Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Frederick W. Faber
The Gospel Is Bringing Us Home
Paul wrote, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6), indicating that God began a good work in us and won’t drop the ball as far as our salvation is concerned. He began it, and what God begins He completes. The completion–the final, consummate finishing of this work–will finally be completed in “the day of Jesus Christ,” or at the day of His return, which means that “He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 1:8).
The Gospel Will Bring Us Home
Jude, the half-brother of Jesus Christ wrote, “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy” (Jude 1:24). This is not saying that we won’t fall, but He will keep us from stumbling in presenting us into His glorious presence, and what “great joy” that will be my brothers and sisters in Christ. All you have to do is read the newspaper or watch the news on TV or the Internet to know that our “salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed” (Rom 13:11). How near is it? I haven’t a clue, but we must keep our eyes on Christ because He will bring us home.
The Gospel Brings Us Life
We were once dead, four days dead like Lazarus in the tomb. Before Christ you “were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh [but] God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses” (Col 2:13) just like me, but He had mercy on us and “made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved” (Eph 2:5). We needed a heart transplant because “you were dead in your transgressions and sins” (Eph 2:1) just like I was. When others were leaving Him, Jesus looked at Peter and asked, “Will you also go” (John 6:67)? But Peter wisely answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
The Gospel Brings Life to Others
We must point out to the lost the utter hopeless state they are in (Rom 3:10-12, 23; 6:23) before they will see the need to seek the Savior. We must tell them that the wrath of God is coming (Rev 20:12-15) and that if they refuse to believe, God’s wrath is abiding on them right now (John 3:36). Jesus tells everyone that they must repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). This is why Jesus commands us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19-20), and He will provide us with the power and the authority (Acts 1:8). In fact, the gospel is the real power of salvation (Rom 1:16), and it’s not so much the plan of salvation as it is the Man of Salvation (Acts 4:12).
Conclusion
The music of the gospel will lead us home, but we must point others to Christ so that they can go home with us to be with the Lord in the coming eternal kingdom of glory. Without this gospel, the life that’s eternal is in a lake of fire. What more can I say that could convince you to bring as many people to heaven as our Lord God would permit?
