THE USE OF THE GOSPEL

“Use” means the employment of something to accomplish a desired purpose. The gospel in Substance and in the effectual proclamation of it is entirely the work of God. The substance of the gospel is Jesus Christ and the preaching of it is to reveal Him. The gospel is not in the hands of man to use to as he sees fit. The so-called gospel that men use to satisfy their ungodly purposes is not the gospel of Christ. It is another gospel and is accursed of God. Even the truth of the gospel in theological accuracy when unattended by the omnipotent Spirit of the living God renders only an intellectual stimulus which inevitably tends to self-righteous legalism. God Almighty will see to it that no flesh will glory in the accomplishment of the everlasting salvation of His elect children. No man can preach the gospel except they be sent by God - “how shall they preach, except they be sent?” Romans 10:15. No one can believe the gospel except God give them faith - “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8. I know that it is said that God can use whatever means He pleases to save sinners. However does not the scriptures conclude that, “… it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” 1Co 1:21. The scriptural truth and fact of the matter is that for the gospel and the preaching of it to be effectual in the conversion of sinners God must ordain and execute the means as He in sovereign grace and mercy provided the Substance, which is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Away with the ungodly, silly, heretical notion that God has done all He can do, now it is all up to you. The salvation of the Lord is just that, “Of the Lord”. From start to finish it is of the Lord. The means as well as the propitiatory sacrifice of Christ is of God. God is not a sightseer or a by-stander waiting to see if someone will preach His gospel and hoping that just maybe someone will believe on Christ. He will see to it His gospel is preached and all His sheep will hear it and believe it. It is God that uses the gospel, not us. When men attempt to do so it only produces vainglory and damning results. Our Heavenly Father, in His good providence has already charted the course of His people’s daily life to eventually, in His time, bring us to effectually hear Jesus Christ and Him crucified preached by some other poor sinner to whom He has revealed Christ and sent. It is the Word of God and the Spirit of God that effects the means. The means is powerless within itself. -

 

- Tommy