Gospel News · January - April 2014

The Gospel News
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unless he yields to the convicting power of the Spirit, he remains in partial blindness to his sin. His confessions are not sincere, nor in earnest. To every acknowledgement of his guilt he adds an apology in excuse of his course, declaring that if it had not been for certain circumstances he would not have committed the sin for which he is reproved.
After Adam and Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit they were filled with a sense of shame and terror: at first their only thought was how to excuse their sins and escape the dreaded sentence of death. When the Lord enquired concerning their sin, Adam replied, laying the guilt upon his companion. "The woman whom thou gavest
to be with me, she gave of the tree and I did eat". The woman put the blame upon
the serpent, saying "The serpent beguiled
me and I did eat" (Gen.3:12-13). Why did
you make the serpent? Why did you suffer him to come into Eden? These were the questions implied in her excuse for her sin, thus charging God with the responsibility of their fall. The spirit of self-justification originated in the father of mankind and has been exhibited by all the sons and daughters of Adam. Confessions of this order are not inspired by the Divine spirit and will not be acceptable to God. True repentance will lead a man to bear his guilt.
A Worker Approved by God
Bro. Gideon Hankamone
(Mazabuka, Zambia)
In real life we go to school so that we can get an education. We may then further our studies in order to obtain a higher qualifi- cation. When we see an advertisement that suits our credentials, we apply for the job. When we are picked for it, we try our best to please our employers by doing our very best to make it a job well done. This should be the same with God?s work.
What kind of qualification do we need in order to be in the kingdom of God? Paul tells us, "Do your best to present yourself
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as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of God" (2 Timothy 2:15). How do we rightly
handle the word of God? Paul again tells us, "It is my eager expectation and hope that I
will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now, as always, Christ will be honoured in my body whether by life or by death" (Philippians 1:20).
When we believe in Jesus Christ, we begin our qualification for God?s kingdom. When we get baptized, we begin obeying the commandments of God and put off our old self, and we put on our new self which renews our minds, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:23-24). We must be united in the body of Christ, knowing well that in Christ we are all one, regardless of colour, race, language, education, culture and geographical location. Love unites us together. To confirm that we are one in Christ and that the number one has value, Paul goes on to say: "Therefore there is one
body and one spirit, just as you were called to one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all" (Eph 4:4-6).
Jesus charged his disciples to preach the gospel to all parts of the world. This gospel has to be preached everywhere we go. Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and affliction.
The Bible tells us that he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labour, "For we
are God?s fellow workers; you are God?s field, God?s building" (1 Corinthians 3:8-9).
We have a task to do in the Lord?s field, we have to labour well and achieve His objectives by trying the very best we can to deliver the gospel to all parts of the world. The letter to the Hebrews warns us that we ought to take care how we cultivate in our field (the Lord?s vineyard). We must make