God’s Nonnegotiable Gospel—Part Two

Originally published May 1, 1993

Go ye therefore, and [make disciples of] all nations.... Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

—Matthew:28:19-20 [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
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Last month we saw from God's Word that lost sinners are offered forgiveness of all sins (past, present, and future), and eternal life as a free gift of God's grace by virtue of Christ's fully accomplished redemptive work upon the cross and bodily resurrection. To receive this priceless gift one need only believe the gospel: that one is a sinner deserving God's judgment and unable by self-effort, religious ritual or any other means, to earn or merit salvation even in part; and that Christ paid the full debt which God's justice demands for man's sin. Of course, one must believe the gospel not merely as a historic fact, but to the extent of placing one's faith completely in the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior for eternity.

We noted also that Christ directed His disciples to preach this good news of the gospel to everyone everywhere. This command by Christ to His original followers has become known as the "Great Commission." It is stated in two ways: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel" (Mark:16:15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
See All...); and "make disciples" (Matthew:28:19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
See All...). Those who preach the gospel are to disciple those who believe it. Born again by God's Spirit into His family (John:3:3-5 [3] Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. [4] Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? [5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
See All...; 1 John:3:2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
See All...), converts begin a new life as Christ's followers, eager to learn of Him and to obey the One whom they now love for having saved them.

Christ warned that some would seem to receive the gospel with great enthusiasm only to become entangled in the world, discouraged, disillusioned, and would eventually turn back from following Him. Many maintain a facade of Christianity without inward reality, deceiving perhaps even themselves. Never fully convinced in their hearts, they are unwilling nevertheless to admit their unbelief. "Examine yourselves," Paul warned, "whether ye be in the faith" (2 Corinthians:13:5Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
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Of those who are genuine, all too few are able to give a "reason for the hope that is in them" (1 Peter:3:15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
See All...). How many Christians are able to convincingly persuade an atheist, Buddhist, Hindu, New Ager with overwhelming evidence and sound reason from Scripture? God's Word is the sword of the Spirit, but few know it well enough to quell their own doubts, much less to convert others.

One of today's greatest needs is for the solid Bible teaching that produces disciples who are able to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once [for all] delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). That faith for which we must contend was delivered by Christ to the original 12 disciples, who were then to teach those whom they evangelized "to observe all things" that Christ had commanded them. Through succeeding generations of those who have been won to Him and have in turn, in obedience to their Lord, discipled others, this unbroken chain of command comes down to us in our time. Not some special priest or clergy class, but each Christian today, like those who have passed before, is a successor to the apostles. Think of what that means!

At the heart of Christ's call to discipleship is the daily application of His cross in each life. Yet one seldom hears in evangelical circles today Christ's definitive declaration: "And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me...[and] forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke:14:27-33 [27] And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. [28] For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? [29] Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, [30] Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. [31] Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? [32] Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. [33] So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
See All...). The call to discipleship must be honestly faced. Through the Cross we die to self and begin to live to our Lord in resurrection power (Galatians:2:20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
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True discipleship begins at home. Parents are responsible to bring up their children in the nurture, admonition and fear of the Lord. Thorough understanding of the faith is especially vital for children and youth growing up in a world filled with persuasive arguments against God's truth and in favor of immorality and paganism.

Instead of the popular self-esteem, children need to be taught to deny self, to love truth and hate folly, to please God instead of others or themselves, no matter what the cost in this life. Never mind "social pressures" from what others think, say, or do. Youth should be fully persuaded that what God thinks of them and what He will say to them when they appear before Him one day is all that matters. As Jim Elliot, one of the martyrs of Ecuador, said when, as a young man, he chose the mission field over more popular careers, "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." That choice is only logical if one believes that time is short and eternity endless. Such commitment brings heavenly joy, peace, and fulfillment that nothing earth offers can rival.

To those whom He called into a saving relationship with Himself, Christ said, "Follow me" (Matthew:4:19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
See All...; 8:22; 9:9; 16:24, etc.). This simple command, which our Lord repeated after His resurrection (John:21:19This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
See All..., 22), is as applicable to Christians today as it was when He called the first disciples. What does it mean to follow Christ? Did He promise His followers that they would be successful, wealthy, and esteemed in this world? God may grant earthly success to a few for His own purposes. On the whole, however, our Lord declared that those who were true to Him would follow in His path of rejection and suffering: "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.... The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you...for my name's sake..." (John:15:18-21 [18] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. [19] If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. [20] Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. [21] But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
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Such was the lot of the early church. Yet today it is imagined that Christianity can be popularized. The idea of suffering for Christ doesn't suit a worldly church. How strange such verses as the following seem to Christians in America: "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake" (Philippians:1:29For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
See All...). Suffering is given to us? Paul speaks as though it were a precious privilege to suffer for His sake! After being imprisoned and beaten, the early disciples rejoiced "that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name" (Acts:5:41And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
See All...). Such is the commitment to which the gospel actually calls us.

Christ told His disciples after the Resurrection, "As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you" (John:20:21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
See All...). The Father sent the Son as a lamb to the slaughter into a world that would hate and crucify Him! And as the Father sent Him, so Christ sends us into a world that He promises will treat His followers as it did Him. Are we willing? Is this not your idea of Christianity? Then think again and check it out against the Scriptures. We are farther from Him and His truth than we realize!

Peter, who failed so miserably and was restored by the Lord, explained that Christians would be hated, falsely accused, and persecuted, and were expected to suffer these wrongs patiently (1 Peter:2:19-20 [19] For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. [20] For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
See All...; 4:12-19; etc.). Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he wrote, "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness..." (1 Peter:2:21-25 [21] For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: [22] Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: [23] Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: [24] Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. [25] For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
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Christians are being imprisoned and martyred again in communist China, in Muslim countries, and at the hands of Catholics in Mexico. Similar persecutions could well overtake us in America. Already pastors are being fined and imprisoned, and churches locked and sold by the state. In 1986, for example, Jefferson County, KY, imposed a licensing fee upon every "business, profession, trade, or occupation"—including pastors and churches. One local pastor, declaring that Christ had commissioned him to preach the gospel, refused to pay any civil authority for a license to do so. Another pastor, arrested and jailed for the same "crime," was released April 5 due to overcrowding of the jail and his trial was set for a later date.

In another even more bizarre case, a Colorado pastor [was] being prosecuted for opposing a local ordinance which would have given homosexuals preferential treatment. Civil authorities claimed that homosexuality was a political issue, and in order to speak about it, his church must register as a political organization. This the church refused to do. The pastor correctly insist[ed] that homosexuality is a moral issue which the Bible addresses and which, therefore, he must address as well. He and his church [were] taken to court and heavily fined, and bank accounts and church property [were] seized.

Recently, I listened with tears welling in my eyes as my wife, Ruth, read to me some of the history of her ancestors. For being rebaptized after they became Christians (and thus denying the efficacy of Rome's infant baptism), these Anabaptists were burned at the stake. To escape the flames, many fled the Inquisition in Holland to Prussia. From there they fled to Russia, and in the closing days of World War II many attempted an escape from godless and oppressive communism back to the West. Out of one group of 611 that left Russia, only 31 arrived back in Holland. Tramping day and night through the snow, unable to find food or shelter, some were caught and returned, others were killed or died of exposure. Children were torn from parents, husbands from wives. The terror and agony was beyond imagination.

As Ruth read of the indescribable suffering, I thought of the thousands of Christians in America who find it necessary to enter "therapy" and spend months if not years dealing with comparatively trifling "hurts from the past." I thought of the thousands of Christian psychologists who encourage their clients to pity themselves, to pamper their "inner child of the past," when what they need is to deny self, take up the cross, and follow Christ!

In contrast, I was inspired by the testimony of those who suffered the loss of possessions, loved ones, of almost every earthly hope and joy, yet triumphed through their faith in Christ. Going to a "therapist" and engaging in self-pity would have seemed incomprehensible to them. Why should they, when they had the Lord and His Word and when they knew that "our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians:4:17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
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Whence comes the strength to stand against overwhelming suffering and to triumph as Christ's faithful disciples? Oddly enough, victory comes not through our strength, but through our weakness. When Paul cried out for deliverance from a severe trial, Christ replied that He had allowed it to make Paul weak enough so that he would no longer trust in his great abilities but only in the Lord. "[M]y strength is made perfect in [your] weakness," the Lord declared (2 Corinthians:12:9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
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Paul exhorts us, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him" (Colossians:2:6As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
See All...). Did we not receive Christ in weakness as helpless, hopeless sinners crying out to Him for mercy and grace? That, then, is the way we are to walk this path of triumph in suffering—as sinners saved by grace, weak and helpless in ourselves and trusting totally in Him. We are earthen vessels, but we contain a great treasure: "that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us" (2 Corinthians:4:7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
See All...). Such is the secret of our triumph over the world, the flesh and the devil. The load is too heavy for us to carry it ourselves. What a relief to turn it over to Him! And what a joy to be delivered from the fear of man, from seeking to win the acclaim of this world, from seeking anything but His "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Matthew:25:21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
See All...) in that coming day.

Some manage to amass a fortune to leave at their deaths to their heirs. Others have little of this earth's goods but have great riches laid up in heaven for eternity. It takes little wisdom to know who of these has made the wisest choice and who has been truly successful. God has an eternal purpose for our lives. Our passion should be to know and to fulfill that purpose beginning here on this earth. One day, very soon, we will each stand before Him. What a tragedy to miss the very purpose for which we were created and redeemed!

You may say, "Yes, I want to be used of God, but I don't know what He wants me to do." Or, "I try to serve Him, try to witness for Him, and it all seems to come to nothing." Learn this: Greater than anything God can do through you is what He wants to do in you. What counts most is not quantity but quality, not so much your outward effort but your motive within—the purity of your heart rather than your prominence with men. Moreover, what seems much in time may be very little in eternity. It is not one's talents or energy but the empowering of the Holy Spirit that produces genuine and lasting results: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah:4:6Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
See All...). Trust God for the filling and empowering of His Spirit.

Millions in past generations have laid down their lives for the faith. Their commitment to Christ meant so much that they would not compromise even when threatened with the most excruciating torture and death. Can we fathom their choice? The martyrs could have chosen the ecumenical path of compromise and of avoiding controversy, and of affirming the "common beliefs of all religions," and thus have escaped the flame or the sword. They chose instead to stand firm for the truth, to contend earnestly for the faith. Christ calls us to do the same. There is no escaping the eternal choice which confronts us. Will it be compromise or commitment? One day we will give an account before God for the path we choose. What joy there is now and eternally in being true to Him! 

TBC