Gospel News — Sep-Dec 2013

stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness. Opposition to the gospel message mounted the more it was preached. So great was the hatred that the religious leaders put to death Stephen by stoning and persecuted the followers of Christ causing them to be spread abroad. In the gentile community the worship of a multitude of idols was the common feature of religious life. Belief in the immortal soul and field of bliss or torment was a common feature of all the differing religions. The gospel message was that "Christ had risen from the dead to die no more"

To Greek philosophy this was impossible and in the words of Paul "foolishness" The gospel message was that . "We are saved by faith through grace; not of works lest any man should boast". To the Jewish religious leaders this was a reversal of all that they held as sacred and was a stumbling block . To them strict observance to the laws of Moses was the basis of salvation. To the Greeks it was foolishness because they believed that from a man's own reasoning he could find out all truths. As rising from the dead was not an observable fact, it `cannot happen'. God says the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. When people turn to God they do it for many reasons. Many are genuine at first, but as time goes by the natural human instincts come to the fore and men seek glory for themselves and depart from purity of the faith.

The gospel to the people is summed up in these words, "the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ". The gospel is not Jesus Christ alone, nor is it the Kingdom of God alone, but the salvation of people by God through faith and endurance to the end. When Christ returns to establish the Kingdom of God on earth, He delivers Israel from their enemies and gathers together both the living and dead of all ages who have understood the gospel and judges every man according to his works. The righteous will be rewarded with eternal life, the wicked to destruction. So when God speaks to people it is an offer of hope. How do we respond?

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God Speaks To You And I

The Bible speaks in very broad terms, addressing nations, peoples, tribes and the believers. When reading the Bible we sometimes detach ourselves from the message to us personally and think only about how it should affect others. The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God will affect you in some way or another. Either we accept that the message of the Bible is true and take positive steps to address the issues of our life and measure ourselves against its demands, or we can ignore it and face a very insecure future when Christ returns to establish God's kingdom.

The parable of the `sower` in Matthew ch 12 speaks of 4 different classes of people to whom the word of God is preached. The seed sown is the good news of the kingdom of God. The first ground it fell upon was the pathway and the birds fed on the seed. These are they who hear and it goes in one ear and out the other and its never acted upon. The next three grounds all receive the word and produce different results. The second fell on stony soil, it grew for a while but lacking moisture it withered and died. This speaks of those who lack the staying power and find it all too hard when the trials of this life come on them; it is easier to give in than continue . The third class is the seed in ground that also has weeds. Both grow together but the weeds choke the seed and it yields no result. The Bible says these are they which receive the word with gladness but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the full development. The importance of this life and its pleasures are a very strong attraction even today and to many, living for the present is more important that our service to God. The forth class are those who hear the word and act upon it and yield fruit back to the sower in abundance. Today each of us who hear the word will fall into one of these four classes. Where will you stand when Christ returns?

--Bro B. Stretton