0315. The Gospel Must Be Preached

The Gospel Must Be Preached

"And He must needs go through Samaria" (Joh_4:4).

There is a series of four questions in Rom_10:14, Rom_10:15. "How shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent?"

If a sinner to be saved MUST believe, then he must hear; and if he must hear, then the Gospel MUST be preached.

The story of our Key Verse is to the point. A woman who was a sinner, but who evidently was seeking the light, and who was ready to accept the Saviour, if the opportunity was given, lived in Sychar, a city of Samaria.

Christ said I MUST NEEDS go through Samaria. Why? It was not customary for Jewish travelers to pass through the land of the mongrel Samaritans; but Christ said, "I MUST go through." Why?

The only answer, is the result of His trip. Wearied, He sat by Jacob’s well, hard by Sychar. The disciples went into the city to buy food. A woman came out to fill her pitcher at the well. Immediately Christ spoke to her, and soon He was telling her of the "Water of Life." The disciples returned, and wondered that Christ was so earnestly speaking to a sinful Samaritan. They pressed food upon Him, but He said, "I have meat to eat that ye know not of."

The woman went to the city and told of her meeting with Christ at the well; then many of the people of Sychar came unto Him, and many were saved. He therefore abode with them two days and taught the things of God.

Is it hard to comprehend the MUST of that trip? It is answered by the word in Romans: "How can they believe in Him, of Whom they have not heard?" And, "How can they hear without a preacher?"

The Holy Spirit called upon Philip to leave the city of Samaria, and hasten down a desert road. Why?

The answer is the result of that trip. He soon came across a man of Ethiopia, who was in charge of all the treasuries of Candace, his queen. The man was reading the Prophet Isaiah. Philip drew near and said: "Understandest thou what thou readest?" The answer is illuminating: "How can I except some man shall guide me?"

Yes, the Gospel MUST be preached. Sinners at home and sinners in heathen lands cannot believe in Him of Whom they have not heard. Let us hasten away, then, with the Gospel, the good news of salvation. Let us go and let us go quickly, until every creature under heaven has heard the message of redeeming love,

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR