - Part One
The gospel of Jesus - Part two
The gospel of Jesus - Part three