The Gospel

Good morning,

This has been such a blessed study this morning.  I would pray that you take a few minutes to seek the Lord and be edified beyond measure this day.

In Him,

~Al

For our gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 1Th 1:5 

And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit: 

So that ye were examples to all that believe, in Macedonia and Achaia. 

For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 1Th 1:5-8 

 

 

The gospel the only power unto salvation

Bishop Lavington, when addressing his clergy in a pastoral charge in the last century, said, "We have long been attempting to reform the nation by moral preaching. With what effect? None. On the contrary, we have dexterously preached the people into downright infidelity. We must change our voice; we must preach Christ and Him crucified; nothing but the gospel is the power of God unto salvation."

 

How the gospel came to the Thessalonians

I. A fact asserted. "Our gospel came unto you."

1. Our gospel, not by way of revelation, but dispensation. They had it in trust for the advantage of others. And so sure were they that it came from God that they said, "If we or an angel from heaven preach any other," etc.

2. What is this gospel Good tidings; but the goodness of the news must regard the state of the receiver. The proclamation of deliverance will be acceptable only to captives. To offer pardon to the innocent or alms to the wealthy would be an insult. The gospel finds every man a sinner, and the relief it gives is adapted to his condition. Is he lost? Here is a Savior. Is he unholy? Here is renewing grace.

3. This gospel came to them; they did not go to it or send for it. Nor did our heathen forefathers; nor did we. "I am found of them that sought me not."

II. The manner of it explained. It came—

1. In word—by the translated scriptures and the preached word to you. Thus it must come to be received at all. But a mere theoretic knowledge—

(1) Cannot answer the design of the gospel. God has not inspired men to write His word and then magnified it to amuse your minds or furnish you with materials for controversy. "All scripture … is profitable," etc.

(2) Will aggravate your sin and increase your condemnation. It is a medicine which will either kill or cure: it will prove either the savor of life or death. "See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh."

2. In power. When this is the case—

(1) It produces conviction of sin. The word at Pentecost was quick and powerful. It pricked men to the heart, etc. It is the same now. But it works conviction only for saving purposes. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and the word will come with power.

(2) It gives comfort—and the comfort increases with the tribulation. "Ah," said Bolingbroke, "I find my philosophy fail me now in this affliction." Does the gospel fail? "Although the fig tree shall not blossom," etc.

(3) It sanctifies. It calls us to be and makes us saints. Plato often complained that he could not bring the inhabitants of a single village to live according to his rules. But did the fishermen of Galilee complain in a similar way? We have seen the profligate become moral, the covetous liberal, the implacable ready to forgive.

3. In the Holy Ghost. This marks the nature and source of the power. The apostle does not refer to miraculous power—for that ceased with the early age, and miracles failed over and over again when they were worked to secure belief. This power is common to every age, and when exerted never fails. "Not by might nor by power." Melanchthon, in his zeal for God, hoped that all he addressed on the love of Christ would embrace Him as a Savior; but he soon found that old Adam was too strong for young Melanchthon.

4. In much assurance—

(1) of understanding,

(2) of faith,

(3) of hope. (W. Jay.)

 

A gospel of power

I. The gospel is not simply a system of morals; it is a Divine power working in human life, the power of the Holy Ghost. It comes not in mere word or theory or philosophy, but as a supernatural power direct from God. In this respect we distinguish religion from simple morality. Morality does not profess to go any higher than good motives. But the religious man looks to God for Divine strength and help to supplement his own feebleness.

II. The gospel is not the mere word of a creed or ritual, but the power of a life. What Christ most of all desires for us is that every true affection should be strengthened within us; that every noble aspiration should rise up to attainment; that every generous impulse should lead you to help and bless your fellows; that you should abhor the evil and love the good.

III. Christian assurance will come to him who lives by the power of the Holy Ghost. Prove Christ's words by personal experiment, venture all on His sayings, surrender yourself to Him wholly, follow His counsel; and there will grow up within you such invincible conviction of His truth that neither death nor life shall shake His power over you.

(Prof. James Legge.)

 

I heard two persons on the Wengern Alp talking by the hour together of the names of ferns; not a word about their characteristics, uses, or habits, but a medley of crack-jaw titles, and nothing more. They evidently felt that they were ventilating their botany, and kept each other in countenance by alternate volleys of nonsense. Well, they were about as sensible as those doctrinalists who forever talk over the technicalities of religion, but know nothing by experience of its spirit and power. Are we not all too apt to amuse ourselves after the same fashion? He who knows mere Linnaean names, but has never seen a flower, is as reliable in botany, as he is in theology who can descant upon supralapsarianism, but has never known the love of Christ in his heart. "True religion's more than doctrine, Something must be known and felt."

(C. H. Spurgeon.)

Power of the gospel

I wish I could take you to a scene in the kingdom of Hyderabad. The people had risen in a mob to drive us out, because we tried to speak of another God than theirs. The throng was filling the streets. They told me if I tried to say another word I should be killed! I must leave at once, or never leave that city alive! I succeeded in getting their permission to tell a story before they stoned me. They were standing around ready to throw the stones, when I told them the story of all stories—the love of the Divine Father that had made us of one blood. I told them that story of the birth in the manger at Bethlehem; of that marvelous life; of the gracious words that He spake. I told them the story of the Cross, and pictured, in the graphic words the Master gave me that day, the story of our Savior nailed to the cross for them. When I told them that, I saw the men go and throw their stones into the gutter, and down the cheeks of the very men that had been clamoring the loudest for my blood I saw the tears running. And when I told them how He had been laid in the grave, and how after three days He came forth triumphant and then ascended into heaven, where He ever lives to make intercession for them, and that through Him every one of them might obtain remission of sins and eternal life, I told them I had finished my story, and they might stone me now. But no! they did not want to stone me now. They came forward and bought Scriptures, Gospels, and tracts, for they wanted to know more of the wonderful Savior.

(D. Chamberlain.)