We can all agree that there are so many things that are wrong around us. It may be within our family, with our loved ones, on our job site, our country and government… ultimately, we can say that the world has mostly become a dangerous place to live in. And honestly, it can be very sad to see and hear things like famine, abortion, murder, child abuse, rape, disease, going rampant around the world. There is one major reason for all of this: sin is at the roots of it. While we Christians are caught up amid it all, while we struggle and complain, we can surely do good as much as we can, help the poor and the needy, the orphan and the widow etc. (Prov 19:17; James 1:27).
But more importantly, we Christians, are called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
While we strive to do good on different grounds, there is only one message that will change the hearts of Men. One message that can address the problem at its roots. For in the message of the gospel the righteousness of God is being revealed (Rom 1:17), the grace of God that brings salvation to all men has appeared, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age (Titus 2:11-13).
We must preach Christ. We must have an eagerness to proclaim the good news of salvation and a passion to see people being transformed. Many think that the call to preach the gospel is reserved to the preacher and the pastor. Some think that we must travel to another country to preach the gospel as missionaries; while another group is altogether ashamed of the gospel and will not proclaim it because of the fear of men. It cannot be so. Preaching the gospel is a privilege with eternal impact, for every Christian. It is with great joy that we must proclaim the beauty of Christ and the wisdom of God through the cross (Ps. 40:9; 96: 2).
From foolishness to life
Let me ask you these questions:
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. But you who have been saved, is it still foolishness to you? It cannot be. Now that you have come to know Christ, and rather be known by Him, didn’t you experience the gospel to be the power and wisdom of God to salvation? (1 Cor 1: 23-24). Aren’t you marveled by it? Does it not make your joy that Christ is in you, you in Him and He is God’s? Has he not become your treasure, your pearl of great price?
Once, we could not have understood and appreciated the gospel, Christ, His death and His resurrection. But now that we have been made new, the old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new (2 Cor 5:17). We have seen the beauty of Christ; we have tasted and see that the Lord is good (Phil. 3:8; 1 Pet. 2:7; Ps. 34: 8). This is what we must long to see happening to those in the world. A transformation. We must desire to see them passing from darkness to light, from blindness to sight and from death to life. For salvation is a miracle solely operated by God through the preaching of the Gospel. This is what we are called to, dear brethren: to speak the powerful message that can impart life.
A command
Preaching the gospel is a command. The Lord Jesus Christ has himself commissioned us to go and (make disciples) preach the gospel. That is an authoritative order, a charge. Something we cannot take lightly. The same thing we see the apostle Paul write to Timothy could have been written to us all regarding the gospel: “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season…” That is as an oath made unto Timothy. A solemn charge made before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead! What can be more serious?
In the same manner this authoritative command by our Lord – which is often called the great commission- is given unto us all for our neighbor, for our co-worker, for our friends, for the stranger who sits by us in the bus, for the person we meet in the isle of the marketplace and so on. How many times have we missed countless occasions to share the good news or pass out a gospel tract while we are constantly surrounded with lost people? I regret it every time that happens.
The exclusive Gospel
Do you grieve on all the things happening in the world around you? Does it concern you that people are blind into sin and going to hell? Does it concern you that the name of God is being blasphemed all over the place? Then Preach the gospel of Jesus Christ! It is the call of every Christian believer; it is your call. And it must be the dominant message of the church.
I will say that it doesn’t only take a mission trip of 20 people to go preach the gospel of Christ. It takes all of us individually who are mesmerized by the glory of God, by His love, mercy and grace in saving sinners, all to the praise of His beloved Son.
Finally, brethren, there is no substitute for preaching the gospel. Not your good deeds and your kindness, (although important), not morality, not psychology, not friendship, not any social movement… But the exclusive, unalterable, unmitigated message of Christ crucified and raised is what we are called to preached. For there is not another – in fact, even the angels of heaven must attest to the pure message of gospel of Christ (Gal. 1: 6-9). Again, while the Jews request a sign, the Greeks seek after wisdom, let us preach Christ crucified. For He is the power of God to salvation for those who are called (1 Cor 1:22-24). Soli Deo Gloria!
