1254. The Gospel of God

The Gospel of God

We have seven striking statements in the first chapter of Romans about God.

These statements all have a most intimate relationship to the first expression, "The Gospel of God." We believe a splendid introduction to this message will be a presentation of the fourfold attitude of the ungodly toward the blessed Gospel itself.

Let us observe how this blessed Gospel is treated by the unbeliever.

1. They obey not the Gospel. Rom_10:16 : "But they have not all obeyed the Gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?" The Gospel was given for the obedience of faith. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who. deliver its tidings of good things. But alas, even as Isaiah prophesied: "Lord, who hath believed our report?"

The Gospel is good news from a far country, but men receive it not.

The Gospel is like water to a thirsty land, but thirsty men will not come and drink.

The Gospel is the balm of Gilead, but men are not healed thereby.

2. They, concerning the Gospel, are enemies, Rom_11:28 : "As concerning the Gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sake."

This passage has to do especially with Israel. If there ever was a people who should have been open to the Gospel, it was that people through whom the Gospel was made possible. But Israel became the Gospel's greatest enemy; and they remain as such to this day.

Israel, however, does not stand alone. There are many walking whose God is their belly, whose glory is their shame, who mind earthly things, and they are all the enemies of the Cross of Jesus Christ. Php_3:18-19 : "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ:

3. Their eyes are blinded to the Gospel. 2Co_4:4 : "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

There is a glory about the Gospel of Christ that outshines the sun. This glory centers about the Cross, the resurrection and about the return of the Lord Jesus; but the god of this world hath blinded unbelieving eyes to all of this.

Bartimaeus, by the roadside, was never more blind than are these. The Gospel is veiled to those who believe not. "Having eyes they see not." They neither know nor do they believe what they do know, concerning the "riches of grace in Christ Jesus."

"O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon;

Irrecoverably dark, total eclipse,

Without one ray of light."

4. They, sometimes, pervert the Gospel. Gal_1:7 : "There be some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ."

Some turn away from the Gospel; some preach another gospel (which is not another); and some pervert the Gospel of Christ. All such are accursed (see Gal_1:6-9).

God would not have the foreshadowings of the Gospel marred in the least. He said unto Moses, "See * * thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount" (Heb_8:5).

God certainly holds the Gospel, in its every line, as most important, and woe to that man who perverts it.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR