THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL AND ITS MINISTRY.
We have examined Paul’s thoughts on the dreadful schisms in the church and concluded that they should not be tolerated.
Now, we view the message and the ministry of the Gospel.
The Gospel is delivered by the preacher who has been given the power to present it. It is a revelation to those who receive it’s message.
The Gospel has also been given to us as fellow workers to share with those God sends across our paths. We are “all fellow workers for God.” He has freely gifted us the ability to impact the message differently, all for God’s glory. Sometimes, it may cost us to share and live the Gospel, a sacrifice pleasing to God.
The Gospel is not just to bring people to God but it teaches right living and a separateness from this ungodly world. 🌎
That means removing ourselves from all evil practices.
The church, if it is going to function properly it needs to be Holy and blameless in this wicked society.
That means we cast aside impurity, lying, defrauding (cheating). This may seem foolish to the worldly-wise but so necessary for Salvation of the lost.
The centre-point of this central message of life is …
“THE CROSS” to which the prejudice Jew, the prideful Greek seem to be foolish.
The Gospel is made by God to be so simple that the proud, religious, sophisticated person must humble themselves, admit their weakness and meekly receive the power to be saved.
Paul addressed the natural outcome of a life worth living after our salvation.
He addressess diet, marriage and the sanctity of it. The importance of obeying the ordinances in meekness and fear.
He talks about our spiritual priorities regarding the the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Also the right motives in regards to our giving financially for the support of those who need assistance.
And he speaks of the importance of the resurrection of Christ to the Believer.
RELEVANT TODAY?
It certainly is relevant to us as Christians today. It should affect us very closely as it affects the whole question of:
CHRISTIAN LIBERTY.
That is, our freedom in Christ to make the right choices for our benefit and for…
“His Glory.” To benefit from this teaching richly, you will need to study it for yourself.
Paul reminds us that knowledge, “puffs-up” (religious pride.)
But love, “builds-up!”
AM I A STUMBLING BLOCK?
We always need to keep in our minds when we take liberties, we may be ok within ourselves, but it’s not acceptable for those who are watching.
You may be giving them a licence to fall back into sin.
This can be in the areas of Alcohol, Drugs, Immodesty, Smoking, Gambling. Profuse Language. Imoralty, Gluttony.
There may be addicted people who are struggling to refrain from temptation. They see you partake of these things and want to rationalise their behaviour by saying,
“She’s a Christian and she does it!”
We become a stumbling block of offence to them.
They say…
“Such and such goes to these places, watches R-rated movies, gets drunk, swears like a trooper, doesn’t go to church every week, so why can’t I?”
Alcoholics will find you as an excuse to resume drinking again.
They end up falling deeper into sin than ever before they came to Christ.
You may need to be sensitive to a diabetic and refrain from eating sweets in their company.
Be aware of other areas where you may cause the weaker brother or sister to fall back into sin.
Let’s not be the cause of someone else’s failures.
Our goal is to help the weak, love and encourage the back slider. Help them to break free of anything that is holding them back from total commitment to Christ. I am not saying that you must abstain from these things altogether.
It’s about protecting a weak brother or sister in Christ from stumbling back into sin. You are responsible to God for the things you choose to do. He will guide you into all truth and it’s up to you to have a conscience void of offence before God and man.
Christians in the West are more liable to embrace lower standards of compromise than those who are living in the East, mainly because they are willing to die for the sake of Christ and will gladly obey the Word of God in more detail. They are fully yielded to obey God because they are so grateful to be saved from the bondage of Islamic law.
People here will miss Church and go to watch football, attend a family picnic rather than being in the house of the Lord.
Paul is emphatic:
“WHEREFORE IF WHAT IF WHAT I EAT STUMBLES, MY BROTHER, I WILL NOT EAT FLESH WHILE THE AGE LASTS.”
(not eat meat ever again)
We must be consistent, Considerate, loving, and always encouraging so that that they can do “All things through Christ,” who gives them strength.
This applies to us in all areas of our lives.
It means, as Paul mentions five times, self denial, self effacement, self discipline, all for the sake of others.
CHRIST’S WORDS.
“WHOSOEVER WILL SAVE HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT, AND WHOSOEVER SHALL LOSE HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE AND THE GOSPEL’S … SHALL FIND IT.”
Doing this will purify, glorify and unify the church of Jesus Christ in this sin-sick world and draw many people close to the Lord.
And you will win the high prize of your calling in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
“The Peace of God that surpasses all understanding.”
For comments: SMS HEATHER DALZELL 61 04 17 545 814.
For financial donations.
Email heatherdalzell777@Gmail.com
To read more studies: Website Address lightinthedarkness152884863Wordpress.com
Light in the Darkness! 