“Do this, knowing that this is a critical time. It is
already the hour for you to awaken from your sleep [of spiritual complacency];
for our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed [in Christ].
The night [this present evil age] is almost gone and the day [of Christ’s
return] is almost here. So let us fling away the works of darkness and put on
the [full] armor of light.”
(Romans 13:11-12, Amplified Bible)
In a shorter saying of this verse is, “The second coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ is nearer than yesterday.” The verse shared was part of
what we heard from our speaker last Benguet Fellowship of Fundamental Baptist
Churches on Nov. 1, 2019. Sharing some reasons why believers of the Lord Jesus
Christ or the members of the body of Christ should take part in sharing the
gospel (good news) of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was just one reason which in
more simplified phrase, “The Lord is coming and fast approaching!”
Another verse was shared to further emphasize the reason is
given below:
(Matthew 24:3-14) As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the
disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, WHEN WILL THESE THINGS BE, and
what will be the sign of your coming and of the End Of The Age?” And Jesus
answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For MANY WILL COME IN MY
NAME, SAYING, ‘I AM THE CHRIST,’ (does
this sound VERY FAMILIAR, especially in the Davao?) and they will lead many
astray. And you will hear of WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS (this too is not new e.g. China Sea, middle east, etc...). See that
you are not alarmed, for this must take place, BUT THE END IS NOT YET. For
nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be
FAMINES (this rarely happens in the Philippines but if our
foods are all risky like that of the ASF, fish kills, bird flu... then we might soon experience this..) and EARTHQUAKES (just recent, and it never ends) in various places. All these are
but the beginning of the birth pains. “Then they will deliver you up to
tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my
name's sake. And then MANY WILL FALL AWAY (Spiritually
speaking, there are those who’ve gone a different path, different doctrine /
teaching… amongst others, discouraged workers, turning back on the call to
proclaim the gospel….) and betray one another and hate one another. And
many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because LAWLESSNESS
WILL BE INCREASED, the LOVE OF MANY WILL GROW COLD (personally speaking, I feel I am affected by this…. Lacking of heart
to care for others. Why? maybe because sometimes we feel our work is in vain,
we see no fruit in our labor or effort, we soon see ourselves useless and of no
value. Some other reasons maybe our experiences of betrayals, rejections, and being forsaken by others which often leads to question “why continue?”. If I personally observe and experience such, won’t it be true also to others who also labor in the most
farthest places from civilization?) But the one who endures to the end will
be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the
whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
With these verses and some personal observations, such is
the situation of THE time. And truly it calls for the church to WAKE UP, for
the finish line is near. Just like a runner or an athlete is trained to do,
upon seeing the finish line, one must give all his/her strength since the
finish line is near and the first one to finish wins the race.
And what is this thing God has called us (Christians) to do? That is written
in Matthew 28:18-20. The Great Commission! To preach the Gospel of Christ!!!
The speaker emphasizes, The Gospel of Christ is about WHO CHRIST IS and WHAT HE
HAS DONE! Nothing more! Nothing less! And that I agree with the speaker. What
do we mean? Meaning, our preaching / teaching especially for those who needs to
hear it should ONLY be the birth, the life, the death, the burial, the
resurrection, the ascension and the promise of the return of Christ! Christ
should be the focus and the center, not other matters. Other doctrines or
teaching like prophecies, the doctrine of election and the likes is not part of
the gospel of Christ. Though these teachings are also important, these things
are irrelevant to a lost soul. Furthermore, the gospel of Christ is the only
thing Christ mainly commanded to be preached first. The other teachings would come after
they came to the saving knowledge of Christ – After they have trusted,
believed, placed their faith in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
So what is the Gospel of Christ? It is the good news that
Jesus, the One and True Living God who created the heavens and the earth, seeing
man cannot save himself from the punishment of sin, which is the eternal
separation from God – man condemned to be cast in the lake of fire while God
reigning from eternity to eternity in heaven, became a righteous / sinless man,
through virgin conception and birth (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23). Lived all His
life righteously and obeyed all God’s commandments or the will of the Father (John
4:34, 5:30, 6:38, 8:26, 10:18, 12:49-50, 14:30-31, and 15:10). He never sinned (Luke
23:41, 23:47, John 19:4, 1 Peter 2:22, 1 John 3:5). He was the spotless Lamb of
Heaven. But was condemned by men as a sinner and therefore received the
punishment of suffering, even the pain and shame of the cross that led unto
death (2 Corinthians 5:21). As a matter of fact, it was the Father Himself pouring
His wrath against sin to His Son, Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53:4-12)! WHY??? For the
sake of giving the lost (man) a way to be redeemed back to the Father. It is
God’s way of transacting or buying back His creation from the market of
sin by paying it with the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. Why did it have to be
Jesus Christ? Because HE IS THE ONLY WAY! Because He, the RIGHTEOUS ONE, is the
ONLY SUFFICIENT, WORTHY, SATISFIABLE, ENOUGH to PAY the penalty of sin -- man’s
sin. NO MAN can pay for himself. NO MAN’s WORK is sufficient to buy himself out
of the market of sin. NO MAN’s PRAYER is powerful enough to take himself out of
Satan’s hands. John 14:6 says “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth,
and the life. NO ONE comes to the Father except through me.’” If there is
another way, then we are making Jesus or God a liar which is not so.
But the gospel of Christ didn’t end in His death, because
after three days, He rose again from the grave! And after 40 days teaching His
disciples His commandments and His words, He ascended up to heaven seated in
the right hand of God -- declaring that someday, He will return for His own but
will bring vengeance to them that DO NOT believe in Him or reject Him (1
Thessalonians 4:16-17, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-8).
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest."
Acts 16:30-31 "Then he brought them out and said,
'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' And they said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus,
and you will be saved, you and your household.'”
Romans 10:9-10 "because, if you confess with your mouth
that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with
the mouth one confesses and is saved."
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the FREE
GIFT of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Jesus Christ is still CALLING out, seeking out for those who do
not know HIM that they might believe and receive Jesus Christ as their LORD and
SAVIOR. God continues to offer a FREE GIFT through Jesus Christ, would you
receive His Gift? If Yes, then go to God in prayer. Admit that we are indeed
sinners and that we cannot save ourselves. But because Christ has offered
Himself as an offering for sin, believe that Jesus’ sacrifice is enough to
forgive us of our sins. And then entrust your life in the palm of His hand,
making Him Lord and Master of your life.
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