The Nature of the Glad Tidings

The Nature of the Glad Tidings
By Al Stoner

By its very nature, the gospel of Christ is good news. It is news that is wonderful to the receptive hearer, marvelous to consider; it is a report that is ever new, and even more wonderfully new. The tidings are as "cold waters to a thirsty soul" (Prov. 25:25), and as "the light of the eye which rejoices the heart" (Prov. 15:30). They are tidings of "great joy", and they are intended to be perceived as such by "all people" (Lk. 2:10), as they are perfectly adapted to man's most deep-seated, fundamental need in his fallen and sinful condition. By nature, men are "alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them" (Eph. 4:18), and consequently, earnestly giving heed to the gospel is the only divinely appointed means of remedying this woeful situation.

The gospel tidings are regarded as news because they are continually coming to those who are dwelling in a cursed realm, that is old, and passing away (I Cor. 7:31; I Jn. 2:15; Heb. 8:13b). And thus, to those, whose hearts are attuned to the gospel message through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the message is perceived to be ever new. The glad tidings come to rescue, to save, to nourish, and to give power unto living acceptably in the sight of God. To those who see it aright, they cannot live without regularly giving heartfelt attendance to the gospel message. They sense acutely that it is impossible to survive the earthly course of this present evil world with a safe and abundant entrance into the world to come, apart from giving "the more earnest heed to the things which" they "have heard" (Heb. 2:1), "in the word of the truth of the gospel" (Col. 1:5).

But there is another vital reason for the newness that is inseparably associated with the gospel. And that has to do with the Source of where this message is proceeding from. The gospel is coming to us from God the Father, and from Christ, the Son. Those who preach this gospel are standing before men "in Christ's stead," in summary declaring "be ye reconciled to God" (II Cor. 5:20). The tidings, of which we speak, are called in Scripture, for example, "the glorious gospel of the blessed God" (I Tim. 1:11), "the gospel of God" (Rom. 1:1; 15:16; II Cor. 11:7), "the gospel of Christ" (Rom. 1:16; 15:19), and "the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (II Th. 1:8). They are proceeding from Him who declared, "Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth" (Isa. 65:17), and as well from Him who has assured us, "Behold, I make all things new" (Rev. 21:5).

To state this another way, whatever "new" things there are that have their origin in earth, begin immediately to wax old and vanish away from their very inception. But not so with the "gospel", which is "preached" unto men "by the Holy Spirit sent forth from Heaven" (I Pet. 1:12, ASV).

To those who have believed the gospel, the nature of the glad tidings are such, that they desire to hear this report again and again. Those who believe the gospel are never heard to say, “Well, I’ve heard that before.” Well, no doubt, they did hear it before, but never in the sense that they are hearing it in the most recent consideration. Incidentally, this ought to make immediately suspect the perverted notion of having an “annual salvation message,” meaning that other things are talked about and emphasized during the remainder of the year in those circles.

There are always more wonderful things to behold in the gospel, and things that are desperately necessary to lay hold of for life and godliness. With regard to believing the gospel, believing men go "from faith to faith" [that is, from faith unto a greater faith] (Rom. 1:16-17). --editor@banner.org

Eleven Arresting Questions

ELEVEN ARRESTING QUESTIONS

By Given O. Blakely

1. If eternal life is knowing God (John 17:3; 1 John 5:20), why are men so interested in obtaining knowledge in other areas – to the neglect of knowing God?

2. If men are known by their fruits (Matt 7:20), why does anyone attempt to explain immoral conduct?

3. If men live by every word of God (Lk 4:4), then how is it possible to sustain spiritual life independently of that word?

4. If those who communicate the Word of God are admonished to commit what they have learned to faithful men who will be able to teach others (2 Tim 2:2), why is it so rarely done?

5. If believers are admonished by the Word of God not to forsake the assembling of themselves together (Heb 10:25), why are there so many professing Christians who do so?

6. If "every man" who possesses hope in Christ purifies himself even as He is pure (1 John 3:3), how is it possible for someone with hope to continue in an unholy state?

7. If believers are told to mark those who cause divisions and avoid them (Rom 6:17), why are professing believers found within formalized sects?

8. If believers are to turn away from those who have only a form of godliness, rejecting the power of it (2 Tim 3:5), why are there believers in dead churches?

9. If it is not possible to become Christ’s disciple without forsaking all (Lk 14:33), then how is it possible to be a Christian while maintaining a fundamental alliance with this world?

10. If the love of God cannot be found in any person who loves this world (1 John 2:15), then how is it possible for a person who does love this world to be a Christian?

11. If those in Christ are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Cor 6:14), why do professing Christians form such yokes?

It is time for all who claim to be Christians to take the Word of God seriously. This begins with preachers and teachers, who are to faithfully proclaim what has been revealed on these matters. Those who hear these words are then to conform their lives to them. If this is not done, then such people owe it to others to cease any formal identity with the body of Christ, and they should not be recognized as members of Christ. God does not receive such people, as is expounded in Second Corinthians 6:15-17. His reception is conditioned upon them coming out from among those who are defiled, and touching not the unclean thing. That is what He has declared: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Cor 6:14-17).

There is no room for a pretentious gospel that accommodates itself to those who prefer sin. The summons to "come out from among them" is a serious one, and it is to be heeded (2 Cor 6:17; Rev 18:4). Any Gospel that does not send forth this clarion call is no gospel at all. It is really "another Gospel, which is not another" (2 Cor 11:4; Gal 1:6). If this appears to be strong, remember that in Christ we are dealing with eternal issues. Preachers must preach, and hearers must hear, with the day of judgment in mind. While that is not the whole of the matter, it will assist men in obtaining the sobriety that is essential to a fellowship with Christ in this world, as well as that which is to come.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, use me in the good work of exposing the works of darkness, and enabling men to possess the light of life.