Church of Christ Studies

The Gospel

I can but be encouraged from day to day by the presence of so many people interested in that which may be said. I am especially impressed with the very simplicity of our services, and it is my chief desire to present to you what I believe to be the truth, and to do it in the most simple manner that I can possibly command. I realize the fact that I am not dealing with trivial affairs, but that a responsibility rests upon me to declare unto you God's counsel as I verily believe it to be recorded in his book. I have no disposition whatever to think less of any of you who may see fit to believe contrary to me. I just want to express my appreciation of your willingness to hear what may be said, and then bid you to accept or reject it, according as you find it to be in harmony with the teaching of God's word.

 

I want to talk to you to-day about the gospel. In the short time allotted, only a few things can be said, but possibly enough to get some elementary ideas before you. All preachers talk about the gospel and preach things connected therewith, but it is positively certain that all do not proclaim it as the Lord requires. Let me ask: What is the gospel?

 

First of all, I want to call your attention to the fact that it is something God wants preached to every creature upon the earth; and when heaven is interested in a message being told to the people, it is sure evidence that there is something wonderfully worth while in it for us.

 

After the Savior had taught the disciples for about three years and had done many, many wonderful things in their midst to demonstrate his superiority, he died on the tree of the cross. He was raised the third day from the dead, and before his ascension he bade the apostles: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." So much was dependent upon this that he was unwilling for them to go unaccompanied. He, therefore, said: "Tarry at Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high." Wait until the Holy Spirit comes. This is no child's play upon which you are entering. it does not have to do with the ephemeral issues of life, but the eternal destiny of the world is suspended upon the acceptance or rejection of that which I bid you proclaim. So go to Jerusalem and wait till the proper time—until humanity's frailties are provided for by the unerring guidance of the Holy Spirit—and then, commencing at Jerusalem, go throughout Judea, thence to Samaria, thence to Galilee, and finally to the uttermost parts of the world.

 

Later on Paul was converted and became one of the apostles. He said (1 Cor. 9: 16): "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!"

 

Now, every man that rises in the pulpit to-day ought to feel that responsibility. I have no fight to make against those of modern times who preach about matters that are purely social, secular, and governmental in their nature, who spend the time in playing upon the emotions and passions of humanity; but I am impressed with the fact that such is not my business in life. Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel of God's Son. I might entertain you splendidly and possibly appeal to a great majority by some kind of a series of LECTURES, but that would not be the gospel of the Son of God. When I speak in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, it ought to be such as will stand the test of the everlasting judgment of God Almighty.

 

Now, the gospel is something that God wants men to preach, and it seems that woe is unto every preacher who does not proclaim it. There is another side to it. The gospel, ladies and gentlemen, is something that God wants men to obey. It comes to you and to me with its attractive promises, and likewise with its solemn, sacred warnings.

 

I want you to listen to Paul in 2 These. 1:7, 8, where he said: "And to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus." Now, ladies, gentlemen, and friends, who becomes a subject of God's wrath and of God's vengeance? it is the man who obeys not, who sits passively and idly by, who may be a splendid hearer and may give mental assent to the correctness thereof, but who does not move in obedience to the gospel. That class shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of God and the glory of his power.

 

Friends, do you believe that? Can a sensible, sane soberminded man, knowing the wonderful affaire of life and how brittle is that thread granted to us here, and knowing the certainty of death, refuse obedience to the gospel of the Son of God and thereby invite to himself everlasting punishment from the presence of God and the glory of his power? Such seems almost impossible, and yet there are thousands who still refuse to heed his call.

 

The gospel is not only something that God wants preached unto all men, not only something that you and I must obey; but, to be definite regarding it, I want to tell you what the gospel is, and I might preface that part of it by suggesting this: The word "gospel" simply means "good news." it does not make any difference as to the character of the good news; it would be gospel to us. For instance, if some of us had an exceedingly wealthy relative and in his will we are incorporated as beneficiaries, when the news is dashed over the wire and we receive the telegram that he is dead, there might be some phase of gospel connected therewith, but it is not the gospel of Christ.

 

If I could go to a great rally and make a big Democratic speech, a thing I could not do, numbers and numbers in the old Volunteer State would receive it with gladness. They would clap their hands and rejoice. And then, if, on the other hand, I should lambaste Democracy and uphold the banner of Republicanism, to another class that would be gospel.

 

I am not talking about simply good news. I am asking: What is the gospel of Christ? What is the glad story connected with him? In 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Paul makes this statement: "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I. delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."

 

Now, Paul's word for it, these are the fundamental, basic facts of the gospel of God's Son; and in that declaration he declares that this is "the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved."

 

Now, if a man is saved by the gospel, then what would be implied as a negative proposition? That without the gospel there can be no salvation. That follows as certainly as the light follows the darkness. Ever since Christ raised aloft the banner and swayed the scepter of authority as our High Priest and our King it has been announced to the world that salvation is based upon obedience to the gospel, which is the thing by which they are saved.

 

Now, I can do many things for my fellows to help them and to relieve them. I could, if I had the ability and the financial bearing, go through the city of Nashville, visit the tenements, administer to the needy, and help humanity wonderfully. I could give articles of wearing apparel to those who are almost nude, to the hungry I could give food, and to those in sorrow I might be able to lift them up and help them. This is my duty to do as far as possible. But I would be but rendering to them temporal service, but giving to them that which benefits the body; and though I were to give all of my goods to feed the poor, and though I were to lend every possible assistance, if I did not carry to those souls the gospel of Christ, they would die and go to hell at last, though they be clothed in silks and satins and dwell in palaces magnificent.

 

The gospel is God's power to save. So Paul said to the city of Corinth, with its 400,000 population: "Brethren, I preach unto you the gospel, wherein you stand and by which you are saved." Let me say to you good people of Nashville: it matters not about your political or social standing, nor your financial prominence, nor your prestige as a business man; you may live in a palace and exercise authority over your fellows; but if you do not hear the gospel, believe it, and obey it, you will never sweep through the gates of pearl nor walk the streets of gold in that blissful home beyond. God does not have class legislation; there are no distinctions; and every man, if saved at last, according to God's word, must be saved by obedience to the gospel of God's Son.

 

When I render obedience to the gospel of Christ, I stand saved in this sense. Past sins are blotted out. I am a newborn babe, clothed upon with a garment spotless, laundered in that fountain filled with the precious blood of the Son of God. Then what? As a child in the service of God, I must take up my line of march and live faithful unto death. I must keep my garments spotless by continually repenting of the wrongs, praying God to forgive whatever sin I may be guilty of; and if I continue faithful in obedience to the gospel of God's Son, by and by I will be privileged to enter the gates that stand ajar and to hear it said: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

 

So the gospel as to facts represents and suggests the death of Christ for our sins, and therein is the element of the glad tidings. I do not rejoice this morning simply because Christ died. I never heard of a burial in my life that brought especial joy. Wherein is the element of good news? If you were to leave out of that just three words, you would rob it of the very essence of gospel fact namely: Christ died (now watch the glad tidings) for our sins. Therein is the occasion for rejoicing. I do not rejoice, therefore, simply because the spotless Son of Mary tasted death; but when I remember that humanity was lost and ruined and consigned to eternal death, that Christ Jesus died a felon's death on the tree of the cross in order that you and I might have life, be rid of all the condemnation hitherto characteristic, and have a pathway opened up by which we could pass through the gates at last into God's paradise, I rejoice with joy unspeakable.

 

The gospel, therefore, as to facts, represents the great pillars, three in number, upon which the bridge from time to eternity is suspended and upon which it must forever stand. Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. He was buried in a borrowed tomb, and on the third day burst the bars and came forth in glad triumph.

 

But let me say to you, friends, that the gospel not only is made up of facts, but in connection therewith there are commandments based upon the same; and then, following those commandments, there are the splendid promises. So I suggest to you that the gospel is made up, first, of facts; second, of commands; third, of promises. Three facts-the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Christ; three commandments—faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, genuine repentance of all of our sins, and burial with him in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit upon a confession of our faith. Following these, there are three splendid promises—namely, the forgiveness of all of our sins, the reception of the Holy Spirit, the hope of everlasting bliss and of a glittering crown.

 

Did you ever stop to think how splendidly and how fittingly that analysis and that outline corresponds to our nature? Here I am, a human being, made up of certain characteristics. Suppose Christ did die and was buried and did rise the third day, what can I do with that? Can I obey that thing or those things? I cannot. Well, can I rejoice and enjoy those facts? O, no; there is a misfit. What may I do with the gospel? Let me suggest that there is about it every department suited to my need. Humanity has a threefold character—viz., the power to think, the power to reason, the power to believe. Then, in addition to that, there is what we call the "will power," the executive department of our nature, that which takes hold of a thing and makes it go, that which walks out and forces the decision, and caps the climax of the issue in doing it. it is the power to obey, or to execute. Furthermore, we have something or other about us that is called the "sensibility," or the affection, or our emotional nature.

 

Now, to what part of my nature do the facts of the gospel appeal? Without question, they come as a challenge to my intellect. I can think about them, reason concerning them, and at last accept them as facts. I can believe that Christ died; I can believe that he was buried; I can believe, and I rejoice that I do believe, that he was raised from the dead. Hence, the facts of the gospel appeal to my intellect.

 

Now, the commandments of the gospel come as a direct challenge to my will power. They beg of me to yield to their demand, to respond in harmony with my intelligence, and thus be able to stand upon his promises. Last are the exceeding great and precious promises of the gospel, which appeal to my sentiments and my emotions. There is not a man on the earth who with all of his heart believes the gospel, repents of his sine, acknowledges the Christ, and obeys him in all of his commandments, but that feels good and rejoices because of the fact that he is now able to read his title clear to mansions over there. He feels assured of the fact that God's word is true, that his sine are forgiven; and hence he rejoices in the hope of everlasting bliss.

 

If a man or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which Paul has preached, let the very curses of heaven rest upon him.

 

I come to ask of you again today: Are there those in this company who believe the facts of the gospel? Are you convinced thoroughly that Christ died for our sine, was buried, and rose again? Are you willing to render obedience to his commandments? Are you willing then to spend the remnant of your days in the enjoyment of that religion that is pure and undefiled, in the relationship of a branch clinging to the vine? If you will follow in his footsteps here below, he will at last take you home to glory and give you a crown that is incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away. While truth instructs, mercy pleads, and heaven waits, won't you come?

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